ET Environmental Corp. LLC has completed an assignment from the Wisconsin State Energy Office (SEO) to develop a Guidelines Report on natural gas vehicle (NGV) maintenance facilities statewide.
The report will help increase the use of natural gas for transportation throughout the state by providing easy to understand processes and checklists for converting existing diesel truck maintenance facilities to comply with building code requirements for compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles.
ET Environmental worked with SEO representatives and other stakeholder groups conducting interviews and assembling case studies on various options for CNG maintenance facilities. The report will ultimately help facility owners modify their facilities in a cost effective and efficient manner. CNG is often one-half the cost of regular gasoline and diesel. With the conversion to CNG, the state will be able to reduce fuel costs as well as reduce emissions and noise, and have longer lives for its state vehicles.
The Guidelines Report will have a larger impact on the state beyond individual fleet owners and their facility conversions. Using the Guidelines Report sets a standard for all facilities which is already impacting building code and policy development in the state. Through the development of the Guidelines document and coordination with the state, several items were identified as having potential for code modifications. Wisconsin is actively pursuing several initiatives to encourage NGV adoption and eliminate unnecessary expenses to businesses. “We appreciate the thorough job ET Environmental did on this project. It moves the ball forward on adoption of CNG as a transportation fuel in Wisconsin,” says Kevin Vesperman, administrator, DOA – Division of Energy Services.
“The Guidelines Report is being distributed throughout the state in conjunction with Wisconsin Clean Cities. This is an important step in moving Wisconsin forward in the alternative energy arena and providing a cleaner environment for generations to come.” says Amber Gray, state energy program manager, Wisconsin State Energy Office.
“It has been an honor to help the Wisconsin State Energy Office develop the standards for CNG facilities statewide,” says Steve Arnold, PE, design manager of ET Environmental’s Mokena, Ill., office. “We hope to see more uniform standards adopted throughout the country. Natural gas vehicles are not only environmentally responsible but also financially beneficial and we support Wisconsin’s efforts to lead the way for other states.”
