In June, NPU broke ground on a 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.

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.

“Alternative fuel vehicles are good for business and good for the environment, and NPU is proud to extend our commitment to support this American fuel source,” said John Bilda, General Manager at NPU.

CNG is domestically produced and significantly more economical than other fuel options. In Connecticut, CNG is currently $1 less per gallon than diesel fuel and 75 cents per gallon less that gasoline.

The West Town Street station is NPU’s second CNG fueling station, joining a facility located at 157 North Main Street that is utilized by NPU and a number of commercial entities.

The features of the new NPU fueling station include:

• A single dual-hose, quick-fill dispenser with access for vehicles on both sides and the ability to service vehicles of any size.
• A service island will be covered by a canopy.
• 24 hour access, seven days a week and completely self-service, accepting both credit and debit cards.
• The facility conforms to all Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.
• NPU’s Control Room will provide around-the-clock monitoring and security.

The project is funded through the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Congestion, Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) program, which awarded a grant for $1,386,000 of the total project cost. NPU is funding the remaining $414,000 of the project.