BAYPORT, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Andersen Corporation today celebrates the grand opening of a new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fueling station near the company’s Menomonie, Wisconsin plant. Located at the Cedar County Cooperative Cenex, this station provides a new alternative fuel source for Andersen as it begins to convert its transportation fleet to CNG, reducing both operating costs and carbon dioxide emissions for the company.
The CNG station is the result of a unique partnership between Andersen, Dart Transit Company, U.S. Oil (a division of U.S. Venture, Inc.), Breakthrough®Fuel, and Xcel Energy, and highlights a new type of market collaboration implementing this new technology. The conversion of the first seven trucks to CNG will reduce emissions by 28 percent per year. The total savings that Andersen will gain in moving to CNG will range between $1.25 and $1.75 per gallon, depending on the market price of diesel.
“We believe finding new ways to use alternative energy is one way to help restore economic growth for everyone, and this project shows how the rubber literally meets the road,” said Lance Whitacre, vice president, logistics at Andersen Corporation. “Leveraging this unique partnership today yields far-reaching benefits for us that improve the triple bottom line – good for people, profitable for companies and beneficial for the environment.”
Natural gas vehicles show an average reduction in ozone-forming emissions of 80 percent compared to diesel-powered vehicles. Additionally, more than 99 percent of the natural gas used in the United States comes from domestic or other North American sources. Compared to liquefied natural gas and diesel fuel, CNG has the lowest price, lowest emissions and an extensive infrastructure in place. Of the 1,000 CNG stations in North America, though, less than half of those are truck-friendly.
The project uses Dart Transit’s Eco Tractor™ powered by U.S. Oil’s GAIN™ CNG supply program to provide the fuel, and Breakthrough®Fuel’s fuel management process to both track the program’s results and pinpoint opportunities to make the program even more efficient. Grants from the Wisconsin State Energy Office were also awarded to support this project.
Each truck will be able to achieve about 60 diesel gallon equivalents at 5.7 mpg, yielding a potential range of 342 miles per truck between fueling. The company plans to add more trucks to the program to support their efforts to pursue local, cleaner energy options and reduce total emissions.
ABOUT The Partners:
Andersen Corporation
Andersen Corporation is the largest
window and door manufacturer in North America, and the Andersen® brand
is the most recognized and most used brand in the window and patio door
industry. The privately owned company was founded in 1903 and has a
strong history of commitment to its business partners, employees,
community and environmental stewardship. Andersen was awarded the 2011
ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year award for the Product
Manufacturer—Windows category for its family of brands. The company
employs 9,000 people and markets products throughout North America and
in South America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Dart Transit
Founded in 1934 as a family-owned business,
Dart Transit Company has grown to become one of America’s largest and
most successful truckload dry van carriers. In 2011 The American
Trucking Association ranked Dart as America’s 11th largest truckload
carriers with revenue totaling $474 million. Dart provides shippers with
a wide variety of transportation related services through the Dart
Network of companies. Dart offers truckload service in all 48-states
with long haul, dedicated, regional, and short-haul service options,
plus truck/train intermodal service through Dart Intermodal Inc. Dart
also provides logistic and brokerage services through Dart Advantage
Logistics Inc. and storage services through Dart Advantage Warehousing
Inc. and Dart Portable Storage Inc.
U.S. Oil
Headquartered in Appleton Wisconsin, U.S. Oil is a
division of U.S. Venture Inc., a leading energy and transportation
products distributor and marketer. Their customer promise “Finding a
better way” delivers unconventional, creative solutions that give their
customers a competitive edge. U.S. Oil has been recognized as the
innovative leader in the distribution of petroleum and renewable energy
products and lubricants for over 60 years.
Breakthrough®Fuel
Breakthrough®Fuel works with market
leading shippers to manage the energy and information that fuels their
supply chain. With a focus on reducing fuel costs, fuel consumption and
emissions, Breakthrough®Fuel has helped clients manage a cost previously
viewed as unmanageable. The company was founded in 2004 and is
headquartered in Green Bay, WI.
Xcel Energy
For more than 75 years, Xcel Energy and its
predecessor companies have served homes and businesses in northern and
western Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Today, Xcel Energy is
the nation’s fifth largest combination electric and natural gas utility
with regulated operations in eight states. Its Wisconsin & Michigan
headquarters are in Eau Claire, Wis., and the company employs more than
1,000 people in the two states where it serves about 260,000 electric
and 105,000 natural gas customers.
“Andersen” and the AW logo are registered trademarks of Andersen Corporation.
© 2012 Andersen Corporation. All rights reserved.