Weld County gets Pumped over Compressed Natural Gas

Weld County actually runs on natural gas as it has more than 17,000 active wells. Now, county officials and energy companies are hopeful to fuel thousands of fomites with compressed natural gas (CNG).

Officials are supporting the Weld County Smart Energy initiative this summer, with programs to set up the first public CNG stations along the northern Front Range by the end of the year. Lasting objectives for the public-private joint venture include constructing 25 natural-gas filling stations and bringing 10,000 natural-gas fomites on the road in Weld County.

County commissioner Barbara Kirkmeyer said “the program is ‘win-win-win’ for Weld — and other gas-rich parts of the state — to reduce air pollution and carbon emissions, lead the transition away from gasoline-powered cars and trucks, and support a booming, local industry.”

CNG fomite technology has progressively developed in the last decade. In the U.S. there are an approximated 120,000 fitted fomites, several that are regarded “bi-fuel” that can run on gasoline or natural gas, and 1,100 fueling stations. Much of that substructure is government controlled, serving buses and fleet fomites, but other than that it is not accessible for public use.

The counts are a dip in the bucket when equated with the aggregate number of American cars and gas pumps, and there is not a solitary natural-gas station exposed to the public between Denver and Cheyenne.

That Weld County was a natural-gas fomite fueling desert did not make logic to Kirkmeyer. There are more natural gas wells in Weld than anywhere else in the state, but it looks like the county and the industry are neglecting chances.

A few years ago, Kirkmeyer went up to the functionaries from Encana, Anadarko, and Noble Energy, which all control wells in Weld County, about new areas for encouraging CNG. The collaborators found the Smart Energy program.
In addition to the economic gains, the plan is also set up for substantial ecological vantages. Compressed natural gas is much more resourceful and clearer than gasoline or diesel, cutting down vehicle carbon dioxide discharges by 25%, nitrous oxide discharges by up to 60%, and carbon monoxide expels by over 90%. Changing over a heavy-duty truck to run on CNG as an alternative to diesel is equal to getting rid of 325 cars from the highways, according to county officials.

A lump of the money will go to construct public pumps, probably at subsisting gas stations, with anticipated locates in Fort Lupton, Windsor and Evans, among other towns. Weld County traffic engineer Janet Carter said “two or three natural-gas stations should be open for business or under construction by the end of the year. Regionally, the first public CNG pumps in Wyoming will open this summer in Riverton.”

He further added that “some of the grants will also go toward county fleet conversion, and Carter said the program could eventually share funds to convert local towns and school districts’ vehicles, too. Weld County has committed to converting 50 vehicles over the next six years, and the energy companies will take similar action over the next decade or so. The county is also undertaking a public-education program to increase awareness, and has included Aims Community College in the Smart Energy partnership to design a curriculum for natural-gas vehicle technicians. We are on the forefront. Weld County is the leader for doing this. The state is modeling off Weld to promote similar steps on the Western Slope.”

Even though the Smart Energy partnership is all set, the only hurdle is whether drivers can be convinced to switch over to CNG has to be waited and watched for.