Love's Trillium CNG Wins PennDOT Contract

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) awarded a substantial contract to Trillium CNG, the Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores-owned compressed natural gas (CNG) company.

Trillium and PennDOT will enter a 20-year public-private partnership in which Trillium will design, build, operate and maintain 29 CNG facilities in Pennsylvania.

"This is an expansive project that will provide cleaner-burning fuel at a stable cost for transit authorities and residents in dozens of communities," said Bill Cashmareck, general manager of natural gas for Love's. "This agreement highlights Trillium's record of partnering with the public sector and we look forward to building on that strength."

The facilities will be strategically placed throughout the state to provide convenient access to CNG locations to both fleets and motorists. They will supply CNG to more than 1,600 CNG buses at transit agencies across the state. The majority of the sites will be for private use, but seven locations will serve the public, including light-, medium- and heavy-duty trucks.

The agreement also includes CNG-related updates to existing transit maintenance and storage facilities.

Trillium was selected for the partnership because of its background and experience in managing comparable projects and its understanding of PennDOT's needs.

"This agreement affirms Love's continued commitment to the CNG industry," Cashmareck said. "Pennsylvania is one of the largest producers of natural gas and this project will help sustain one of the state's most valuable industries."

Construction of the facilities will take place over the next five years. Pennsylvania currently has 61 CNG facilities, 35 of which are open to the public. Pennsylvania-based firms Larson Design Group and American Natural will assist with implementation of the sites.

Love's currently operates five travel stops in Pennsylvania and Trillium operates three CNG facilities within the state. Trillium has also developed several other sites now operated by third parties.

Oklahoma City-based Love's has more than 370 locations in 40 states.