Future Fuel of
Future of Fuel is a quarterly newsletter produced by the Department of MLGW Energy Resources
Spring/Summer 2015
MLGW celebrates opening of second CNG station with Rally Across Tennessee
MLGW Hosts CNG Across Tennessee By Lela Garlington
A garbage truck, a police car, utility vehicles and several 18 wheelers lined the South Center Fueling Station without using a drop of gasoline or diesel to get there. Memphis Light Gas and Water’s South Center Fueling Station’s recent celebration and ribbon cutting highlights how more and more public and private entities are taking advantage of compressed natural gas as an alternative fuel source.
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About 100 people attended the May 18 event in which MLGW’s Vice President of Engineering and Operations Alonzo Weaver pointed out that the two compressed gas stations sold over 250,000 GGE last year. “We are proud to be leading the way to help the environment,” he said. The South Center officially opened for business in November 2014. The five city rally across the state started with Memphis, with stops in Trenton, Nashville and Athens before reaching Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, where Dolly’s Trolleys run on CNG.
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“Natural Gas transportation is here and growing every day,” said Gibson County Utility District General Manager Pat Riley, who also is chairman of the Tennessee Gas Association’s Natural Gas Vehicles Committee. “There are over 15 million natural gas vehicles in the world, and we have more natural gas than anybody.” CNG is roughly 30 percent cheaper than diesel fuel and reduces carbon dioxide emissions by up to 30 percent. MLGW owns just under 100 CNG powered Vehicles and four tank trailers. At the rally, local industry leaders Inland Waste, Dillon Transport and Swift Transportation were recognized as Blue Flame award winners for their CNG consumption used among their growing fleet of natural gas trucks.
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MLGW was also presented with the Innovator Award by the Tennessee Gas Association. The South Center CNG Fueling Station is located at 3071 S. Center Rd. just off Brooks Rd. and US Hwy 61.
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Cover Chris Bieber, VP Customer Care, Alonzo Weaver,
VP Engineering, Phil Trenary, President Greater Memphis Chamber, Pat Riley, GM Gibson County Utilities, Michael Taylor, Asst. Mgr. Commercial/ Industrial Customer Care and Councilman Harold Collins cut the ribbon officially opening the South CNG fueling station.
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Judith Wrushen and Pam Pettis of Energy Resources sign in rally goers.
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Rally sponsor David Tucker, Atmos Energy models the official t-shirt, while Lillian Johnson from Corp. Communications gathers information.
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Dan Crump with Swift Transportation shows off their CNG storage tanks.
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Pat Riley, NGV Chair talks about the benefits of CNG and Lynette DiMeola, Executive Director TGA presents MLGW with The Innovator Award.
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Close to 20 NGVs lined the South Center fueling station with the next stop being Trenton, TN.
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Blue Flame Award recipients: Keith Richardson, Inland Waste Solutions, Brad Sowell, Dillon Transport and Dan Crump, Swift Transportation.
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All speakers and Blue Flame recipients, including Ray Ward, P.E. of Gas Engineering, pose for a photo op.
10 Alonzo Weaver, VP of Engineering and Operations, congratulates and chats with Brad Sowell of Dillon Transport. Photos By Jermel Tucker and Lela Garlington
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In addition, the 2015 awards roster includes one Pursuit of Excellence Award, which recognizes past award winners who continue to demonstrate a high regard for environmental stewardship practices. The Robert Sparks Walker Lifetime Achievement Award will be announced at the awards ceremony.
Haslam, TDEC Announce 2015 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award Winners
MLGW Clean Air Category
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner Bob Martineau today announced the winners of the 2015 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards (GESAs). The 11 winners will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Nashville on June 23. “Today’s award winners have demonstrated a commitment to our environment that will pay dividends for current Tennessee residents and generations to come,” Haslam said. “We want to thank all of the nominees for playing an important role in the continued health of Tennessee’s air, land and water.” “The quality of our environment directly impacts our quality of life, impacting how Tennesseans live, work and play,” added TDEC Commissioner Bob Martineau. “It’s important that we pause to recognize the people and organizations that work so hard to protect our environment while teaching others about sustainability.” The Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards program recognizes exceptional voluntary actions that improve or protect the environment and natural resources with projects or initiatives not required by law or regulation. Now in its 29th year, the GESAs cover nine categories: Building Green; Clean Air, Energy and Renewable Resources; Environmental Education and Outreach; Environmental Education and Outreach (school category); Land Use; Materials Management; Natural Heritage; and Sustainable Performance.
A panel of 22 professionals representing agricultural, conservation, forestry, environmental and academic professionals judged more than 80 nominations and selected this year’s award recipients based on criteria including on-the-ground achievement, innovation and public education.
Category: Clean Air Building a Natural Gas Infrastructure (Shelby County) - Memphis Light Gas and Water (MLGW) is reducing area diesel emissions and improving air quality in Memphis and on state highways by building and assisting in the development of natural gas fueling stations. Providing alternative fuels helps to reduce air pollution and address the city’s poor air quality. MLGW is currently operating the only public access compressed natural gas station in Memphis. In 2014, it built a second compressed natural gas station in South Memphis and there are plans to construct a third one. MLGW has 92 compressed natural gas powered vehicles and four tank trailers allowing them to save more than 37,000 gallons of gasoline and more than 100 tons of greenhouse gas. Last year, their stations sold more than 250,000 units of compressed natural gas which resulted in reductions of greenhouse gas emissions, NOx and VOCs, particulate matter and other tailpipe air pollutants. In 2014, MLGW’s fueling station enabled local companies to switch out their fleets to compressed natural gas because of easy access to their fueling stations. Inland Waste, a garbage collection in Memphis, purchased 24 new trash trucks powered by compressed natural gas; which in turn saves the company’s bottom line 30 percent and reduces its emissions by 90 percent per truck.