Pensacola Energy, ECUA CNG Partnership Generates Big Savings

October 14, 2014

A compressed natural gas program operated by ECUA  and Pensacola Energy is delivering fuel cost and maintenance savings.

The program recorded fuel cost savings of $1.1 million for  last year, a number expected to increase to $1.3 million this year. In addition, the CNG program has delivered over $350,000 in maintenance cost savings that are ultimately translated into additional cost-savings for ECUA customers.

ECUA Public Information Officer Jim Roberts recently highlighted the program’s successes during the American Public Gas Association Conference in Lake Tahoe. He said ECUA and Pensacola Energy have worked to establish a “utility-friendly” partnership that is now recognized as a model program for utilities across America to embrace.

In 2011, as part of a compressed natural gas (CNG) initiative spearheaded by Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward, ECUA orchestrated a ten-year CNG agreement with Pensacola Energy that includes building and developing public CNG fueling stations located at 6722 Pine Forest Road and 3320 Copter Road in the Ellyson Industrial Park.

While the national average for a gallon of diesel fuel wavers around $4.00, a diesel gallon equivalent of CNG at Pensacola Energy’s fueling station is currently priced at $2.05. CNG prices have remained stable over recent years as gasoline and diesel prices have risen steadily.

ECUA maintains and operates one of the most diversified CNG fleets in Florida with a current roster of 88 vehicles, a projected total of 100 vehicles by October  2014, and 130 vehicles by October  2015. Pensacola Energy currently operates and maintains the fueling stations. Fleet vehicles include Chevrolet and Ford pickup and utility trucks, Peterbilt semi’s and sewer vac trucks, Autocar Xpeditor roll offs, knuckle boom trucks and Autocar Xpeditor refuse ttrucks with McNeilus bodies.

Pictured: Escambia County’s first CNG filling station Wednesday on Pine Forest Road. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

3 Responses to “Pensacola Energy, ECUA CNG Partnership Generates Big Savings”

  1. Mr. Reality on October 14th, 2014 11:23 pm

    So when will the savings be passed along to the customer?

  2. David Huie Green on October 14th, 2014 7:00 pm

    You have to separate the hydrogen and oxygen if you want to get hydrogen from water. You will need an energy source to do this. You will never get back as much energy as it takes in the first place.

    Fuel cells were still very expensive for any given power, last I checked.

    Hydrogen fuel tanks are very bulky for any given energy content. (Just as methane is more bulky than gasoline for the same energy content.)

    Hydrogen is more dangerous than methane. Methane is less dangerous than LP gAs or gasoline. (Not safe, but safer.)

    Nonetheless, any person or group is free to overcome these problems and get rich as a side benefit.

    David for better batteries

  3. bryan on October 14th, 2014 3:01 pm

    why not just go to hydrogen fuels from water?…. HHO has been around for years and people are oblivious to it because the corporate companies do not want you to know about it. research it. HHO fuel cells.