Today, UGI Utilities Inc., a natural gas and electric utility based in Reading, Pa., held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new on-site compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station.
Located at UGI’s office at City Line Ave. in Bethlehem, the new CNG refueling facility will serve the utility’s growing fleet of natural gas-powered vehicles. The station and fleet are part of UGI’s commitment to help reduce mobile source emissions and promote clean-burning vehicles. The utility serves 700,000 customers in 45 Pennsylvania counties and one county in Maryland.
UGI says construction of the station was completed under the direction of Air & Gas Technologies, a New Jersey-based company with significant experience in the CNG space.
Specifically, the new station will help fuel the company’s fleet of 46 CNG vehicles – and more are on the way. The company has ordered an additional 40 CNG-powered vehicles, which are expected to be delivered to UGI later this year. Notably, the utility also operates a CNG fueling station at its Wilkes-Barre, Pa., office.
According to Robert Stoyko, the utility’s vice president of marketing and customer relations, the new station is a “significant step forward in promoting clean energy.”
“Using natural gas as a vehicle fuel improves the environment by lowering emissions, and we look forward to working with other area companies to explore the benefits of CNG for their fleets,” he adds.
Last year, UGI received a $196,040 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to acquire 31 CNG vehicles, including freightliner tractors, light-duty Chevrolet trucks, and light-duty Ford trucks and Transit vans, to be used out of its Lancaster and Bethlehem, Pa., facilities.
Does this station offer public access? Our fleet drives all over in CNG powered vehicles – we’re always looking for more places to fill up! Public Access with the ability to accept WEX fleet cards makes our fleet happy!