Norwich Public Utilities (NPU) says it has officially opened its new $1.8 million compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle fueling station, a project funded in large part through a grant from the Federal Highway Administration (FHA).
According to NPU, this is the city’s second CNG station; the first is located at 157 North Main St. and is utilized by NPU and a number of commercial entities.
The utility says that the new fueling station, located adjacent to the Shell Gas station at 168 West Town Street, is in close proximity to I-395, Route 2 and the Stanley Israelite Business Park. The facility features a single dual-hose, quick-fill dispenser at an island covered by a canopy, with access for vehicles on both sides. The facility is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and accepts both credit and debit cards.
Construction on the station began in mid-2015.
“This success of this project can be attributed to one word: collaboration. Collaboration between the federal, state and local levels of government and between the public and private sector,” says John Bilda, general manager of NPU.
“Our second CNG station is a special milestone for NPU and our community. This facility will meet the needs of new, more efficient vehicles of all sizes and help move an important technology forward in the years to come,” adds Bilda.
Easterseals Capital Region & Eastern Connecticut will utilize NPU’s new station as a backup to its existing CNG station, which is currently utilized for its fleet of CNG MV-1 and Ford Transit vehicles.
The FHA grant provided $1,386,000 for the total project cost, while NPU funded the remaining $414,000.
The grant also includes the purchase of six CNG-fueled vehicles by NPU: four service vans, a dump truck and a sewer jet truck.
