By Joseph Sapia
MIDDLETOWN – “Gassing up” has taken on new meaning as only the second compressed natural gas (CNG) filling station for public use has opened in Monmouth County – here at the township Public Works yard.
At gasoline-gallon equivalent of 90 cents, when regular gasoline and diesel is selling for more than $2 a gallon, the price is hard to beat. Also, CNG produces 30 percent fewer emissions, according to New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG), which built, owns and maintains the station.
The two-pump station is at the end of Kanes Lane off Route 35. After a few days of testing, it formally opened Thursday, May 19.
“Jersey girls don’t pump gas, unless it’s compressed natural gas,” joked Tom Massaro, New Jersey Natural Gas’ vice president of marketing, energy efficiency and customer service.
Yes, pump-your-own is allowable in New Jersey for dispensing diesel and CNG. The station, which has no attendant, is always open.
Massaro, Mayor Gerard P. Scharfenberger and other township and NJNG officials performed a ceremonial ribbon-cutting at the station.
“This is kind of the announcement, ‘It’s open,’” said Michael Kinney, a NJNG spokesman.
In 2011, the state Board of Public Utilities approved NJNG to build three stations. Middletown Township immediately was interested in hosting one of the sites, Massaro said.
“To say we are excited is an understatement,” Scharfenberger said.
Scharfenberger talked about New Jersey’s high property taxes and fighting costs.
“It really fits in with our whole mindset, Scharfenberger said. “We’re looking for every edge we can get (to lower costs).”
“It’s the same gas to heat your home,” Kinney said. “It’s just compressed for transportation use.”
The dispensing method, which requires a credit or debit card, and length of time, is the same as with gasoline or diesel.
NJNG built the station for about $2.9 million, Kinney said.
Middletown has agreed to buy at least 20 percent of what the station pumps for its own use – two garbage trucks already in use, along with two pickups planned for purchase. Ted Maloney, the township’s public works director, said he expected the township to exceed the 20 percent amount.
Now, CNG is more popular with delivery-type trucks, rather than the general public.
On the part of the yard closed to the public, the township also has a CNG slow-fill pumping area – one that allows vehicles to be hooked up for extended periods, such as overnight, for filling.
The township has had CNG vehicles since 2012. Before it had this access to CNG on its property, the township would fill up its vehicles every few days at NJNG in Wall, Maloney said.
Heavy-duty vehicles “are practically all diesel” now, said Steve Hallgring, the township superintendent of roads. But CNG vehicles provide the same power and save on fueling and maintenance, Maloney said.
“There’s no downside for this,” Scharfenberger said.
NJNG invested $10 million in the three stations through its NGV (natural gas vehicle) Advantage program.
NJNG also has a station at Shore Point Distributing Company, Freehold Township, which is the other Monmouth County site. This station opened in June 2015.
The third NJNG station is in Toms River, Ocean County, and opened in April 2015.
Massaro said, “we hope these three stations seed the infrastructure” for the development of more stations.
New Jersey has about 30 CNG stations, with about a dozen open to the public, according to NJNG.
NJNG now has about 25 vehicles using CNG-only engines. Another 25 or so are expected to be operating by mid June.
