Piedmont Natural Gas said it is experiencing tremendous growth in demand for compressed natural gas (CNG) from commercial vehicle fleets and highlighted several initiatives that will give more companies greater access to the cleaner, lower cost fuel option. In the Charlotte region, Piedmont has contracted with the City of Charlotte Solid Waste Services to install a CNG station for refuse trucks at their existing facility near uptown. In addition, Piedmont’s eleventh public CNG refuelling station has started construction and is expected to open later this year at a location near the junction of Interstate 40 and US 321 in Hickory. Earlier this year, Piedmont received approval from state regulators in North Carolina and South Carolina to temporarily reduce the price of CNG by US$0.50 per gasoline-gallon equivalent – passing through to customers a federal tax credit intended to expand the environmental benefits of CNG by encouraging the construction of CNG refuelling stations. Piedmont also passed the savings from the tax credit along to customers in Tennessee, where public CNG prices are unregulated. “Piedmont Natural Gas has more than doubled its sales of compressed natural gas over the past two years because more businesses are recognising the economic and environmental advantages of CNG,” said Karl Newlin, Duke Energy’s Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Natural Gas. “To encourage continued growth, we are helping our customers save money and providing greater access to this superior transportation fuel.” Other initiatives to accommodate the increase in demand for CNG throughout Piedmont’s three state service area of North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee include: In the past year, Piedmont Natural Gas has sold, delivered or used approximately 5 million gasoline-gallon equivalents and expects that volume to grow. About one third of Piedmont’s own corporate fleet now runs on CNG. “To keep growing our share of the transportation fuel market, we’re doing everything we can to support CNG users,” Newlin said. “By passing along savings we receive from the federal tax credit, we’re doing exactly what the legislation intended – providing incentives for fleet owners and others to reduce their carbon footprint by choosing compressed natural gas.” Vehicles fuelled by CNG release significantly lower levels of carbon dioxide than gasoline or diesel vehicles, as well as less nitrogen oxide, sulfur oxide and particulates that create ground level ozone or smog. CNG also costs less than gasoline and diesel, and is currently priced at US$1.46 in North Carolina for the energy equivalent of one gallon of gasoline. Most CNG customers are fleet owners looking for a reliable, low cost and lower emitting fuel to power vehicles such as refuse trucks and delivery vehicles, which run regular routes and then return to a fixed refuelling base. Regional long haul carriers also are turning to CNG to use an expanding network of public CNG stations. Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/29112016/piedmont-natural-gas-reports-strong-growth-in-cng-use-by-trucks/
Demand for compressed natural gas (CNG) from commercial vehicle fleets has doubled over the past two years, according to Piedmont Natural Gas, which sold, delivered or used about 5 million gasoline-gallon equivalents of the fuel in the past year. The company is working with municipalities and other local agencies in Charlotte, Nashville, Wilmington and Anderson to expand their use of CNG in airport parking shuttles and public transit buses. “People are looking at it as a way to reduce greenhouse gases that they don’t want on our streets,” said John McLinden, president of Piedmont Natural. Spanish electric utility Endesa has opened the first public CNG station for fast-fill refuelling in the Autonomous Port of Paris. The station is open 24/7 and covers 4,000 sq m with two dispensers, with plans to increase the number to four. Endesa is endeavouring to offer natural gas as an alternative fuel for heavy load vehicles to help reduce urban contamination levels.