Clean Energy Fuels Corp. plans to expand its existing network of liquefied natural gas (LNG) truck fueling stations in Southern California this year beyond its current two LNG stations located at the Los Angeles/Long Beach ports complex. New or upgraded Clean Energy LNG fueling facilities are planned for strategic points along truck transport routes in the California cities of Los Angeles, Commerce, Industry, Fontana, Riverside, Tulare, Barstow and Otay Mesa/San Diego. This hub of stations will form the backbone upon which Clean Energy intends to expand its LNG fueling efforts into the Southwestern region of the United States.
The Southern California network will enable goods to be transported via clean-burning natural gas trucks within local urban areas and along regional goods-movement corridors. Trucks will be able to transport goods from the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports, deliver them to distribution centers, and take the goods directly to stores in local communities.
“This augmented LNG truck fueling capability plays a key role in the creation of a full-scale Southwest LNG truck-fueling corridor. We plan to connect this group of LNG fueling stations in Southern California to Northern California, Arizona, Nevada and Utah,” says Andrew Littlefair, president and CEO of Clean Energy. “The development of the new station infrastructure is a direct response to the increased demand for natural gas fuel we have observed, as major trucking companies secure and deploy LNG-powered trucks at the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports and throughout the region.”
Adjacent to the ports complex, Clean Energy operates a public LNG truck fueling station. Located on a 2.7-acre site, the station is the second that the company has opened in the area to serve natural gas-powered port drayage trucks. The first, operational since December 2007, is located nearby in Carson, Calif.
These two LNG stations were specifically designed by Clean Energy to support the goals of the San Pedro Bay Ports’ Clean Air Action Plan and Clean Truck programs. These programs call for the retirement or conversion of old diesel trucks entering the ports in favor of new cleaner-burning and alternative-fueled trucks. Natural gas vehicle fuel provides lower emissions than gasoline and diesel, including up to a 23% reduction in greenhouse gases in medium-and heavy-duty trucking applications. The domestic natural gas used by the trucks also reduces America’s dependence on imported oil.
