CHARLESTON, W.Va. — An energy company said it anticipates three compressed natural gas fueling stations in West Virginia will be ready for customers by the end of the year.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held at IGS Energy CNG Services fueling station on Spring Street in Charleston on Tuesday morning. IGS state nanager T.J. Meadows said he anticipates the refueling station will be up and operating by November
Another station in Bridgeport should be ready by next month, Meadows said, and one in Jane Lew by the end of the year. He said it’s good news for Interstate 79 motorists.
“The idea that someone would be able to drive from Charleston to Pittsburgh or vice-versa completely on compressed natural gas, when you talk about a savings from 30 to 50 percent, we think that’s a big deal,” Meadows said.
IGS is banking on the market for the fueling stations will increase once they are operational.
“A lot of people talk about the chicken-and-the-egg equation, but we’re stepping forward and putting this infrastructure in place because we think once it’s in place the market will rush in and adopt it very quickly,” Meadows said.
IGS already has a number of partners who plan to use compressed natural gas and Meadows said he expects the number to grow rapidly.