Clean Energy Fuels breaks ground on Bronx CNG fueling station

Pictured from left to right: Spiro Kattan, representative from DSNY; Andrew J. Littlefair, president and CEO, Clean Energy Fuels; Mark Riley, vice president East Coast, Clean Energy Fuels; Steve Tufo, transportation manager, Baldor Specialty Foods

Clean Energy Fuels Corp., a Newport Beach, California-based provider of natural gas fuel for transportation in North America, the City of New York, and community leaders broke ground on a new, state-of-the-art compressed natural gas (CNG) station in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx that will fuel multiple fleets operating across the city.

Joining Clean Energy at the ceremony were Department of Transportation (DOT) Bronx Borough Commissioner Nivardo Lopez, Department of Sanitation (DSNY) Deputy Commissioner Rocky DiRico, and representatives from several fleets that will use the station once it opens in 2018.

“There are currently thousands of vehicles from refuse trucks to shuttles to gourmet food delivery trucks that operate on natural gas, and the air over New York is cleaner because of it,” said Andrew J. Littlefair, President and CEO of Clean Energy. “This new station in the Bronx will allow more fleets, both public and private, to realize the economic and environmental benefits of fueling with natural gas.”

“DOT is proud to be part of this unique groundbreaking, which will benefit the Hunts Point community and all of New York City,” said Nivardo Lopez, Bronx Borough Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation. “From our Clean Trucks program which reduces pollution to energy efficient goals laid out in our Strategic Plan, we look forward to participating in ways to make our city as green as possible.”

DSNY currently operates collection trucks and street sweepers with CNG and calculates its GHG reductions at an estimated 450 metric tons. Also committing to take advantage of the new fueling station when it opens next year is Hunts Point staple Baldor Specialty Foods, whose company culture includes sustainable initiatives such as the use of alternative fuels to power its fleet.

“In a city the size of New York, we all must do our part to ensure we provide the services our residents’ need while doing so in a responsible manner, and that includes reducing emissions from vehicles,” said Councilmember Rafael Salamanca Jr.

“We’re very pleased to have worked with the developers of Clean Energy Fuels on this project,” said Marc Huestis, Senior Vice President of Gas Operations for Con Edison. “Not only is natural gas better for the environment than diesel or gasoline, the other innovative clean technologies that will be incorporated into this facility will further improve the city’s air quality for all of our residents

Clean Energy Fuel says it continues to promote the use of CNG across New York City, including the addition of the JFK multifuel travel plaza at Kennedy Airport, New York City’s only travel plaza for motorists. The price of natural gas fuel can be up to $1.50 less per gallon compared to gasoline or diesel.