Vermont Gas Systems and NG Advantage LLC have officially turned on Vermont’s first “gas island” on Exchange Street in Middlebury. This island consists of an Off-Loading Station and a small pipeline network that will connect the station to Agri-Mark’s Middlebury plant, Middlebury College, and several other large customers. Until the Addison Rutland Natural Gas Project pipeline extension reaches Middlebury, natural gas will be delivered to the local network by NG Advantage LLC using its high-tech carbon fiber trailers. Once the Vermont Gas Systems pipeline reaches Middlebury, NG Advantage will move its Off-Loading Station and trucks to other customer sites.
“The ‘gas island’ partnership with NG Advantage is one example of the innovative approach we are using to bring this clean, safe, and affordable option to more customers,” said Tom Murray, Director of Sales and Marketing at Vermont Gas Systems. “We are excited to welcome Agri-Mark and Middlebury College as our newest customers and we look forward to expanding our service in Middlebury.”
The ‘gas island’ system will provide the same natural gas used by Vermont Gas Systems to serve its current customer base approaching 50,000 homes and businesses in Chittenden and Franklin counties. Natural gas is less expensive and cleaner than conventional heating fuels now used in Addison County and elsewhere around Vermont.
NG Advantage’s Chairman and CEO Tom Evslin said “NG Advantage is pleased to be working with Vermont Systems Gas to bring the advantages of cleaner, less expensive North American natural gas to Vermont Gas’ customers in Middlebury in advance of the pipeline. Burning gas instead of fuel oil will lower customer’s emissions of CO2 by 26%. It will also reduce emissions of SO2 and NOx as well as eliminate the emission of particulates greatly improving air quality in Middlebury.”
"Agri-Mark Dairy Cooperative is very pleased to work with NG and VGS to establish this Gas Island which makes natural gas available for our energy intensive cheese and whey facility in Middlebury as well as for some of our neighbors. We especially look forward to completing this process when the pipeline is in place and all of Middlebury can share in its financial and environmental benefits,” said Bob Wellington, Sr.Vice President,Agri-Mark.
About NG Advantage LLC
NG Advantage is an innovative fuel provider trucking compressed natural gas (CNG) in the U.S. – bringing the economic and environmental benefits of North American natural gas to large institutions and industrial customers without access to a pipeline. The Company’s current customers include large regional hospitals, paper mills, asphalt facilities, food processors, industrial dry cleaners, LDCs, and light manufacturing facilities. With a compressor station in Vermont and in New Hampshire, the Company currently serves customers in Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and eastern New York. As a result of the purchase of a controlling interest in the company by Clean Energy Fuels (NASDAQ: CLNE) in October 2014, NG Advantage is expanding its service areas. NGadvantage.com
About Vermont Gas
Vermont Gas serves almost 50,000 customers in Franklin and Chittenden counties and is currently working to expand service into Addison and Rutland counties. The natural gas delivered by the Addison Rutland Natural Gas Project is safer, cleaner – and about half the cost – of the propane or oil currently used by most Vermonters, advantages that help Vermont transition toward a cleaner and more affordable energy future. The company’s almost 50-year heritage for safe and reliable operations includes its award-winning energy-efficiency programs, which reduce energy use while saving $13 million annually for homes and businesses. For more information about Vermont Gas and the Addison Rutland Natural Gas Project, visit www.VermontGas.com or www.AddisonRutlandNaturalGas.com.
Source: VGS 12.4.2014