CNG Customers Gather to Celebrate Grand Opening in…

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CNGEarlier this week a $2.85 million compressed natural gas (CNG) filling station was opened with a large crowd of people eager to begin using it. Nexus Natural Gas, a consortium of seven different companies, unveiled their first collaborative CNG fueling station aimed at cars, trucks, tractor-trailers and buses. The state got involved with a $570,000 grant–recognizing the benefits of using natural gas as a transportation fuel (burns cleaner, natural gas is a home-grown fuel). Local utility/pipeline companies are involved too–to deliver cheap, abundant and clean-burning Marcellus Shale gas to the new fueling station. What’s that? Where’s this new CNG fueling station located–where crowds of natgas lovers congregated to celebrate? Would you believe, in New York State!…

Yes, people turned out in droves in Tonawanda (near Buffalo) to show love for fracked Marcellus Shale gas, appreciating that it means less air pollution and is a whole lot cheaper than gasoline and diesel. Here’s the story of the very first Nexus Natural Gas fueling station, hoping there will be many more (in NY) to follow:

Nexus Natural Gas, LLC, a consortium of 7 regional companies, today unveiled the first collaborative, public compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station in Erie County, located at 380 Grand Island Blvd. in Tonawanda. The CNG station will be open 24 hours, 7 days a week, and will provide natural gas to CNG vehicles in a self-serve manner with credit card and fleet card payment methods.

The $2.85 million project was supported through a $570,000 grant from the New York Power Authority (NYPA).

Nexus Natural Gas, LLC is comprised of Triad Recycling and Energy, Guard Contracting Corporation, Speed Global Services, Niagara Metals, The Pariso Companies, O&K Truck Repairs and Swift River Associates, Inc. The fueling station was opened in partnership with Clean Communities of Western New York, Cobey Energy and National Fuel.

“The Power Authority’s capability to award power proceeds funding to businesses in Western New York stems from legislation signed into law in 2012 by Governor Cuomo,” said Gil C. Quiniones. “The completion of this project is a prime example of the impactful economic development benefits that the Niagara Power project provides.”

“Our consortium is comprised of forward looking transportation companies and we believe that converting transportation fleets to compressed natural gas not only makes sense economically but also environmentally,” said John Hannon a partner at Triad Recycle and Energy. “We are grateful for the support of New York State, NYPA and National Fuel in building our fueling station and urging our elected officials to develop public policy that enhances the usage of CNG for truck fleets and vehicles.”

According to Nexus Natural Gas, compressed natural gas fuel can be used only by CNG-specified vehicles, including light-duty trucks and sedans, taxi cabs and medium-sized trucks, and larger commercial vehicles, such as heavy-duty trucks, UPS delivery vans and buses.

“We are excited about reducing our costs and becoming more competitive with our recycled concrete products,” said Ken Rawe, Vice President, Swift River Associates, Inc.

“As one of the partners of Nexus and Maintenance Chairman of the New York State Motor Truck Association, I am constantly looking at technologies that can help our industry survive various regulations that often drive up the cost of doing business,” said Sulev Oun, Owner, O&K Truck Repairs Ltd. “I am confident this station will serve as a catalyst in keeping fuel costs at check and providing much-needed infrastructure to supply commercial and consumer demand for compressed natural gas.”

“Natural gas offers many advantages over conventional petroleum products, and is produced here in the United States,” said Anna Marie Cellino, President of National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation. “Compressed natural gas is the smart and affordable choice for fleet vehicles, transit buses, school buses, waste disposal trucks, delivery vehicles, and more. We are excited to be a part of this initiative that makes this alternative energy source readily available throughout our region.”

To date, thirty four states throughout the U.S. have at least one public natural gas fueling site and there are currently forty CNG stations in New York State. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, compressed natural gas is a renewable, domestically produced alternative fuel which increases energy security due to its abundance in the United States. Compared with conventional forms of fuel like diesel and gasoline, compressed natural gas produces the fewest levels of emissions and contains significantly less pollutants.

For more information about Nexus Natural Gas, please visit www.nexusnaturalgas.*

*Nexus Natural Gas/Buffalo (NY) WGRZ Channel 2 (Sep 1, 2015) – Nexus Natural Gas, LLC Unveils Collaborative Public Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Fueling Station

One of the attendees, Mitra Pratt (whose company, JHA, did the site design for the new fueling station) traveled up for the grand opening and snapped a few pics: