SEAL BEACH, CA --- The city of San Antonio, TX, and Clean Energy Fuels Corp. co-hosted ceremonies on Jan. 14 to dedicate the city's new compressed natural gas (CNG) station that will provide fuel to the city's expanding fleet of natural gas refuse trucks.

The city hired Clean Energy to design and construct the new CNG refuse truck fuel station. Clean Energy's operation and maintenance contract is for five years with a five-year option. The city used federal and state funding to assist with CNG station and new vehicle expenses, including a grant from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to help offset station construction costs.

Guest speakers at the Jan. 14 ceremony included: T. Boone Pickens, Clean Energy co-founder and board member; San Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger; City Manager Sheryl Sculley; and David McCary, city director of environmental services.

Pickens said, "A growing number of local governments are recognizing the important role they play to help reduce our foreign oil dependency through greater use of domestic resources such as natural gas. I certainly applaud San Antonio's leadership in that regard. This will lead to significant economic and environmental benefits long term that cannot be underestimated."

San Antonio will operate a fleet of 30 CNG-powered refuse trucks by March 2009 and could significantly increase its CNG fleet size in the coming years.

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