NGVAmerica News Week in Review: January 2, 2017

• American Natural Gas Acquires Questar Fueling Company, Adds 11 CNG Stations
• Energy Department Invests $4.9 Million in Alternative Fuel Stations
• Delaware Expands Clean Vehicle Rebates to Include Bi-Fuel Vehicles
• Landi Renzo Earns CNG Certification for 2017 Ford E-450 Cutaway
• Waste Management Natural Gas Fleet Surpasses 5,000 Vehicles
• Ultimate CNG Receives U.S. Patent for FuelMule Mobile CNG Station
• OTA Outlines Complete Funding Plan for Natural Gas Transition
• High Plains Bioenergy to Increase Production of Renewable Natural Gas
• Bill Renz and Stephanie Wix Promoted within U.S. Gain and U.S. Lubricants Divisions
• Brittany Ferries Prepares Way for New LNG-Powered Ship

 

American Natural Gas Acquires Questar Fueling Company, Adds 11 CNG Stations

December 20, 2016

American Natural Gas (ANG) has acquired Questar Fueling, including its 11 CNG fueling stations in Arizona, Kansas, Texas, Utah, California, and Colorado. As a result of the acquisition, which closed on December 16, 2016, ANG now owns and operates Questar Fueling CNG stations in the following 11 cities:

• Phoenix, Arizona
• Topeka, Kansas
• Kansas City, Kansas
• De Soto, Texas
• Dallas, Texas
• Houston, Texas
• San Antonio, Texas
• West Valley City, Utah
• Buttonwillow, California
• Denver, Colorado
• Fontana, California (under construction)

ANG also recently acquired Constellation CNG, LLC, bringing the number of fueling stations ANG now owns and operates to 40 fueling stations in 13 states across the U.S., including stations under development.

“Our customer’s needs are driving our expansion,” said Drew West, CEO of ANG. “With a national footprint, ANG is situated better than ever to support fleets in broader, more extensive adoptions of CNG.”

Anchor tenants of the newly acquired stations include some of the nation’s largest fleets such as Anheuser-Busch, Frito-Lay, Swift Transportation, Central Freight Lines, and many others. The 11 stations are designed for medium and heavy duty vehicles, but are also open to other fleets and members of the general public who drive natural gas-powered vehicles. Each station has between four and seven fueling lanes and either three or four compressors, guaranteeing consistent capacity and fuel pressure.

Through the transaction, ANG also acquired a new state-of-the-art mobile fueling station. The self-contained system can be mounted to a trailer and transported wherever a client needs for temporary fueling or backup redundancy.

Service at all stations will continue uninterrupted throughout the ownership transition. ANG will oversee operations with 24-hour monitoring platforms and an “on-call” maintenance team.

 

Energy Department Invests $4.9 Million in Alternative Fuel Stations

December 22, 2016

The Energy Department (DOE) announced Gas Technology Institute (Des Plaines, Illinois) will receive $4.9 million to deploy multi-fuel stations (including CNG, electric, biofuels, and propane stations) and alternative fuel vehicles along I-94 from Port Huron, Michigan to the North Dakota border.

The project is one of five being funded through an $18 million investment by the Energy Department for research, development, and demonstration of alternative fuel technologies, as well as community-based projects to accelerate the adoption of light, medium and heavy duty vehicles that operate on natural gas and other alternative fuels.

Public investment in advanced, energy efficient transportation technologies and systems will improve our nation’s energy security, support energy independence, reduce transportation emissions, and strengthen U.S. economic competiveness.  The DOE says projects selected will accelerate the development and adoption of alternative fuel technologies, and support pioneering deployments of market-ready vehicles and alternative fuels.

 

Delaware Expands Clean Vehicle Rebates to Include Bi-Fuel Vehicles

December 28, 2016

DNREC’s Division of Energy & Climate is expanding its popular Clean Vehicle Rebate program to include rebates for bi-fuel vehicles –natural gas or propane powered vehicles that also run on either gasoline or diesel. Delaware drivers will be eligible for a $1,350 rebate on bi-fuel vehicles purchased on or after January 1, 2017.

“Switching to propane or natural gas vehicles saves businesses money and keeps harmful greenhouse gases out of our atmosphere,” said DNREC Clean Transportation Planner Kathy Harris. “Bi-fuel vehicles can be a good option for fleets looking to introduce clean fuels into their operations while Delaware continues to build its alternative fuel infrastructure.”

The Division of Energy & Climate offers a $1,500 rebate for vehicles that run exclusively on natural gas or propane. Within the first 18 months of this program, several Delaware businesses and drivers have made the switch to natural gas, receiving rebates for their alternative fuel vehicles.

For more information about the Clean Vehicle Rebate program, or to apply for a rebate, visit de.gov/cleantransportation.

 

Landi Renzo Earns CNG Certification for 2017 Ford E-450 Cutaway

December 21, 2016

Landi Renzo USA, a Ford Qualified Vehicle Modifier (QVM), announced the industry’s first natural gas EPA certification for the 2017 model year (MY) Ford 6.8L V-10 Heavy Duty engine featured in E-series trucks, including the E-450 Cutaway.

Landi Renzo has maintained both EPA & CARB certifications on the Ford 6.8L 2-valve V10 engine since 2014MY. The most recent 2017MY EPA certification makes it the industry’s first dedicated CNG application for the engine test group HLDRE06.8B10 under Ford’s gaseous fuel QVM program. Landi Renzo anticipates receiving CARB certification for the same engine family in the coming weeks.

Landi Renzo’s 6.8L V-10 Heavy Duty CNG system has been developed by leading alternative fuel engineers and is available exclusively through Landi Renzo USA’s ship-thru partnership’s and certified installation network.

 

Waste Management Natural Gas Fleet Surpasses 5,100 Vehicles

December 22, 2016

Waste Management recently announced its growing fleet of natural gas-powered vehicles has surpassed 5,100 vehicles, making it the largest fleet of its kind operating in North America. The announcement came as part of Waste Management’s 2016 Sustainability Report, titled “Leading Change,” that highlights progress toward reducing the Company’s greenhouse gas footprint.

As a company, Waste Management is a net greenhouse gas reducer. In 2015, the Company’s GHG-reducing services — recycling, landfill renewable natural gas projects, landfill gas-to-energy projects and carbon sequestration in landfills — saved over three times the total greenhouse gas emissions its operations generated all year.

The report also includes statistics on the Company’s environmental performance, from fleet emissions to wildlife habitat protection to the variety of materials managed each year. The report’s content is prepared in accordance with the core application level of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G4 guidelines. GRI sets the global standards for sustainability reporting, including criteria for a range of economic, environmental, and social impacts.

Learn more by visiting our new site, and reading our 2016 Sustainability Report at sustainability.wm.com.

 

Ultimate CNG Receives U.S. Patent for FuelMule Mobile CNG Station

December 29, 2016

Ultimate CNG announced it has received final U.S. patent approval for its premier mobile CNG fueling asset, the FuelMule. The FuelMule is a self-contained mobile CNG station with on-board storage and compressor delivering CNG on a fast-fill basis, requiring no on-site natural gas or electric power connections.

“We are extremely pleased to have received legal protection for this unique, flexible and industry-changing device,” said Dennis Pick, CEO, Ultimate CNG. “Since its design and manufacture in 2012, the FuelMule has provided thousands of fleet vehicles across the country with CNG on both a temporary, emergency and long-term basis.”

For more information on the FuelMule or services provided by Ultimate CNG LLC, see www.UltimateCNG.com.

 

OTA Outlines Complete Funding Plan for Natural Gas Transition

December 20, 2016

The Ontario Trucking Association has issued a report entitled Natural Gas as an Alternative Fuel for Canadian Truck Fleets: A Roadmap Toward Implementation” to assist the Government of Ontario in the design of a heavy truck natural gas program. The Government of Ontario has committed $250 million to the commercial trucking industry towards investment for technology to reduce carbon emissions from heavy trucks, but one outstanding issue is when the funds will be available and under what conditions.

One of the key technologies government and industry intend to focus on as part of the program are natural gas vehicles, and the report examines the two broad areas where investment dollars are required from fleets to make the transition to natural gas vehicles: (1) vehicle and station costs and (2) ancillary costs. While vehicle and station costs are well understood, ancillary costs and challenges – such as management time for fleet transition evaluation; required facility upgrades; driver training and other change management expenses – are less understood.

“These ancillary expenses can make up to 10 percent of the overall cost of switching to natural gas vehicles,” said OTA president Stephen Laskowski. “Without assistance and funding in these critical areas, fleets can easily become frustrated, making a successful conversion to natural gas vehicles less likely.”

OTA is already calling on the Government program to fund up to $60,000 per natural gas vehicle to offset the cost differential of a diesel engine. Furthermore, OTA says the government should provide carriers with access to the same incentives given to fuel suppliers to build fueling stations, as carriers may wish to install and operate private stations for their own fleet.

The study commissioned by OTA and conducted by the Rustbelt Group estimated the vehicle and infrastructure cost for a 20-truck fleet would be $3.4 million while the ancillary costs would come in at $325,000.

Requests for a copy of the study should be made to OTA’s lak.shoan@ontruck.org

 

High Plains Bioenergy to Increase Production of Renewable Natural Gas

December 28, 2016

High Plains Bioenergy (HPB), a subsidiary of Seaboard Foods, recently announced plans to upgrade their anaerobic digestion-derived biogas to renewable natural gas using a Carbotech Pressure Swing Adsorption system from BIOFerm Energy Systems/Viessmann Group. Located in Guymon, Oklahoma, HPB currently fuels boilers with the biogas created from the anaerobic digestion of food processing pork waste.

BIOFerm’s installation in Guymon will consist of a complete, integrated gas upgrading system—from biogas filtration, to biogas compression, through upgrading to natural gas pipeline quality requirements and treatment of off-gas—including a performance guarantee and comprehensive control system for the whole package.

“Seaboard Foods and High Plains Bioenergy showcase an unparalleled industry model for sustainability through their commitment to renewables,” said Nadeem Afghan, President and CEO of BIOFerm Energy Systems.

Once finished, HPB‘s Carbotech PSA upgrading system will have a raw biogas processing capacity of 1200 scf/minute and an expected product gas composition with  almost 96 percent methane despite the high oxygen and nitrogen portion in the raw gas.

 

Bill Renz and Stephanie Wix Promoted within U.S. Gain and U.S. Lubricants Divisions

December 22, 2016

U.S. Venture announced the promotion of Bill Renz to general manager for U.S. Gain and U.S. Lubricants. Previously, Renz was general manager for U.S. Gain. With extensive experience in management, operations and engineering, Renz led the expansion of U.S. Gain, which has become a national leader in the CNG industry. He formed partnerships with fleet owners across the country to provide them with a cleaner, more affordable, more effective way of operating their business. U.S. Gain has a network of more than 50 CNG stations across North America.

“Bill’s enthusiasm and leadership skills make him the perfect fit for this position,” says John Schmidt, CEO/president of U.S. Venture. “Bill really connects with both our customers and his team members, and I’m confident his talents will take us to new heights.”

Renz is a Wisconsin native and University of Wisconsin Madison graduate with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and a master’s degree in manufacturing systems engineering with a specialization in management.

In addition, Stephanie Wix has been promoted to vice president of sales of U.S. Gain and U.S. Lubricants. She will oversee all aspects of sales in North America and work to cultivate synergies across both businesses. Prior to the promotion, Wix was division director of sales for U.S. Gain and drove the growth of the CNG business.

“Stephanie has been instrumental in growing a national network for U.S. Gain throughout the last four years by developing a high-caliber sales team in North America,” says Renz.

Wix has 10 years in lubricants and diesel exhaust fluids sales in the trucking and construction industries. Before joining U.S. Gain in February 2013, Wix was a territory manager for Mid-Town Petroleum/Reladyne in Chicago.

 

Brittany Ferries Prepares Way for New LNG-Powered Ship

December 21, 2016

Brittany Ferries has signed a letter of intent with the Flensburger Schiffbau shipyard in Germany to construct a new ship powered by LNG. The ship will be one of the cleanest, most environmentally-friendly ships to operate in UK waters.

“The signing of this letter of intent with the Flensburger shipyard is a concrete step towards the construction of a new generation of Brittany Ferries ships,” Christophe Mathieu, CEO, Brittany Ferrie. “Despite Brexit, we remain confident in our ability to continue to grow and modernize our route network, serving both tourism and trade in the regions of western Europe.”

More than four in five people travelling on the French company’s ships are British and more than 2.4 million passengers were carried in 2016. A final contract for the 1,680 passenger and 257 cabin vessel is expected to be signed in spring 2017, following which construction will start.

The new ship is expected to launch in 2019 on the Portsmouth­-Caen route which offers three daily return sailings.