By Greentech Lead Team: Andersen Corporation, a window
and door manufacturer in North America, has opened a new Compressed Natural Gas
(CNG) fueling station near the company’s Menomonie, Wisconsin plant. The new
fueling station provides a new alternative fuel source for Andersen’s
transportation fleet.
Station will support company’s fleet conversion, reduce
emissions by 28 percent per year. Andersen begins to convert its
transportation fleet to CNG, reducing both operating costs and carbon dioxide
emissions for the company. The total savings that Andersen will gain in moving
to CNG will range between $1.25 and $1.75 per gallon.
“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,” saidLance
Whitacre, vice president, logistics at Andersen Corporation.
Andersen has partnered with Dart Transit Company, U.S.
Oil (a division of U.S. Venture, Inc.), Breakthrough Fuel, and Xcel Energy to
initiate this CNG station.
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.
“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,” Whitacre
added.
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.
The company plans to add more trucks to the program to
support their efforts to pursue local, cleaner energy options and reduce total
emissions.
Recently, Andersen Corporation was awarded the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2012 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence
Award for its family of brands including Andersen Windows, Renewal by Andersen,
Eagle Window & Door, American Craftsman Window & Door Company and
Silver Line Building Products.