Chesapeake Energy Fleet Vehicle
Initiative Reduces Energy Consumption, Lowers Carbon Emissions; Promotes Growth in CNG Vehicle Use and Market
Plans Total Fleet Conversion of 3,300 Vehicles over Next 3-4 Years
US natural gas producer Chesapeake Energy Corporation was recognized by the NAFA Fleet Management Association (NAFA) for its environmental leadership when it was awarded the 2010 Sustainable Fleet Award. Presented by NAFA during its annual Institute & Expo held in Detroit, Michigan, the award recognized Chesapeake’s program to convert its light-duty truck fleet to operate on clean-burning American natural gas.
An international competition, NAFA’s Sustainable Fleet Award recognizes ground-breaking fleet programs for reducing energy consumption, lowering carbon emissions and reducing operating expenses. Chesapeake was recognized in the Sedan/Light-Duty – Non-Mandated Clean Air Category, highlighting Sedans/light-duty fleets located in areas of the U.S. or Canada that are not covered by a government mandate to reduce carbon emissions.
The Sustainable Fleet Award was presented by NAFA‘s Treasurer, Bryan Flansburg, who directs the association’s Fuels & Technology Advisory Council, and was accepted by Anthony Foster, Chesapeake’s Fleet Operations Manager. “It is a privilege to accept this award on behalf of Chesapeake and our NGV Team. As Fleet Managers, we want to have a positive impact on the communities where we operate. Converting our company fleet to run on clean, American natural gas is one way we can have a positive impact because CNG is good for both the environment and economy,” said Foster.
Aubrey K. McClendon, Chesapeake’s Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We appreciate this recognition by NAFA of our NGV program, which was implemented as we convert our entire fleet to run on CNG as part of our corporate ‘Fueling America’s Future Initiative’. Our country enjoys a significant competitive advantage when it comes to addressing economic, environmental and energy issues from the discovery and development of a once unimaginable supply of natural gas. Without question, natural gas will allow our country to transition our transportation system away from expensive and carbon-heavy gasoline and diesel towards carbon-light, affordable American produced natural gas. At Chesapeake, we always try to lead by example, encourage innovation and invest in the greater use of natural gas, which we know is a superior fuel for transportation, power generation and industrial usage.”
CNG has up to 30% less carbon dioxide, 97% less carbon monoxide, 99% less Particulate Matter, and 100% less evaporative emissions than gasoline. CNG costs approximately 50% less per gallon than gasoline and diesel.
Chesapeake will convert 1,000 trucks within its corporate fleet in the next 12-18 months with plans to convert the entire fleet of 3,300 over the next 3-4 years. Through the fleet conversion, Chesapeake will enable local fuel retailers to add CNG pumps to existing facilities or build new CNG stations that will provide public fueling for the community as well as access for Chesapeake’s fleet. As a result of the first phase of this program, nine public CNG stations will be built this year in Oklahoma and two in Arkansas. The company plans to expand the program to its other operating regions throughout the country over the next four years.
The NAFA award follows success at the end of 2009, when Chesapeake Energy Corporation was named Energy Producer of the Year at the 11th Annual Platts Global Energy Awards program in New York and also received the Industry Leadership Award. The panel of judges said in addition to the company’s success in providing new supplies of natural gas from shales, “Chesapeake has done a masterful job campaigning for natural gas to become the fuel of the future.”
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