American Natural Gas (ANG), a distributor of alternative motor fuels in the U.S. Northeast, has completed a new compressed natural gas (CNG) facility at the Tops Friendly Markets distribution center in Lancaster, New York. The facility, employing ANG’s customized, cold weather-reliable systems, will fuel Tops’ new fleet of 55 Ryder CNG tractors, a 100% full service lease replacement for its diesel-powered fleet.
These systems feature two points of temperature compensation and top-of-the-line Cobey Energy compressors, which ANG is the exclusive distributor of.
Twin 400 horsepower compressors, with a combined output of approximately 2400 SCFM (17 GGE/minute), will meet the high-flow needed for the narrow time windows Tops’ class 8 tractors have to fuel up. Tops is expected to use a minimum of 1,200,000 diesel gallon equivalent (DGE) of CNG per year, making this one of the largest CNG stations in New York state and the country.
“This Tops project is going to set the pace for the grocery industry. The state-of-the-art, heavy-duty CNG fueling station and strategy will save fuel and protect the environment,”said Drew West, CEO of ANG.
The use of CNG is expected to help Tops reduce its greenhouse gas emissions (including 6,276,421 lbs of CO2), run quieter engines, and conserve over 1,200,000 gallons of diesel fuel each year. The switch to CNG is also expected to reduce the company’s fuel costs by 50%.
Ron Ferri, Senior Vice President of Distribution and Logistics at Tops: “With Ryder’s natural gas vehicles and the ANG fueling station we have the confidence that we can get the service and performance we need from our new natural gas fleet. Our operation will be more cost-effective and environmentally friendly.”
ANG is leasing the property for the fueling station from Tops. Their relationship will continue as ANG owns, operates, and maintains the facility.
(Source: American Natural Gas, LLC)
