Alabama’s largest public CNG station opens in Dothan

Matt Boster

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Posted by: Matt Boster
Date: Oct 29 2014 3:00 PM

DOTHAN:  Drivers whose cars and trucks run on compressed natural gas now have a new place to fill up in southeast Alabama.

Corridor Clean Fuels LLC celebrated its opening of Dothan’s first CNG station at a grand opening today. With the capacity to handle everything from small cars to heavy-duty trucks, the station at 735 Ross Clark Circle is the largest public-access CNG fueling spot in Alabama.

“When we surveyed Alabama looking for the right place to build our first compressed natural gas fueling station, we looked at a dozen or so sites throughout the state,” said Dan Johnson, CEO of Corridor Clean Fuels.  “Dothan quickly moved to the forefront because of the large number of vehicles traveling in and through the area and because of the opportunity to work with Home Oil Co. and Southeast Alabama Gas District in order to sell our ‘Cynergy’ brand of fuel.”

Mark Bentley, executive director of the Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition, said projects such as Dothan’s new CNG station are critical for the U.S. to increase its energy independence.

“This project puts Dothan on the forefront of efforts to expand the availability and use of alternative fuels,” Bentley said.

The station, which is selling CNG at an initial cost of $1.98 per gasoline gallon equivalent, represents a partnership of three Alabama companies: Corridor Clean Fuels, Home Oil Co., and the Southeast Alabama Gas District.

Home Oil, which has been in the petroleum business for almost half a century, called the project a chance to branch out and tap a growing new market.

“We think CNG will grow rapidly in adoption over the next five to 10 years,” said Tim Shirley, president of Home Oil Co.  “This partnership with Corridor Clean Fuels allows us to diversify our fueling options and gain traction as the market for natural gas fueling develops.”

The CNG station and dispensers were built in conjunction with a remodel of a Hobo Pantry Chevron station. The location was ideal, according to Corridor Clean Fuels, which develops and operates CNG stations across the Southeast to sell its Cynergy brand of fuel.

“This is an area that serves as a hub of regional transportation along a heavily traveled corridor,” said Randy Spence, chief operating officer of Corridor Clean Fuels. “This new infrastructure will serve existing CNG customers, and we believe it will encourage other individuals, businesses and government agencies to consider natural gas as an option.”

 Already, 140,000 vehicles in the U.S. operate on natural gas.

The price of natural gas is just one of its advantages as a transportation fuel. It also emits less nitrous oxide, particulate matter and greenhouse gas than petroleum. In addition, almost all of the natural gas used in the U.S. is produced in the U.S.

 “We are very excited to play a role in moving our country toward a cleaner, domestic, less expensive choice for fueling the transportation industry,” said Greg Henderson, president and CEO of the Southeast Alabama Gas District. “We believe projects such as this will play a key role in the widespread development and adoption of natural gas as a transportation fuel.”

Following the station’s grand opening, a workshop was offered on the advantages of CNG as a transportation fuel. But to learn more, anyone can visit http://www.afdc.energy.gov/fuels/natural_gas.html.

The Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition, a nonprofit membership-based organization, is the state’s principal coordinating point for alternative fuels and a member of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities program.  Clean, domestic energy sources reduce our dependence on foreign oil, improve local air quality, and support local economic development.  For more information, please visit www.alabamacleanfuels.org or call 205-402-2755.

Corridor Clean Fuels is an Alabama-based company focused on developing and operating CNG fueling stations to distribute its Cynergy brand of fuel across the southeastern U.S.

Home Oil Co. is a family-owned Alabama business that sells and delivers petroleum products to gas stations, businesses and industries in a three-state area. It also operates 26 retail outlets.

The Southeast Alabama Gas District is a natural gas company serving approximately 29,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in 35 communities throughout Southeast Alabama.

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