The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities received a filing from the New Jersey Natural Gas or NJNG regarding the permission to build a compressed gas vehicle refueling station with an investment of $15 million. Monmouth in Ocean and Morris Counties is the selected location for the station. The locations that will eventually be approved will be the host stations, and each such station will utilize a part of the station’s refueling capacity to make the stations available to the public as well. Once the application is approved, NJNG expects to build about seven to ten stations all across the company’s service territory.

In a release, the chairman and chief executive officer of New Jersey Natural Gas, Mr. Laurence M. Downes said that “By building the infrastructure to refuel natural gas vehicles, New Jersey Natural Gas can help stimulate the market for alternative fuel vehicles as well as economic development in our state. Additionally, if we can encourage the use of domestic, competitively priced natural gas as a fuel for transportation, we can begin to reduce our reliance on petroleum-based fuels and move toward greater energy independence. Just as important, projects like this will unlock significant savings for businesses and taxpayers, alike.”

The dearth of refueling infrastructure has been one of the major hazards in the increased usage of natural gas related vehicles. As such, NJNC has tried to improve the number of refueling stations in order to enhance and promote a strong market for the usage of natural gas vehicles. There are at present only 2 fueling stations available to the public in the state of New Jersey. The entry of natural gas vehicles into the state is being stimulated by NJNC’s efforts to increase the number of refueling stations, and therefore the refueling infrastructure.

NJNC’s investment in the refueling stations will additionally help in improving the economy of the state. Jobs, both direct and indirect, will increase, thereby enabling the creation of vacancies and retention of opportunities. Whenever new buildings are to be put up, it involves work for construction companies, growth for the equipment manufacturers and the increase in natural gas vehicle demands a rise in the production of such vehicles.