By Guest Blogger,
posted on Wednesday, June 01, 2011.
John Gargani
Vice President, Midstream Planning and Commercial Operations
Southwestern Energy Company
With North America situated atop an abundance of natural gas
reserves, why isn't our landscape dotted with more compressed
natural gas stations? Part of the answer is that without a readily
available source of CNG, people have been hesitant to purchase CNG
compatible vehicles. Similarly, without an adequate number of CNG
vehicles, it's been very difficult to justify the investment in
infrastructure (CNG stations or home fueling).
But with soaring oil prices and a focus on clean energy
alternatives, the number of CNG stations and vehicles in the United
States is increasing. There are now more than 800 such stations
across the country, with the highest concentrations in states like
California, New York and Utah.
In early May, Southwestern Energy Company opened its first CNG
station in Damascus, Ark., approximately 60 miles away from the
state's capital, Little Rock. While most CNG stations exist in
moderately dense population areas, Damascus is situated in a quiet
community of about 400 in the heart of our operations in the
Fayetteville Shale play, one of the largest known natural gas
reservoirs in North America.
A short distance from SWN's Damascus field office, the facility
is one of just a handful of CNG stations in Arkansas, and one of
only two currently open to the public. While its primary function
is to serve our fleet of CNG-fueled vehicles, which we are growing
from 40 to 100 by the end of the year, at $1.60 per gallon, it's
attracting the attention of several of our vendors and some area
residents.
SWN is working with other companies in developing the
infrastructure and vehicles necessary to make CNG fueling a reality
across the United States. This isn't just an isolated
accomplishment. It's one way we're working toward a more
sustainable future using clean-burning, domestic natural gas.