Clean Energy Bunkers Isla Bella with LNG
Clean Energy Fuels Corp. participated in a little history last month when it supported General Dynamics (GD) NASSCO’s launch of the Isla Bella container ship, the first of its kind to operate on LNG fuel.
Clean Energy provided bunkering services and fuel from its Boron, CA liquefaction plant for the GD NASSCO-built cargo ship, which was delivered to TOTE Maritime in San Diego. Clean Energy will also be providing bunkering services next month to the second GD NASSCO-built ship, the Perla Del Caribe.
“As the maritime industry begins its transition to LNG, Clean Energy is able to bring our many years of fueling services to ensure an easy and seamless transition,” said Andrew J. Littlefair, president and CEO of Clean Energy. “We applaud NASSCO and TOTE as world leaders in the introduction of the clean fuel to the commercial shipping industry. The use of natural gas is continuing to expand across the various transportation sectors and is the best choice economically and environmentally.”
By using natural gas, these TOTE vessels will be the cleanest cargo-carrying ships in the world and equivalent to removing 15,700 vehicles from the road.
The Company is on Track to Complete 68 Station Projects in 2015
Clean Energy signed additional agreements across transportation market segments of transit, refuse and trucking and is on track to complete 68 station projects before the end of the calendar year. These include new CNG and LNG stations as well as expansion and upgrades of existing stations. This is a comparable number to previous years when oil prices were significantly higher demonstrating the viability of natural gas as a competitive fuel in all market environments due to its price stability and cleaner profile.
Natural gas fuel costs up to $1.00 less than gasoline or diesel, depending on local market conditions. The use of natural gas fuel also reduces greenhouse gas emissions up to 30% in light-duty vehicles and 23% in medium to heavy-duty vehicles. In addition, nearly all natural gas consumed in North America is produced in North America.