| Louisville Slugger! National NGV Fleet Summit Is a Home Run Event for Natural Gas Vehicle Industry Stakeholders |
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LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - March 25, 2010 - Breaking new ground in the quest to inform America’s fleets about the benefits of natural gas, the National Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) Fleet Summit assembled a powerhouse of OEM executives, gas suppliers, industry analysts, and America’s top fleet managers for a one-day conference just prior to the opening of the 39th annual Mid-America Trucking Show. The event was attended by over 200 individuals, with more than half of the attendance comprised of the nation’s leading heavy-duty fleet operators such as Coca-Cola, U.S. Foodservice, United Parcel Service, Dillon Transport, Dean Foods, Meijer, and many others. Presented by lead sponsor Clean Energy, the conference provided detailed information about the opportunities and advantages of using liquefied natural gas (LNG) or compressed natural gas (CNG) as fuel in over-the-road trucking. The goal of the event was to provide fleet managers with expertise from fleets who have been using NGVs for years, as well as to connect them with station developers, fuel suppliers, truck and engine manufacturers, and key industry experts able to assist them with launching their own development and deployment projects. Alternative energy advocate T. Boone Pickens provided the Luncheon Keynote Address, mesmerizing a packed house with the engaging delivery of his message about the importance of moving away from dependence on imported petroleum. “The United States must get off its 40 year reliance on foreign oil,” said Mr. Pickens, “Natural gas is ours in abundance—it’s cheaper, cleaner and domestic.” His presentation focused on what he sees as a surefire recipe for disaster—that the United States with just 4% of the world’s population uses 25% of the world’s oil supply. He further noted, “The U.S. lags way behind the rest of the world in the use of natural gas as a fuel in vehicles, with 12 million CNG vehicles in the world and just 180,000 here, in spite of the fact that the U.S. has the world’s largest natural gas reserves.” Mr. Pickens created a forum for back-and-forth dialog during the question and answer period but ultimately left the ball in the attendees’ court, challenging them to make their own decision about what role they will play in increasing America’s energy independence. This impressive keynote paved the way for presentations from both NGV America and EnCana (North America’s largest natural gas producer), who briefed attendees on legislation that could significantly change the economics of natural gas as well as on factors affecting global supply and pricing. Other sessions included conversations with top fleets eager to share their own experiences using natural gas. “We cannot sustain gasoline and diesel fuel as we consume as a society,” said Robert Hall, Director of Maintenance and Engineering for UPS’ ground fleet. “Natural gas certainly, we believe, is a good choice. We feel it’s a very safe fuel and drivers no longer question the use of CNG,” he commented, further adding, “We believe fueling infrastructure needs to be developed further--that is going to happen.” Product Strategy Director Richard Shearing from Daimler Trucks North America was a participant on the OEM panel and stated, “Entry into the natural gas segment was absolutely a smart decision. The company currently has over 500 heavy duty tractors in service and thousands of additional NGVs across the family of Daimler brands.” Daimler showcased two Freightliner M2 112 trucks at the event and made one available for a hands-on Ride & Drive. New products were also highlighted with announcements from both Kenworth and Peterbilt about their expanded product lineups. Kenworth announced that its T440 model will be adding a natural gas engine option that can operate on either CNG or LNG. Peterbilt announced full production capability of natural gas powered Peterbilt truck Models 384, 365 and 320, also powered by either CNG or LNG. Both the Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks will be powered by the Cummins Westport ISL-G engine. Daimler Trucks North America, Kenworth, and Peterbilt were Platinum Sponsors of the National NGV Fleet Summit. This event was organized by Gladstein, Neandross & Associates (GNA), an environmental consulting firm with offices in Santa Monica, California and New York City. The Summit was created in response to strong interest from several of its clients and a demonstrated need for a “one-stop-shop” for information and updates. “NGVs are truly ready for prime time,” said Erik Neandross, Chief Executive Officer of GNA. “New OEM products, significantly increased domestic natural gas supplies, continued fleet investment and cost savings, and tremendous opportunities for the industry in the NAT GAS Act are making NGVs a very attractive choice for America’s private fleets. As a full service consulting firm that specializes in the development of natural gas truck projects and fueling stations, GNA has been working with early adopters of this technology for years--now was the time for those existing NGV fleets to share their experiences with others as we continue to grow this important market.” Neandross further added, “Given the strong showing of media here to cover the event, we’re confident the timing and relevance of this event could not have been better.” The National NGV Fleet Summit was held in Louisville, Kentucky at the Crowne Plaza Louisville Airport on March 24, 2010, the day before the VIP opening of the largest heavy-duty trucking event of the year, the Mid-America Trucking Show. Speakers and agenda details are available on the event website (www.ngvsummit.com). Presentations from the event are available to attendees or by contacting the event organizers at 888-993-0302. About GNA Contact:
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