Convinced that compressed natural gas is the motor fuel of the future, officials of Clearwater Gas System and the City of Clearwater’s Solid Waste General Services Department teamed up in 2011 to build Tampa Bay’s first Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fueling station. The station is located on an acre of land transferred from the City’s Airpark at 1020 North Hercules Avenue in Clearwater and serves both public and private end-users.
CNG is the cleaner, more affordable alternative to traditional gasoline that currently powers more than 12 million vehicles worldwide. And thanks to new technology and rising demand, CNG is slowly gaining rapid momentum. Since the station’s debut, Clearwater Gas System has solidified partnerships with several internal departments and five local fleets (Progressive Waste Solutions, Verizon, WastePro, City of St. Pete and Jolley Trolley) to help reduce their commercial fuel expenses by up to half the costs of traditional gasoline. “The savings on fuel allows business owners to reinvest operational savings back into their company,” states Brian Langille, Gas Operations Manager.
In 2011, Florida CNG stats reported a total of two natural gas fueling stations. Fast-forward to 2015, and our state is now home to more than 70 CNG fueling stations. But as CNG vehicles continue to take over current roads and pave the way for the future of transportation, the number of fueling stations will continue to rise.
To help offset CNG conversion costs for fleets, Florida enacted the Natural Gas Fleet Vehicle Rebate in 2013. The rebate offers remarkable CNG incentives for local businesses interested in converting their fleets to CNG. The incentive provides eligible commercial applicants a rebate of up to $25,000 per purchased/leased or converted natural gas vehicle, not to exceed $250,000 per fiscal year. Visit www.freshfromflorida.com/#Energy for rebate details.
Our current CNG rate of $1.64 per gasoline gallon equivalent makes perfect cents for fleets that are required to drive numerous miles on a daily basis. It’s truly a win-win for high-mileage fleets such as buses and taxis that are centrally fueled or operate within a limited area. The advantages of natural gas as an alternative fuel include its domestic availability, widespread distribution infrastructure, and low cost compared to the traditional fuel, gasoline.
Clearwater Gas System currently serves over 20,500 residential and commercial customers in North Pinellas and Pasco County and is the fourth largest municipal gas system in Florida. Call us at (727) 562-4980, to learn more about our residential and commercial gas allowance programs.
Live Greener with Gas http://www.myclearwater.com/green/gas.asp
