The U.S. Department of the Interior, on behalf of the National Park Service Grand Canyon, has awarded energy solutions provider Applied LNG a contract to provide liquefied natural gas for its LCNG station located at the park.

Applied LNG said on Tuesday that the liquid to compressed natural gas (LCNG) would fuel a fleet of 35 CNG shuttle buses in the Grand Canyon National Park with an expected annual total of 550,000 LNG gallons or approximately 345,000 gasoline gallon equivalents (GGE’s).

With over six million visitors a year, the Grand Canyon is one of the most visited National Parks in the U.S.

The park’s shuttle system was implemented in 1974 and has provided over 165,740,177 rides since its inception. Year-round shuttle service began in 2000 and averages almost eight million boardings annually.

Michael Bann, a part of the business development branch at the company, said: “Applied LNG is pleased to once again be partnering with the National Park Service Grand Canyon and providing clean, reliable & cost-effective LNG to support the daily shuttle operations allowing those visiting to access the park’s offerings without interruption.”

Applied LNG also reached an agreement with Xanterra Parks and Resorts, the United States largest park concessions management company, to fuel their fleet of CNG tour buses which operate within the Grand Canyon.