Union Energy Solutions Limited Partnership, an unregulated affiliate of Union Gas Limited – an Enbridge Company, along with its industry partner Clean Energy Fuels Corp., have built a network of three compressed natural gas (CNG) fuelling stations at Flying J and Windsor travel centers along Ontario’s Highway 401.
This network of CNG stations will provide heavy-duty truck fleets with convenient access to one of the most affordable and clean transportation fuels commercially available, along some of the most heavily trafficked truck routes in Ontario.
“The transportation industry represents one of the largest challenges in achieving emission reduction targets for its sector,” said Mike Shannon, Vice President of Storage, Transmission & IMO, Enbridge, on behalf of Union Energy Solutions Limited Partnership. “Today, about 11 million passenger and commercial vehicles regularly travel Ontario roads. These CNG stations are amongst the first along the Hwy. 401 corridor and will provide a more affordable and cleaner-burning fuel alternative, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and giving fleet owners an incentive to consider moving away from conventional fuels such as gasoline and diesel.”
The three CNG stations are located at:
- Windsor Travel Centre – this location is the busiest border crossing in North America linking to the U.S. Midwest.
- Flying J, between London and Woodstock – this stretch of highway connects Highways 401, 402 and 403 with access to major U.S. border crossings.
- Flying J, Napanee in Eastern Ontario – this section of highway provides connectivity to Eastern Canada and Northeast U.S. border crossings.
The support from the federal government on this project was a critical resource in recognizing the important role that natural gas offerings play in providing affordable emission reduction choices for our country. Natural Resources Canada, through its Electric Vehicle and Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Deployment Initiative, contributed $3 million in total to the three stations.
“I want to congratulate Union Energy Solutions Limited Partnership and Enbridge on announcing the completion of three new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations,” said Monte McNaughton, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure. “Our government is expanding access to natural gas to make people’s lives easier and more affordable, and to signal Ontario is open for business.”
The London CNG station, located at one of the busiest travel centers in the province, will offer renewable natural gas (RNG) fuel supply chain from StormFisher Environmental Ltd., a nearby biogas facility. This station was designed and built in a manner that allows for efficient expansion to accommodate growth in this market.
“StormFisher operates an anaerobic digestion facility in London, Ontario ideally situated next to a medium pressure distribution pipeline a short distance from the new London CNG station,” said Brandon Moffatt, Vice-President, Development & Operations, StormFisher Environmental Ltd. “This partnership with Union Energy Solutions allows us to divert organic and agricultural waste from landfill, and repurpose it into renewable natural gas, creating a sustainable and carbon-neutral fuel source for a variety of service vehicles.”
Clean Energy Fuels Corp., the leading provider of natural gas fuel and renewable natural gas (RNG) fuel for transportation in North America, designed and built the three CNG stations. With a network of over 530 natural gas fuelling stations, Clean Energy Fuels Corp. owns and/or operates facilities in 43 U.S. states and other provinces in Canada.
“Natural gas as a transportation fuel is the best solution to deliver emission reductions associated with diesel fuel from our highways, roads and communities,” said Chad Lindholm, vice president at Clean Energy. “This network of CNG stations will enable heavy-duty truck fleets to confidently travel these routes ensuring they have sufficient fuel as they cross Canadian and provincial borders as well as travelling into the United States.”
CNGVA Applauds the Initiative
“Through significant industry and government collaboration, trucking fleets have greater access to public refueling stations that offer lower cost and lower emission natural gas refueling,” said Bruce Winchester, Executive Director of the Canadian Natural Gas Vehicle Alliance (CNGVA).
“Union Energy Solutions and Clean Energy Fuels are helping to unlock cost and emissions savings in Ontario and for Canadians – these three stations are a huge step forward,” he added.
Use of natural gas in the medium and heavy duty transportation sector has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by as much as 5.5 MTs according to a study by ICF International. The fuel also allows fleets to shift away from higher costs fuels. The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of natural gas vehicles and has actively supported this opportunity through its Natural Gas Vehicle Implementation Roadmap, and through the Electric Vehicle and Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Deployment Initiative – which assisted in funding today’s announced stations. Provincial governments have also recognized the natural gas vehicle opportunity with Ontario’s Made in Ontario Environment Plan outlining support for natural gas vehicles in the medium and heavy duty transportation sector.
