"We are very excited about the opportunity to bring this natural gas fueling station to Coushatta in Red River Parish. This first station is our inaugural piece of natural gas fueling infrastructure. It represents the first step in our multi-year plan to convert a large number of the more than 1,300 trucks and passenger vehicles in Encana's fleet to run on natural gas," said Eric Marsh, Encana's Executive Vice-President, Natural Gas Economy.

"Due to sweeping technological breakthroughs in the development of natural gas in North America, cleaner-burning natural gas provides an abundant, affordable alternative to conventional gasoline, and at a cost that is 20 to 40 percent lower in many regions. Carbon dioxide emissions from CNG vehicles are about 20 to 30 percent lower than from vehicles running on gasoline and natural gas doesn't contribute significantly to creating smog because it emits very low levels of nitrogen oxides and particulates. Natural gas vehicles have become one of the fastest growing sectors in the alternative vehicle market worldwide. We believe this trend will continue. This station, therefore,
represents far more than a fueling facility - it is one milestone along a road to a cleaner energy future, a building block in the infrastructure of a growing natural gas highway network," Marsh said.

The Coushatta fueling station will dispense compressed natural gas to Encana's fleet of vehicles in the Red River Parish area. Starting next year, Encana Natural Gas expects to be able to offer the station's fueling service to other corporate fleets in the region. Also, in early 2011 Encana plans to open its next four natural gas fueling stations, one in each of the states of Wyoming and Colorado and two in Western Canada.

"Converting our fleet to natural gas will provide a significant cost savings over the life of the vehicles. This cost advantage, combined with the significant environmental benefits, provides a compelling case for Encana to build a fueling infrastructure," said Paul Sander, Encana's Vice-President, Mid-Continent Business Unit.

Natural gas powered cars and trucks are fueled with CNG or liquefied natural gas (LNG) and operate similarly to gasoline-powered vehicles. There are currently more than 900 natural gas vehicle fueling stations in the United States fueling about 110,000 natural gas vehicles.

"While there are tremendous environmental and public health benefits to converting many more cars and light duty trucks to natural gas, even more so, converting freight trucks and commercial vehicles would have an immediate impact on reducing carbon emissions. For instance, converting one 18-wheeler from diesel to LNG is equivalent to removing the emissions of about 325 cars from the road. Expanding the use of natural gas in transportation will also generate more employment opportunities and government revenues," Marsh said.

"As a nation we're making progress towards alternative domestic energy options and the State of Louisiana should feel proud to be part of these encouraging developments. In the past year Louisiana has enacted legislation providing some of the most attractive natural gas vehicle and infrastructure incentives in the U.S. We are committed to supporting natural gas as a clean, affordable Louisiana-produced transportation fuel," said State Senator Gerald Long.