Key Figures Discuss Natural Gas Vehicle Adoption In New Jersey

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There is little question that fuel costs will once again be rising to levels that bring alternatives to consideration. Aside from sustainability benefits, alternative fuels provide a hedge against unstable fueling costs both directly and indirectly. Natural gas vehicles will be a large part of that conversation, but so will be issues of infrastructure strength, conversion and usage incentives, and more.

On February 13 at the Wall, New Jersey location of New Jersey Natural Gas, these and other questions were discussed. The NJ Clean Cities Coalition workshop, "Identifying and Removing Barriers to the Use of Natural Gas Vehicles in New Jersey" marked the first move in an extended conversation about how the state would push natural gas as vehicle fuel forward.


In attendance were Chuck Feinberg, Chairman of NJ Clean Cities Coalition; Joseph Fiordaliso, Commissioner, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities; Laurence Downes, Chairman and CEO, New Jersey Natural Gas; Paul Kerkhoven, Director of Government Affairs, NGV America; Bill Wells, New Jersey Natural Gas; Robert Gibbs, Public Service Electric & Gas; Grayson Murray, P.E., Bohler Engineers; and Barry Carr, Landi Renzo.


Introducing the event, Feinberg, Fiordaliso, and Downes wanted to make clear that the era of natural gas vehicles as a present and viable option is here in New Jersey, but insistence will be required to push the fuel type farther into the mainstream. Wells announced the development of nat-gas fueling stations in locations around central New Jersey like Freehold and Middletown, stating that when completed, they will service individuals with personal vehicles as well as medium and large duty trucks with companies.


Kerkhoven showed the upward growth of the fuel in both a national and a statewide frame, stating that when availability opens up, such exponential growth is all but a given for the Jersey economy. However, there are some issues to address before that can happen in earnest. First, according to Wells, there has to be an understanding among townships about their role in accommodating stations. He quipped that the processes involved with getting the station underway in Freehold were complicated and granular; right down to the height of separator barriers between the station and the roadway, which he titled, "The great wall of Freehold." Having met all the agreed-upon qualifications, and some that popped up along the way, the station is nearing final stages.


Planning starts long before the first backhoe digs into the ground. Murray, from Bohler Engineers, discussed how station design requires more than just tank placement. Bathrooms added to a station require considerations involving town sewerage. What size of vehicles will this station accommodate, and how many of them? And what if the residents of the town don't actually know whether they want the station there or not? All of these and more are factored in before a single sketch is drawn for development.


Attendees sounded enthusiastic about natural gas possibilities in the Garden State, and there were plans to continue what was begun at this session. More conversations surely will take place, and more action taken to move alternative vehicles to the front of the pack.

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