SoCalGas and City of Monterey Park Launch New Compressed Natural Gas Fueling Station

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) today announced it has successfully completed the company's first project under its Compression Services Tariff: a state-of-the-art compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station for the City of Monterey Park.

The public-access facility located at 751 S. Alhambra Ave. will support the operation of the City's clean Spirit bus fleet and other natural gas vehicles (NGVs). The facility is designed to meet the needs of the Spirit bus operations as well passenger NGVs, parking shuttles, taxis, fleet vehicles and other area CNG needs, providing fuel to the public during the day when city vehicles are not scheduled to be fueled.

"Natural gas vehicles can have an immediate and positive impact on the issues of air quality and public health and SoCalGas is delighted to celebrate Monterey Park's fueling facility," said Rodger Schwecke, vice president of Customer Solutions for SoCalGas. "As the first project completed under our new Compression Services Tariff, this is an outstanding example of public/private partnership that delivers business value to our customers and provides affordable, reliable and clean transportation fuel that can help clean our air and benefit our environment."

"This project makes good business sense for the City of Monterey Park and we are delighted with the outcome and with the service of SoCalGas. Our new facility will help reduce our CNG fuel costs by about 50 percent, saving our city money and conserving scarce resources," said Ron Bow, director of Public Works and assistant City Manager of Monterey Park. "By also helping cut smog-forming pollutants and reducing our carbon footprint, this project is good for taxpayers, our neighbors and our environment."

The facility adds another link to California's rapidly expanding natural gas fueling infrastructure. With nearly 600 natural gas stations across the state — more than one-quarter providing public access — California boasts the largest natural gas fueling network in the United States.

Offering significant environmental, energy security, and economic benefits, natural gas is one of the most affordable and cleanest burning alternative fuels available today. In addition to delivering cost savings, natural gas fueling produces lower tailpipe emissions and greenhouse gases than diesel or gasoline and has helped the transportation industry's effort to achieve state and federal environmental goals and meet clean air regulations.

NGVs are some of the cleanest vehicles in commercial production today, and produce only 5-10 percent of the emissions allowable even by today's most stringent standards.  

The Department of Energy's April 2015 alternative fuel price report shows the national average price for natural gas was $2.09/gasoline-gallon-equivalent compared to $3.06/gallon for diesel. The same report notes natural gas prices have been consistently stable for a long period of time, while gasoline and diesel prices have been volatile.

The Monterey Park CNG station project was developed through SoCalGas Compression Services Tariff and partially funded by grants from the California Energy Commission and the South Coast Air Quality Management District.  

Today's announcement supports SoCalGas' vision for being a leader in providing clean energy solutions.

About SoCalGas
Southern California Gas Co. has been delivering clean, safe and reliable natural gas to its customers for more than 140 years. It is the nation's largest natural gas distribution utility, providing service to 21.4 million consumers connected through 5.9 million meters in more than 500 communities. The company's service territory encompasses approximately 20,000 square miles throughout central and Southern California, from Visalia to the Mexican border. Southern California Gas Co. is a regulated subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San Diego.

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SOURCE Southern California Gas Co.

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http://www.socalgas.com