Love′s Travel Stops to Open 10 New CNG Fueling Stations with Chesapeake Energy across Oklahoma
Love′s Travel Stops & Country Stores, an Oklahoma City-based and
family-owned operator of 280 travel stops and convenience stores, today
announced plans to add 10 publicly accessible compressed natural gas
(CNG) fueling stations at existing locations across Oklahoma. These CNG
fueling stations will be located in Altus, Chickasha, Guthrie, Guymon,
Lawton, Norman, Okemah, Oklahoma City and Webbers Falls ? with one
additional Oklahoma location soon to be determined. The stations will be
built and operated in cooperation with Oklahoma City-based Chesapeake
Energy Corporation (NYSE:CHK), the nation′s second-largest producer of
domestic natural gas.
Jenny Love Meyer, Love's Director of Communications (Photo: Business Wire)
The addition of 10 new CNG stations at Love′s locations in Oklahoma will
bring the company′s CNG station count to 11 and give Oklahoma more than
50 public CNG stations. The company opened its first public CNG fueling
station earlier this year at its store located in Kingfisher, Oklahoma
where several companies, including UPS, AT&T and Chesapeake, operate CNG
fleet vehicles.
'We are pleased at Love′s to join with Chesapeake Energy to add CNG
fueling stations at a time when demand is growing for natural gas as a
transportation fuel in Oklahoma,? said Jenny Love Meyer, Love′s director
of communications. 'Every year more companies are converting their
fleets to run on CNG. Chesapeake′s decision to convert its entire
4,500-vehicle fleet to CNG last year added important momentum. We are
seeing commercial and consumer interest in CNG continuing to rise. At
Love′s, we want to be sure we meet the needs of our diverse customer
base by offering a variety of fueling options, which now includes CNG at
a growing number of our locations in Oklahoma. And, by supporting CNG,
we recognize we are also helping boost Oklahoma′s energy-driven economy.?
'Love′s is a tremendous partner with us,? commented Taylor Shinn, senior
director of corporate development at Chesapeake. 'They are a category
leader in the commercial and leisure travel stop and convenience store
industry with a growing national presence. Like us, they are
Oklahoma-based with a keen interest in supporting Oklahoma businesses
and the state′s economy.?
In 2009, Oklahoma enacted alternative fuel legislation, spurring an
increase in the number of public CNG fueling stations across the state.
In the past two years, the number of public CNG stations in Oklahoma has
increased from 26 to 43.
'Understanding how the increased demand for domestic natural gas
benefits Oklahoma′s economy, Oklahoma lawmakers enacted model
legislation other states could adopt to spur CNG infrastructure
development and natural gas demand creation,? commented Shinn. 'Today,
in large part because of the commitment of Love′s, Oklahoma is on its
way to having over 100 public CNG fueling stations located along major
transportation corridors.?
Oklahoma Congressman James Lankford, who is a member of the House
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said he was encouraged by
the ongoing development of CNG infrastructure in Oklahoma.
'I see a bright future for natural gas as a transportation fuel in our
country,? Lankford said. 'Natural gas is more than a bridge fuel; it can
serve as the foundation of an energy policy which can create tens of
thousands of new, good-paying jobs for our country. Natural gas usage in
vehicles is a promising and practical option to keep American money in
America.?
Construction on the 10 CNG fueling stations at Love′s locations in
Oklahoma will begin in December 2011. Preferred Services, a company
headquartered in Oklahoma, is building the new CNG stations at Love′s.
'This endeavor is a great example of two leading Oklahoma companies
working together and taking solid steps to expand the use of
Oklahoma-produced natural gas,? said Shinn.
About Love′s Travel Stops & Country Stores
Founded in 1964 by Tom Love, Love′s Travel Stops & Country Stores is
headquartered in Oklahoma City, Okla., and remains entirely family-owned
and operated. With more than 275 locations in 39 states, Love′s current
growth rate is approximately 20 locations per year. To learn more, go to www.loves.com,
Facebook (www.facebook.com/lovestravelstops),
or @LovesTravelStop on Twitter.
About Chesapeake Energy Corporation
Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NYSE:CHK) is the second-largest producer
of natural gas and the most active driller of new wells in the U.S.
Headquartered in Oklahoma City, the company's operations are focused on
discovering and developing unconventional natural gas and oil fields
onshore in the U.S. Chesapeake owns leading positions in the Barnett,
Fayetteville, Haynesville, Marcellus and Bossier natural gas shale plays
and in the Eagle Ford, Granite Wash and various other unconventional oil
plays. The company has also vertically integrated its operations and
owns substantial midstream, compression, drilling and oilfield service
assets. Further information is available at www.chk.com.
Photos/Multimedia ?Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50043538&lang=en
Love′s Travel Stops & Country Stores
Kyla Turner, 405-242-2478
Communications
Manager
Kyla.turner@loves.com
