Lehigh Gas Partners LP, a wholesale distributor of motor fuels, and Clean Energy Fuels Corp., North American provider of natural gas for transportation, have agreed to develop compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling stations at potentially 20 Lehigh Gas facilities throughout the United States.

The two companies will work together to identify Lehigh Gas sites on which to construct CNG fueling stations. The CNG stations will be accessible to the public for CNG refueling and conveniently located for commercial CNG fleets, including shuttles, taxis, small- to mid-size trucks and other natural gas vehicles (NGVs). Clean Energy will be responsible for the construction and operation of the CNG fueling stations and the management, marketing and sales of CNG at Lehigh Gas sites.

“Lehigh Gas appreciates the leadership position Clean Energy has taken in the development of CNG and is pleased to partner with them to offer an alternative fuel option to help people get where they need to go,” said Joseph Topper, chairman and CEO of Lehigh Gas Partners. “This agreement supports our alternate-fuel strategy of developing refueling sites both on our own and also with best-in-class providers like Clean Energy,” Topper added.

“Lehigh Gas has been early to recognize the significant environmental and lower-cost benefits of natural gas and is a great fit as Clean Energy’s partner in publicly accessible CNG stations,” said Greg Roche, Clean Energy’s vice president for national accounts.”The two companies have unique strengths that will bring convenience, cost-savings and a cleaner-burning fuel to the growing number of NGV drivers,” Roche added.

Priced up to $1.50 less per gasoline-gallon equivalent than diesel fuel (based on current market conditions), the use of natural-gas fuel reduces costs significantly for vehicle and fleet owners and lowers greenhouse-gas emissions up to 23 percent in medium- to heavy-duty vehicles, according to Clean Energy. Additionally, natural gas is a secure North American energy source, as 98 percent of the natural gas consumed in the United States is produced in the United States and Canada.

(Source: Clean Energy)