The U.S. State of Ohio recently opened its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuelling station. The U.S. Energy Department (DOE) says the station will be an important stop along a new series of corridors now being equipped with LNG infrastructure, that will enable trucks to ship goods across the country using this alternative fuel.
The new station, located in Seville on property owned by Pilot Flying J Truck Travel Centers, was constructed by Clean Energy Fuels and is open 24/7 for public access. It will support the expanding fleet of LNG trucks deployed by major contract freight carrier Dillon Transport serving Owens Corning.
James Harger, Chief Marketing Officer, Clean Energy, said, “The opening of this new Clean Energy LNG truck fueling station, the first in the industrial heartland of America, is a major step toward realizing our program to create a national LNG fueling infrastructure that will extend along major truck routes nationwide.”
“We believe natural gas will be a mainstream alternative to diesel for class 8 truck fuel,” said Jeff Dillon, President of Dillon Transport. “Our goal is to continue to field natural gas vehicles in support of our strategic partners’ initiatives of environmental stewardship and cost reduction,” he added.
The LNG station and vehicles are part of the Ohio Advanced Transportation Partnership project, which received an $11 million Energy Department investment under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The federal funding will be leveraged with more than $18 million in funding from the private sector and other sources. When complete, the Department estimates the project will support another 284 alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles and 39 alternative fuel and charging stations, displacing more than 875,000 gallons of petroleum annually.
Within DOE, the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) describes alternative fuel vehicles and station projects like this one as part of a comprehensive strategy to cut America’s dependence on foreign oil, reduce emissions, drive down transportation costs, and help protect American families and businesses from high gasoline and oil prices.
(This article compiled using information from EERE and Clean Energy Fuels press releases)
