New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG), a subsidiary of New Jersey Resources (NYSE: NJR), today announced the grand opening of the second public-access compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station in Monmouth County, New Jersey, at Middletown Township’s Department of Public Works.
“We are committed to promoting the use of natural gas as an alternative transportation fuel,” said Laurence M. Downes, chairman and CEO of New Jersey Natural Gas. “CNG vehicles are a proven, energy-efficient alternative to gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles, help to improve air quality in our communities and support the country’s goal of energy independence. We appreciate the opportunity to work with Middletown to help make CNG a viable option for area fleets to convert to a cleaner domestic fuel.”
NJNG constructed the CNG fueling station in Middletown Township as part of the NGV Advantage — NJNG’s natural gas vehicle (NGV) initiative. With approval from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, NJNG invested a total of $10 million to build, own and maintain the infrastructure for three public CNG fueling stations in its service territory. The station in Middletown is the third to become operational.
“We're very pleased to have a compressed natural gas station in Middletown. Its location next to our Public Works yard will be a major asset as the township transitions to a natural gas fleet,” said Mayor Gerry P. Scharfenberger, Ph.D. “Adding more natural gas vehicles to our inventory will reduce our carbon footprint. They use less fuel, emit far fewer greenhouse gases, and are much quieter on the road.” The township currently uses two packer trucks powered by compressed natural gas. Plans to acquire CNG pick-up trucks are in the works.
Among those in attendance at today's ribbon cutting were Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger, Committeewoman Stephanie Murray, Township Administrator Anthony Mercantante and Public Works Director Ted Maloney.
Prior to the completion of the three stations, there had been only 13 CNG fueling stations open to the public in New Jersey, which has been a major obstacle to the increased use of NGVs. NJNG’s investment in the CNG station in Middletown and other host sites is an important step in further developing the use of NGVs and helps stimulate New Jersey’s market for CNG vehicles and the benefits they provide.