Clean Energy Reports Revenue of $117.6 Million and 67.4 Million RNG Gallons Sold for the First Quarter of 2026
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NASDAQ: CLNE) (“Clean Energy” or the “Company”) today announced its operating results for the first quarter of 2026.
Financial Highlights
- Revenue of $117.6 million in Q1 2026 compared to $103.8 million in Q1 2025.
- Net loss attributable to Clean Energy for Q1 2026 was $(12.4) million, or $(0.06) per share, on a GAAP (as defined below) basis, compared to $(135.0) million, or $(0.60) per share, for Q1 2025.
- Adjusted EBITDA (as defined below) was $16.6 million for Q1 2026, compared to $17.1 million for Q1 2025.
- Cash, Cash Equivalents (less restricted cash) and Short-Term Investments totaled $126.2 million as of March 31, 2026, compared to $156.1 million as of December 31, 2025.
Operational and Strategic Highlights
- Announced effective in April the appointment of Clay Corbus as the new President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
- The East Valley dairy renewable natural gas (RNG) project which is a project within our joint venture with bp, located in Idaho was successfully placed into service in the first quarter of 2026. The project is expected to produce approximately 3.5 million gallons of RNG annually.
- During the first quarter of 2026, we announced a series of agreements with trucking, refuse and transit fleets nationwide. The agreements span RNG fueling infrastructure and RNG supply, and include operations and maintenance arrangements for station sites, reflecting continued fleet adoption of RNG across multiple sectors and customer interest in near-term, scalable decarbonization solutions.
- RNG gallons sold of 67.4 million gallons in Q1 2026, a 33.2% increase compared to Q1 2025.
Commentary by Clay Corbus, President and Chief Executive Officer
“It was great to see our RNG volumes continue at a steady pace and rebound from last year. There is always extreme winter weather that can impact RNG production at dairies, and this year was no different - particularly in the upper Midwest - but we see a lot of progress being made with refinements to operating procedures to continually improve dairy RNG production. We’ve seen it with our dairies and see great efforts across the industry to keep the RNG volumes up and flowing. We are doing our part, with our most recent projects such as the East Valley project, in Idaho, and the South Fork project, in Texas, ramping up production. Additionally, at the end of the quarter the conflict in Iran and the resulting higher oil prices has driven up the price of diesel. Fleets are taking note of our much less volatile transportation fuel. Our results reflect some of these tailwinds of elevated oil and diesel prices, particularly in our revenues, compared to a relatively stable natural gas commodity market. We were very pleased with our first quarter results and feel good about our position in the geopolitical environment as it relates to offering a domestically supplied, low-cost sustainable transportation fuel that is available today.”
Summary and Review of Results
The Company’s revenue for the first quarter of 2026 was decreased by $10.1 million of non-cash stock-based sales incentive contra-revenue charges (“Amazon warrant charges”) related to the warrant issued to Amazon.com NV Investment Holdings LLC (the “Amazon warrant”), compared to Amazon warrant charges of $17.3 million in Q1 2025. Q1 2026 station construction revenues were $8.2 million versus $5.6 million of station construction revenues in Q1 2025. Revenue for Q1 2026 also included an unrealized gain of $0.6 million on commodity swap and customer fueling contracts relating to the Company’s Zero Now truck financing program, compared to an unrealized loss of $0.6 million in Q1 2025. Q1 2026 renewable identification number (“RIN”) and low carbon fuel standards (“LCFS”) revenues of $14.4 million versus $9.0 million of RIN and LCFS revenues in Q1 2025 reflecting an increase of $5.4 million. This $5.4 million increase was due (i) an increase in RIN revenue of $4.9 million primarily due to a higher share of RIN values, higher volume, and incremental RIN revenue generated by the Company’s consolidated dairy RNG project (upstream) and (ii) an increase in LCFS revenue of $0.5 million primarily due to incremental LCFS revenue generated by the Company’s consolidated RNG project (upstream business).
Net loss attributable to Clean Energy for Q1 2025 included an impairment of goodwill of $(64.3) million and accelerated depreciation expense from the abandonment of certain LNG station assets located at 55 Pilot Flying J locations of $(50.7) million versus no such charges in Q1 2026. Q1 2026 losses from equity method investments were lower than Q1 2025 due to the ramp up of operations of our dairy RNG projects. Selling, general and administrative expenses were lower in Q1 2026 compared to Q1 2025 by approximately $2.9 million mainly due to a decrease in general business expenses.
Non-GAAP income (loss) per share (as defined below) for Q1 2025 was $0.01, compared to $(0.01) per share for Q1 2026.
In this press release, Clean Energy refers to various GAAP (U.S. generally accepted accounting principles) and non-GAAP financial measures. The non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures being used and disclosed by other companies. Clean Energy believes that this non-GAAP information is useful for an understanding of its operating results and the ongoing performance of its business. Non-GAAP income (loss) per share and Adjusted EBITDA are defined below and reconciled to GAAP net income (loss) per share attributable to Clean Energy and GAAP net income (loss) attributable to Clean Energy, respectively.
The table below shows GAAP and non-GAAP income (loss) attributable to Clean Energy per share and reconciles GAAP net income (loss) attributable to Clean Energy to the non-GAAP net income (loss) attributable to Clean Energy figure used in the calculation of non-GAAP income (loss) per share:
|
| Three Months Ended | ||||||
|
| March 31, | ||||||
(in thousands, except share and per share data) |
| 2025 |
| 2026 | ||||
Net loss attributable to Clean Energy Fuels Corp. |
| $ | (134,967 | ) |
| $ | (12,412 | ) |
Amazon warrant charges |
|
| 17,338 |
|
|
| 10,107 |
|
Stock-based compensation expense |
|
| 1,777 |
|
|
| 2,030 |
|
Amortization of investment tax credit from consolidated RNG project |
|
| — |
|
|
| (232 | ) |
Accelerated depreciation expense associated with station equipment removal |
|
| 50,660 |
|
|
| — |
|
Loss from Rimere equity method investment |
|
| 1,551 |
|
|
| — |
|
Loss (gain) from SAFE S.p.A. equity method investment |
|
| 478 |
|
|
| (155 | ) |
Loss (gain) from change in fair value of derivative instruments |
|
| 557 |
|
|
| (616 | ) |
Impairment of goodwill |
|
| 64,328 |
|
|
| — |
|
Holdback payment from prior year extinguishment of loan receivable and preferred stock equity security |
|
| — |
|
|
| (37 | ) |
Amortization of investment tax credit from RNG equity method investments |
|
| (236 | ) |
|
| (283 | ) |
Non-GAAP net income (loss) attributable to Clean Energy Fuels Corp. |
| $ | 1,486 |
|
| $ | (1,598 | ) |
Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding |
|
| 224,924,980 |
|
|
| 219,667,732 |
|
GAAP loss attributable to Clean Energy Fuels Corp. per share |
| $ | (0.60 | ) |
| $ | (0.06 | ) |
Non-GAAP income (loss) attributable to Clean Energy Fuels Corp. per share |
| $ | 0.01 |
|
| $ | (0.01 | ) |
The table below shows Adjusted EBITDA and also reconciles this figure to GAAP net loss attributable to Clean Energy:
|
| Three Months Ended | ||||||
|
| March 31, | ||||||
(in thousands) |
| 2025 |
| 2026 | ||||
Net loss attributable to Clean Energy Fuels Corp. |
| $ | (134,967 | ) |
| $ | (12,412 | ) |
Income tax expense (benefit) |
|
| (2,932 | ) |
|
| 18 |
|
Interest expense |
|
| 7,528 |
|
|
| 5,701 |
|
Interest income |
|
| (2,899 | ) |
|
| (1,382 | ) |
Depreciation and amortization |
|
| 11,607 |
|
|
| 11,002 |
|
Accelerated depreciation expense associated with station equipment removal |
|
| 50,660 |
|
|
| — |
|
Impairment of goodwill |
|
| 64,328 |
|
|
| — |
|
Amazon warrant charges |
|
| 17,338 |
|
|
| 10,107 |
|
Stock-based compensation expense |
|
| 1,777 |
|
|
| 2,030 |
|
Amortization of investment tax credit from consolidated RNG project |
|
| - |
|
|
| (232 | ) |
Loss from Rimere equity method investment |
|
| 1,551 |
|
|
| — |
|
Loss (gain) from SAFE S.p.A. equity method investment |
|
| 478 |
|
|
| (155 | ) |
Loss (gain) from change in fair value of derivative instruments |
|
| 557 |
|
|
| (616 | ) |
Holdback payment from prior year extinguishment of loan receivable and preferred stock equity security |
|
| — |
|
|
| (36 | ) |
Depreciation and amortization from RNG equity method investments |
|
| 2,746 |
|
|
| 2,863 |
|
Interest expense from RNG equity method investments |
|
| 213 |
|
|
| 196 |
|
Interest income from RNG equity method investments |
|
| (664 | ) |
|
| (232 | ) |
Amortization of investment tax credit from RNG equity method investments |
|
| (236 | ) |
|
| (283 | ) |
Adjusted EBITDA |
| $ | 17,085 |
|
| $ | 16,569 |
|
The tables below present a further breakdown of the above consolidated Adjusted EBITDA:
|
| Three Months Ended | ||||||
|
| March 31, | ||||||
(in thousands) |
| 2025 |
| 2026 | ||||
Net loss attributable to fuel distribution* |
| $ | (129,932 | ) |
| $ | (5,302 | ) |
Income tax expense (benefit) |
|
| (2,932 | ) |
|
| 18 |
|
Interest expense |
|
| 7,528 |
|
|
| 5,701 |
|
Interest income |
|
| (2,899 | ) |
|
| (1,382 | ) |
Depreciation and amortization from fuel distribution |
|
| 11,607 |
|
|
| 9,018 |
|
Accelerated depreciation expense associated with station equipment removal |
|
| 50,660 |
|
|
| — |
|
Impairment of goodwill |
|
| 64,328 |
|
|
| — |
|
Amazon warrant charges |
|
| 17,338 |
|
|
| 10,107 |
|
Stock-based compensation expense |
|
| 1,777 |
|
|
| 2,030 |
|
Holdback payment from prior year extinguishment of loan receivable and preferred stock equity security |
|
| — |
|
|
| (36 | ) |
Loss from Rimere equity method investment |
|
| 1,551 |
|
|
| — |
|
Loss (gain) from SAFE S.p.A. equity method investment |
|
| 478 |
|
|
| (155 | ) |
Loss (gain) from change in fair value of derivative instruments |
|
| 557 |
|
|
| (616 | ) |
Adjusted EBITDA attributable to fuel distribution |
| $ | 20,061 |
|
| $ | 19,383 | |
* Fuel distribution represents the Company’s consolidated results excluding the results from RNG equity method investments attributable to clean energy and the results of the Company’s consolidated RNG project. | ||||||||
|
| Three Months Ended | ||||||
|
| March 31, | ||||||
(in thousands) |
| 2025 |
| 2026 | ||||
Net loss from RNG upstream attributable to Clean Energy Fuels Corp.* |
| $ | (5,035 | ) |
| $ | (7,110 | ) |
Depreciation and amortization from RNG upstream |
|
| 2,746 |
|
|
| 4,847 |
|
Interest expense from RNG upstream |
|
| 213 |
|
|
| 196 |
|
Interest income from RNG upstream |
|
| (664 | ) |
|
| (232 | ) |
Amortization of investment tax credit from RNG upstream |
|
| (236 | ) |
|
| (515 | ) |
Adjusted EBITDA of RNG upstream attributable to Clean Energy Fuels Corp. |
| $ | (2,976 | ) |
| $ | (2,814 | ) |
* RNG upstream combines net loss from RNG equity method investments attributable to Clean Energy and the results of the Company’s consolidated RNG project. | ||||||||
Fuel Volume
The following table presents, for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2026; the amount of total fuel volume the Company sold to customers with particular focus on RNG volume as a subset of total fuel volume.
|
| Three Months Ended | ||||||
Fuel volume, GGEs(1) sold (in millions), |
| March 31, | ||||||
correlating to total volume-related product revenue |
| 2025 |
| 2026 | ||||
RNG |
|
| 50.6 |
|
| 67.4 | ||
Conventional natural gas |
|
| 16.1 |
|
|
| 17.3 |
|
Total fuel volume |
|
| 66.7 |
|
|
| 84.7 |
|
The following table shows the Company’s sources of revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2026:
|
| Three Months Ended | ||||||
|
| March 31, | ||||||
Revenue (in millions) |
| 2025 |
| 2026 | ||||
Product revenue: |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Volume-related (1) |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Fuel sales(2) |
| $ | 76.3 |
|
| $ | 79.6 | |
Change in fair value of derivative instruments(3) |
|
| (0.6 | ) |
|
| 0.6 |
|
RIN Credits |
|
| 5.2 |
|
|
| 10.1 |
|
LCFS Credits |
|
| 3.8 |
|
|
| 4.3 |
|
Total volume-related product revenue |
|
| 84.7 |
|
|
| 94.6 |
|
Station construction sales |
|
| 5.6 |
|
|
| 8.2 |
|
Total product revenue |
|
| 90.3 |
|
|
| 102.9 |
|
Service revenue: |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
O&M services (2) (4) |
|
| 12.8 |
|
|
| 14.2 |
|
Other services |
|
| 0.7 |
|
|
| 0.5 |
|
Total service revenue |
|
| 13.5 |
|
|
| 14.7 |
|
Total revenue |
| $ | 103.8 |
|
| $ | 117.6 |
|
| _______________ | ||
(1) | The Company’s volume-related product revenue primarily consists of sales of RNG and conventional natural gas, in the form of CNG and LNG, and sales of RINs and LCFS Credits in addition to changes in fair value of our derivative instruments. | |
|
| |
(2) | Includes $17.3 million and $10.1 million of non-cash stock-based sales incentive contra-revenue charges related to the Amazon Warrant for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2026, respectively. The March 31, 2026 amount is comprised of $7.5 million related to fuel sales and $2.6 million related to facility use fee. | |
|
| |
(3) | The change in fair value of unsettled derivative instruments is related to the Company’s commodity swap and customer fueling contracts. The amounts are classified as revenue because the Company’s commodity swap contracts are used to economically offset the risk associated with the diesel-to-natural gas price spread resulting from customer fueling contracts under the Company’s truck financing program. | |
|
| |
(4) | O&M services revenue includes revenues earned from providing operating and maintenance services on natural gas fueling stations owned by our customers for fixed fees or per gallon fees based on the volume of fuel dispensed at the customer station. If we provide the fuel in addition to the O&M services, we include the revenues associated with providing the fuel in volume-related product revenue. | |
2026 Outlook
Our GAAP net loss for 2026 is expected to range from approximately $(71) million to $(66) million, assuming no unrealized gains or losses on customer contracts relating to the Company’s truck financing program and Amazon warrant charges estimated to be approximately $47 million. Changes in diesel and natural gas market conditions resulting in unrealized gains or losses on the Company’s customer fueling contracts relating to the Company’s truck financing program, and significant variations in the vesting of the Amazon warrant could significantly affect the Company’s estimated GAAP net loss for 2026. Adjusted EBITDA for 2026 is estimated to range from approximately $70 million to $75 million. These expectations exclude the impact of any acquisitions, divestitures, new joint ventures, transactions and other extraordinary events; and macroeconomic conditions and global supply chain issues. Additionally, the expectations regarding 2026 Adjusted EBITDA assume the calculation of this non-GAAP financial measure in the same manner as described above and adding back the estimated Amazon warrant charges described above and without adjustments for any other items that may arise during 2026 that management deems appropriate to exclude. These expectations are forward-looking statements and are qualified by the statement under “Safe Harbor Statement” below.
(in thousands) |
| 2026 Outlook | ||
Net loss attributable to Clean Energy Fuels Corp. |
| $ | (71,000) - (66,000 | ) |
Income tax benefit |
|
| 600 |
|
Interest expense |
|
| 24,500 |
|
Interest income |
|
| (4,800 | ) |
Depreciation and amortization |
|
| 49,000 |
|
Stock-based compensation |
|
| 11,000 |
|
Loss from SAFE S.p.A. equity method investment |
|
| 2,000 |
|
Loss from change in fair value of derivative instruments |
|
| - |
|
Amazon warrant charges |
|
| 47,000 |
|
Amortization of investment tax credit from consolidated RNG project |
|
| (900 | ) |
Depreciation and amortization from RNG equity method investments |
|
| 14,500 |
|
Interest expense from RNG equity method investments |
|
| 500 |
|
Interest income from RNG equity method investments |
|
| (300 | ) |
Amortization of investment tax credit from RNG equity method investments |
|
| (2,100 | ) |
Adjusted EBITDA |
| $ | 70,000 - 75,000 |
|
The tables below present a further breakdown of the above consolidated Adjusted EBITDA:
(in thousands) |
| 2026 Outlook | ||
Net loss attributable to fuel distribution* |
| $ | (54,300) - (51,400 | ) |
Income tax benefit |
|
| 600 |
|
Interest expense |
|
| 24,500 |
|
Interest income |
|
| (4,800 | ) |
Depreciation and amortization from fuel distribution |
|
| 41,000 |
|
Stock-based compensation |
|
| 11,000 |
|
Loss from SAFE S.p.A. equity method investment |
|
| 2,000 |
|
Loss from change in fair value of derivative instruments |
|
| - |
|
Amazon warrant charges |
|
| 47,000 |
|
Adjusted EBITDA attributable to fuel distribution |
| $ | 67,000 - 69,900 |
|
* Fuel distribution represents the Company’s consolidated results excluding the results from RNG equity method investments attributable to clean energy and the results of the Company’s consolidated RNG project. | ||||
|
|
|
| |
(in thousands) |
| 2026 Outlook | ||
Net loss attributable to RNG upstream* |
| $ | (16,700) - (14,600 | ) |
Depreciation and amortization from RNG upstream |
|
| 22,500 |
|
Interest expense from RNG upstream |
|
| 500 |
|
Interest income from RNG upstream |
|
| (300 | ) |
Amortization of investment tax credit from RNG upstream |
|
| (3,000 | ) |
Adjusted EBITDA attributable to RNG upstream |
| $ | 3,000 - 5,100 |
|
* RNG upstream combines net loss from RNG equity method investments attributable to Clean Energy and the results of the Company’s consolidated RNG project. | ||||
Today’s Conference Call
The Company will host an investor conference call today at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time (1:30 p.m. Pacific). Investors interested in participating in the live call can dial 1.800.343.4849 from the U.S. (Conference ID: CLEAN) and international callers can dial 1.203.518.9848 (Conference ID: CLEAN). A telephone replay will be available approximately three hours after the call concludes through Sunday, June 7, 2026, by dialing 1.844.512.2921 from the U.S., or 1.412.317.6671 from international locations, and entering Replay Pin Number 11161549. There also will be a simultaneous, live webcast available on the Investor Relations section of the Company’s web site at www.cleanenergyfuels.com, which will be available for replay for 30 days.
About Clean Energy Fuels Corp.
Clean Energy Fuels Corp. is the country’s largest provider of the cleanest fuel for the transportation market. Our mission is to decarbonize transportation through the development and delivery of renewable natural gas (“RNG”), a sustainable fuel derived from organic waste. Clean Energy allows thousands of vehicles, from airport shuttles to city buses to waste and heavy-duty trucks, to reduce their amount of climate-harming greenhouse gas. We operate a vast network of fueling stations across the U.S. and Canada. Visit www.cleanenergyfuels.com and follow @ce_renewables on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
To supplement the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP, the Company uses non-GAAP financial measures that it calls non-GAAP income (loss) per share (“non-GAAP income (loss) per share”) and adjusted EBITDA (“Adjusted EBITDA”). Management presents non-GAAP income (loss) per share and Adjusted EBITDA because it believes these measures provide meaningful supplemental information about the Company’s performance for the following reasons: (1) they allow for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management to assess the Company’s operating performance and make financial and operational decisions; (2) they exclude the effect of items that management believes are not directly attributable to the Company’s core operating performance and may obscure trends in the business; and (3) they are used by institutional investors and the analyst community to help analyze the Company’s business. In future quarters, the Company may adjust for other expenditures, charges or gains to present non-GAAP financial measures that the Company’s management believes are indicative of the Company’s core operating performance.
Non-GAAP financial measures are limited as an analytical tool and should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, the Company’s GAAP results. The Company expects to continue reporting non-GAAP financial measures, adjusting for the items described below (and/or other items that may arise in the future as the Company’s management deems appropriate), and the Company expects to continue to incur expenses, charges or gains like the non-GAAP adjustments described below. Accordingly, unless expressly stated otherwise, the exclusion of these and other similar items in the presentation of non-GAAP financial measures should not be construed as an inference that these costs are unusual, infrequent, or non-recurring. Non-GAAP income (loss) per share and Adjusted EBITDA are not recognized terms under GAAP and do not purport to be an alternative to GAAP income (loss), GAAP income (loss) per share or any other GAAP measure as an indicator of operating performance. Moreover, because not all companies use identical measures and calculations, the Company’s presentation of non-GAAP income (loss) per share and Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other companies.
Non-GAAP Income (Loss) Per Share
Non-GAAP income (loss) per share, which the Company presents as a non-GAAP measure of its performance, is defined as net income (loss) attributable to Clean Energy Fuels Corp plus Amazon warrant charges, plus stock-based compensation expense, plus the accelerated depreciation expense from the abandonment of certain LNG station assets located at 55 Pilot Flying J locations, plus (minus) loss (income) from Rimere equity method investment, plus (minus) loss (income) from the SAFE S.p.A. equity method investment, plus (minus) any loss (gain) from changes in the fair value of derivative instruments, plus one-off, non-cash charge to Goodwill, (minus) gain on extinguishment of loan receivable and equity security and minus amortization of investment tax credit from RNG equity method investments, the total of which is divided by the Company’s weighted-average common shares outstanding on a diluted basis. The Company’s management believes excluding non-cash expenses related to the Amazon warrant charges provides useful information to investors regarding the Company’s performance because the Amazon warrant charges are measured based upon a fair value determined using a variety of assumptions and estimates, and the Amazon warrant charges do not affect the Company’s operating cash flows related to the delivery and sale of vehicle fuel to its customer. The Company’s management believes excluding non-cash expenses related to stock-based compensation provides useful information to investors regarding the Company’s performance because of the varying available valuation methodologies, the volatility of the expense (which depends on market forces outside of management’s control), the subjectivity of the assumptions and the variety of award types that a company can use, which may obscure trends in a company’s core operating performance. In addition, the Company’s management believes excluding the results from the Rimere equity method investment is useful to investors because Rimere is an investment belonging to the non-core operations of the Company, and its results are not indicative of the Company’s ongoing operations. Similarly, the Company’s management believes excluding the non-cash results from the SAFE S.p.A. equity method investment is useful to investors because these charges are not part of or representative of the core operations of the Company. In addition, the Company’s management believes excluding the non-cash loss (gain) from changes in the fair value of derivative instruments is useful to investors because the valuation of the derivative instruments is based on a number of subjective assumptions, the amount of the loss or gain is derived from market forces outside of management’s control, and the exclusion of these amounts enables investors to compare the Company’s performance with other companies that do not use, or use different forms of, derivative instruments.
Contacts
Media Contact:
Gary Foster
(949) 437-1113
Gary.Foster@cleanenergyfuels.com
Investor Contact:
Thomas Driscoll
(949) 437-1191
Thomas.Driscoll@cleanenergyfuels.com
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