SEAL BEACH, CA - Moving to expand its New York City network of CNG fueling facilities, Clean Energy Fuels Corp. has contracted to build and operate two new CNG stations in the New York area. 

Clean Energy is a leading provider of natural gas (CNG and LNG) for transportation in North America. 

The first station will be located in Queens, and the second CNG station will open adjacent to Newark's Liberty International Airport. Designed to support growing fleets of CNG taxis, limousines and paratransit vehicles, the Queens and Newark Airport stations will also be available 24/7 for public access. 

Clean Energy's Queens CNG facility will be built on property owned by Gene Friedman, New York City's largest taxi fleet owner. A substantial number of New York City taxis begin and end their work days in the general vicinity of the station. CNG station construction is set to begin next month with a targeted opening slated for the fall. 

At Newark Liberty International Airport, Clean Energy will co-locate a CNG fuel station at a major new convenience store/fueling facility operated by GAZ Realty, a national developer of super-stations and multi-service airport plazas. The Clean Energy/Newark Airport Plaza CNG station is scheduled to open in June of this year. 

"We are delighted with the station development relationships we have formed with Gene Friedman and GAZ Realty," said James Harger, Clean Energy chief marketing officer. "By expanding our CNG station network, we are responding directly to the growing demand for clean, green, domestic natural gas fuel that we have observed in the New York area, as fleet operators deploy increasing numbers of CNG vehicles." 

Natural gas produces up to 30 percent lower greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline in light-duty and medium-duty vehicles, and costs less per gallon. 

The new Queens and Newark Airport facilities join Clean Energy's existing CNG station at La Guardia Airport. In addition, as part of a recent agreement with utility operator National Grid, Clean Energy has assumed management responsibilities for four National Grid-owned CNG stations in the New York metropolitan area, including the station at John F. Kennedy International Airport. 

"These new and existing facilities are strategic fueling locations that provide a cleaner, less expensive fuel option for taxi and shuttle fleets serving local airports and the New York metropolitan area," Harger added.