TravelCenters of America, Shell Announce Pact to Create Nat-Gas Refueling Network

TravelCenters of America LLC (NYSE: TA) announced today that it has entered adefinitive agreement with Shell Oil Products U.S. to construct and operate anetwork of natural gas fueling lanes at TravelCenters locations along the U.S.Interstate Highway System.The agreement provides that Shell will construct at least two natural gasfueling lanes for large over the road trucks and related storage capacity atup to 100 TA and Petro Stopping Center locations, at Shell's cost, withinseveral years. Shell has agreed to supply natural gas fuel to these locationsand Shell and TA will separately market natural gas fuel to their respectivecustomers.The agreement's focus is on liquid natural gas, or LNG. TA expects to monitorcustomer demand for natural gas fuels and, if appropriate, may adjust itsplans to include dispensing of compressed natural gas, or CNG.Thomas M. O'Brien, President & CEO of TravelCenters of America, commented asfollows:“I am pleased to have finalized an agreement between TA and Shell for naturalgas fueling. The agreement, for TA, represents a prudent approach to anemerging market. Over time, TA believes natural gas will become a significantfuel for the trucking industry. Both TA and Shell have been working diligentlyon site selection, and I am hopeful that our first locations may beoperational within one year's time.”