USA, San Francisco

San Francisco's new city Green Taxi mandate has been boosted by a new contract with Clean Energy Fuels Corp. to supply compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel and provide operations and maintenance for the CNG fueling station located near the base of the Golden Gate Bridge in the Presidio.  The station currently provides fuel for shuttle buses serving residents of and tourists at the Presidio, adjacent to the city's Marina District.  The agreement calls for opening the station to full public use by taxis and shuttles serving the City of San Francisco. 

Expanding the network of CNG fueling stations in the San Francisco Bay area and will help serve the growing fleet of CNG taxis resulting from Mayor Gavin Newsom's Green Taxi Program, which seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions significantly.

An estimated 1,500 taxis serve the city currently, of which approximately 200 already are hybrid or CNG vehicles.  Mayor Newsom's office expects the Green Taxi Program to result in a taxi fleet that is 100% CNG vehicles or hybrids by 2011.

James N. Harger, Clean Energy Senior Vice President, Marketing and Sales said, "The lower cost of natural gas versus gasoline and durability of CNG taxis add even more value for the taxi drivers and the passengers they serve."