PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE FUNDS FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR LNG STATIONS

The Pennsylvania Turnpike has committed $122,637 to study the potential for LNG stations along its toll-roads. The turnpike has 17 service plazas, and the study envisions the installation of LNG pumps at a number of them for use by long-haul truckers. UGI Energy Services recently constructed an LNG production facility in nearby Ontelaunee Township, and they expect their plant will help supply fuel to any future LNG stations in the area. The UGI facility has potential on-site storage for up to 1 Bcf of natural gas. Pennsylvania currently has no LNG stations in operation, but Clean Energy Fuels has announced that it plans to open three stations. They will be located at Carlisle, Smithton, and Mill Hall. The study is relying both on surveys from the Pennsylvania trucking industry (facilitated by the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association) as well as economic analyses from Penn State. This study comes as Pennsylvania, under Act 13 of 2012, begins distributing $20 million through its Natural Gas Energy Development Program being administered by DEP. The money will help fund the incremental cost of purchasing or retrofitting natural gas-powered vehicles.