Source: City of Hamilton
Hamilton, Ohio – This Friday, Hamilton Utilities will be holding a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for our brand new public access Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicle fueling station. This station represents another tool in Hamilton’s arsenal to help businesses and residents reduce their energy costs while also lowering greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to the local economy. The station is located at 2220 S. Erie Highway adjacent to the Hamilton Municipal Garage and will be open for business starting Friday.
As one of the nation’s oldest public natural gas systems and the state’s second largest municipal system, Hamilton Utilities has not lost sight of the original call to build the infrastructure needed so that its residents and patrons can utilize new technologies. Hamilton Utilities has invested $1.8 million in Greater Cincinnati’s first public CNG station. Because CNG produces lower emissions of pollutants and greenhouses gases in comparison to gasoline, funding sources included a $700,000 Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) grant. Being the first public CNG fueling station in Greater Cincinnati, this facility represents Hamilton Utilities continuing efforts to be at the forefront of technology and utility service while continuing to be one of the lowest cost service providers in the area.
The City’s Senior Project Manager for the station, Mark Murray, stated that, “The overall economic benefit of this technology to companies and residents is outstanding. Hamilton has had the lowest natural gas rates in the state for 18 years and that is going to be reflected in the price per GGE [gasoline gallon equivalent] at our station. The fact that natural gas is more price-stable, better for the environment, locally sourced, and safer than traditional vehicle fuels is just the icing on the cake.”
The addition of this CNG station offers a fuel to our region that is more stable in price. This is because only 20% of the at the pump cost of CNG is based upon fuel extraction as opposed to about 65% of traditional fuel. This means that even significant changes in extraction costs, which are not projected, would only have a minor implication on the at-the-pump-price of CNG fuel. Furthermore, CNG is found abundantly in the United States meaning that the fuel does not have to travel as far and that more money is retained in the regional economy. CNG also offers users additional savings by increasing the time between regular tune-ups and oil changes. The station’s opening price is set at $1.99 per gallon of gasoline equivalent (GGE).
The ribbon cutting ceremony will feature State Representative Wes Retherford, City Manager Joshua Smith, Mayor Pat Moeller and representatives from Rumpke, OKI Regional Council of Governments, Clean Fuels Ohio, and more. The ceremony will commence at 11 AM at the Hamilton Municipal Garage at 2210 South Erie Highway. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP with Liz Hayden at haydenl@hamilton-oh.gov or (513) 785-7068.