International
More passengers move with biogas in Santa Monica and at LAX airport
As the demand for clean, cost-effective renewable natural gas as a vehicle fuel continues to rise, Clean Energy Fuels inked more contracts to provide its Redeem™ renewable natural gas to power fleets across multiple sectors that include transit, trucking, airports, solid waste and service vehicles. More fleets are transitioning to natural gas vehicles for their performance, cost savings, environmental advantages and extensive nationwide fueling network, with sales this year on an upward trajectory.
Long-time customer and an early adopter of Redeem, the Big Blue Bus in Santa Monica has extended its contract with Clean Energy with an anticipated 2.3 million gallons of Redeem per year to fuel its 200 municipal buses. Big Blue Bus transports 44,000 passengers daily across a 58-square mile service area. Nationally recognized for its long-standing commitment to a cleaner environment, the entire fleet operates on alternative fuels, including LNG/CNG, which helps to cut emissions by over 70%.
“We’re proud to continue our partnership with Big Blue Bus and share its commitment to sustainability. Their natural gas buses are providing healthier air for people in and around Santa Monica and the use of Redeem is significantly reducing greenhouse gas and long-term climate change issues,” said Chad Lindholm, vice president, Clean Energy. The company also supplies Redeem for other Santa Monica CNG fleet vehicles including maintenance trucks, refuse trucks and shuttle buses.
In addition, ABM Aviation, whose fleet of vehicles have helped ease congestion and move travelers at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) during its massive remodeling project, has recently contracted with Clean Energy to provide an expected 180,000 gallons of Redeem for 10 new passenger buses.
The demand for CNG buses remains strong as several Clean Energy customers including Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Foothill Transit, City of Phoenix, Fresno Area Express, City of Lodi, and Translink are placing new CNG buses into service this year. LA Metro also recently finished upgrading 125 of its buses with the near-zero emissions natural gas engines that reduce smog-producing pollutants by 90%.
Moreover, private transit contractor Transdev has signed an agreement with Clean Energy to build a private fueling station in Los Angeles for dispensing existing contracted volumes of an estimated 2.8 million gallons of Redeem. Omnitrans has also selected Clean Energy to provide operations and maintenance services for its two CNG stations, which dispense a combined annual 3.5 million gallons. Clean Energy will be the agency’s exclusive provider for up to five years.