President Obama Showcases Natural Gas Vehicle Project Organized By Gladstein, Neandross & Associates

Jan. 26, 2012 - PRLog -- In a presentation at UPS’ Las Vegas South facility today, President Barack Obama highlighted a project facilitated by Gladstein, Neandross, & Associates (GNA) as a prime example of American companies using domestic clean energy to accelerate job creation, incorporate technological innovation, and stimulate environmental and economic benefits at home.  GNA was responsible for securing over $14 million in funding via the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) on behalf of UPS and the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD), as well as for assembling the project team and overseeing contract administration and initial implementation.  The total ARRA funding awarded provided for three liquefied natural gas (LNG) fueling stations and the deployment of 150 heavy-duty natural gas trucks.

As part of this funding package, the “UPS Ontario-Las Vegas LNG Corridor Expansion Project” is already achieving significant economic and environmental benefits via the construction of one LNG fueling station and deployment of 48 heavy-duty natural gas trucks.  UPS has also invested in additional natural gas trucks as part of this project, thereby expanding the positive impacts of the initial federal funding.

In the 2012 State of the Union address delivered to members of Congress just two days earlier, the President reinforced that “the development of natural gas will create jobs and power trucks and factories that are cleaner and cheaper, proving that we don’t have to choose between our environment and our economy.”  His visit to the UPS facility underscores how natural gas transportation technologies, domestic energy, and a commitment to investing in U.S. infrastructure are key elements in the foundation of a successful economic recovery.  This specific project has directly led to the creation of 117 American jobs and is eliminating 1.25 million gallons of petroleum use per year, replacing it with cleaner burning, domestically-produced natural gas.  

UPS, the largest fleet operator in the United States, is now operating 59 LNG trucks between its Southern California and Las Vegas depots and over 1,000 natural gas trucks nationwide. The Class-8 LNG Kenworth trucks are powered by Westport HD engines.  The publicly-accessible Las Vegas fueling station was built and is operated by Clean Energy Fuels. The AQMD is overseeing grant administration and project management. GNA wrote the grant and worked with UPS to develop the project and key partnerships at this critical Las Vegas location.

Since 1996, GNA has been developing a public-access network of alternative fuel stations to link Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Reno and Sacramento via its Interstate Clean Transportation Corridor (ICTC) project.   The ICTC began as an initiative driven by the U.S Department of Energy’s (U.S. DOE’s) Clean Cities program and over the past 16 years has been supported by the AQMD, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the California Air Resources Board, the California Energy Commission, the Mohave Desert Air Quality Management District, San Bernardino Associated Governments, and the Riverside County Transportation Commission. Las Vegas is a key refueling point for UPS and other light, medium and heavy duty natural gas vehicle users traveling along I-15 and the ICTC network. This LNG station bridges the gap between Southern California and Utah’s extensive networks of natural gas fueling, finally enabling long-distance clean fuel LNG trucking from northern Utah all the way to the Southern California coast.

GNA chief executive officer Erik Neandross stated, “Our firm is exceptionally proud to be a part of this project recognized by President Obama.  GNA takes its role in directing the development of the ICTC very seriously and this Las Vegas station is a critical link in expansion of this system.  We are thrilled to have the national spotlight on the UPS project—a true success story and model for replication across the United States.”  Neandross added, “The President’s leadership in developing the domestic clean energy economy supports the work that GNA has been aggressively pursuing for nearly two decades.  We are thrilled to be celebrating the UPS project as a milestone in our firm’s history.”

President Obama’s emphasis on continued investment in clean energy technology and infrastructure development is in direct alignment with GNA’s core business focus on expanding markets for alternative fuels and vehicles.  The incentives and funding proposed by the President during his Las Vegas presentation will likely provide a boost to heavy-duty natural gas truck projects and advanced technology projects nationwide.

On August 26, 2009, Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. DOE Secretary Steven Chu announced awards totaling $300 million in grant funding through the DOE Clean Cities Program. Over 100 applications were submitted, seeking nearly $1 billion in funding. Of the 25 projects funded, 11 were assisted by GNA.  GNA helped its clients secure nearly 20% of all ARRA funding awarded by the U.S. DOE Clean Cities Program, including this UPS project.  

When fully implemented, these 11 projects will result in significant energy security, air quality and economic benefits. On an annual basis, the 924 low emission alternative fuel vehicles are projected to reduce:

•   7,437,884 gallons of petroleum demand;
•   5,825 metric tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions;
•   505 tons of smog-forming nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions; and,
•   7.41 tons of dangerous particulate matter (PM) emissions.

In addition to these environmental benefits, these truck and fuel station development efforts will result in a total project investment of $129,286,356 and will create and sustain 1,269 green jobs in the U.S.

About Gladstein, Neandross & Associates (GNA)
With headquarters in Santa Monica, California, and in New York, New York, GNA is one of the nation’s leading environmental consulting firms.  GNA specializes in emission reduction, energy and transportation policy, carbon management, and market development for clean, alternative fuel and efficient vehicle technologies. For nearly 20 years, GNA has worked with businesses, governments, and communities to develop strategies and raise awareness about projects and technologies that promote sustainable economies and environments.  GNA has successfully secured over $230 million in project funding on behalf of its clients and the multiple clean energy and transportation technology projects on which it has collaborated.

About the ICTC
The Interstate Clean Transportation Corridor (ICTC) Project is the most successful planned clean fuel corridor in the nation. The award-winning project was initiated by GNA in 1996 in partnership with the U.S. DOE Clean Cities Program. The ICTC seeks to build partnerships between public and private stakeholders to expand alternative fuel vehicle use and refueling station access throughout the Western United States. The ICTC continues to pursue expansion of a sustainable corridor of LNG refueling stations along key goods movement corridors in order to support the movement of goods by alternative fuel heavy-duty trucks throughout the Western United States. For more information: www.gladstein.org/ictc