BILLINGS, Okla. – Last week Oklahoma compressed natural gas (CNG) retailers gathered at OnCue Express in Billings, Oklahoma, to celebrate a CNG station appearing every 100 miles along Oklahoma interstates, according to a company press release. Representatives from OnCue Express, Love’s Travel Stops, Tulsa Gas Technologies, Oklahoma Natural Gas and Sparq Natural Gas were all in attendance.
When Oklahoma’s first comprehensive energy plan was introduced in 2011, it asked for help from companies in building CNG infrastructure along Oklahoma highways. The plan, presented by Governor Mary Fallin, noted the importance of at least one CNG station every 100 miles along Oklahoma interstates by the end of 2015. Although many stations were already in place, a number of serious gaps still required attention, according to the release.
Governor Fallin praised the industry at last week’s event for the work it has accomplished so far, adding that Oklahoma has saved more than $1 million in fuel costs since converting much of its fleet to CNG over the last few years. “It takes a diverse public and private partnership team all willing to work hard in order to achieve a bold goal like having a CNG station within every 100 miles on Oklahoma interstates,” Fallin said.
“Today is bittersweet for me,” said OnCue Express CEO Jim Griffith at the event, reflecting on why the company built its first modern CNG station in 2009. “Two people were instrumental in our decision to build our first site. [So today is] bitter because one of those people can’t be here, [but sweet] because the second person to impact our direction is sitting here, celebrating with us today. Oklahoma leads the way because of the vision and leadership of our Governor, Mary Fallin.”
Per capita, Oklahoma has more CNG sites than any other state in the country. With an average price of $1.09/gallon across the state, drivers use a clean fuel while still enjoying a healthy fuel cost savings.
Check out more about the event including a video at OnCue’s Facebook page. Read more about OnCue Express in NACS Magazine’s Ideas 2 Go.