'America's Natural Gas Highway' Plans Revealed

SEAL BEACH, Calif. -- A total of 70 liquefied natural gas (LNG) stations are expected to open by the end of this year, natural gas provider Clean Energy Fuels Corp. announced this morning. Most of the LNG stations -- part of what's been dubbed "America's Natural Gas Highway" -- will be co-located with Pilot Flying J, which operates more than 550 retail properties in 47 states.

Clean Energy Fuels said it has already handpicked 98 locations to install LNG stations. The company reported that it expects to open 150 LNG stations by the end of 2013.

The first stations will link San Diego, Los Angeles, Riverside, Calif., and Las Vegas; Houston, San Antonio and Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas; Los Angeles and Dallas; Houston and Chicago; and Chicago and Atlanta.

The completion of the LNG stations on "America's Natural Gas Highway" coincide with the expected arrival of natural gas truck engines well suited for heavy-duty, over-the-road trucking, said Andrew J. Littlefair, Clean Energy's president and CEO.

"We are moving quickly to build this important network in order to support the new trucks," he said. "Already, Clean Energy has engaged over 100 shippers, private fleets and for-hire carriers that have shared their operations to qualify for the economic opportunity of operating natural gas trucks, which has helped us, in turn, plan the first phase of the natural gas fueling highway."

Natural gas is considered to be a formidable petroleum alternative because it is less expensive at the pump, cleaner burning and manufactured locally in the United States compared to its biodiesel counterpart, according to several experts who have spoken to CSNews Online.

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