Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
Compressed Natural Gas or CNG as it is more commonly referred to, is one of the nation's most abundant energy resources.
In the US, federal tax credits are available for buying a new CNG vehicle. Use of CNG varies from state to state. In California, CNG is used extensively in local city and county fleets, as well as public transportation (city/school buses), and there are more than 90 public fueling stations in Southern California alone. In much of California, compressed natural gas is generally available at 30-60% less than the cost of gasoline. Personal use of CNG is currently a small niche market, though with new tax incentives and a growing number of public fueling stations available, it is experiencing unprecedented growth. The state of Utah offers a subsidized statewide network of CNG filling stations at a rate of $0.85/gge (gasoline gallon equivalent), while gasoline is above $3.00/gal. Elsewhere in the nation, retail prices average around $2.50/gge, with home refueling units compressing gas from residential gas lines for approx $1.50/gge.
A recent Wall Street Journal article noted, "One industry-backed study estimates the U.S. has more than 2,200 trillion cubic feet of gas waiting to be pumped, enough to satisfy nearly 100 years of current U.S. natural-gas demand. The discoveries have spurred energy experts and policy makers to start looking to natural gas in their pursuit of a wide range of goals: easing the impact of energy-price spikes, reducing dependence on foreign oil, lowering 'greenhouse gas' emissions and speeding the transition to renewable fuels."
One of the companies leading the charge for the adoption of CNG has been Clean Energy. They are the nation's largest supplier of CNG to the transportation market. Airport Plazas works with Clean Energy for all of its sites at airports.