Natural gas station almost ready to open

Homepage

Related Photos

A compressed natural gas pump accepting credit cards and open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, will be available within two weeks at the City of Somerset Fuel Center on Chappell’s Dairy Road. The facility, probably first of its kind in Kentucky, is expected to attract drivers of natural gas powered vehicles from a wide area. Bill Mardis photo

December 12, 2012

Natural gas station almost ready to open

Mayor Girdler expects fuel pump to draw 200-300 cars daily

by Bill Mardis Commonwealth Journal The Commonwealth Journal Wed Dec 12, 2012, 08:24 PM EST

Somerset —

A credit card reading device, now on order, is the only thing standing in the way of Somerset having one of the first compressed natural gas fueling stations open 24/7 for public use in Kentucky.

It should happen within a couple of weeks, according to Somerset Mayor Eddie Girdler. The pump, located at the City of Somerset Fuel Center on Chappell’s Dairy Road, will be similar to any service station pump and will take credit cards.

“Compressed natural gas is available now at the fueling center, but people want to use their credit cards,” Girdler said. Fill-ups with a single pole dispenser that require an attendant are done by appointment. Nonetheless, the mayor says a “steady stream” of vehicles are filling up with compressed natural gas at the fuel center during daytime business hours.

Lack of fueling stations is the current problem with natural gas powered vehicles. For example, when Somerset took delivery of its first Honda Civic, city officials had to take it to Wartburg, Tennessee for a fill-up.

Not only are vehicles powered by compressed natural gas more environmentally friendly, a real savings is realized at the pump.

“I drove a Honda Civic to Louisville on less than $10 worth of natural gas,” Girdler noted. A full cylinder of compressed natural gas at about $1.50 a gallon will power a Honda Civic between 250 and 300 miles. The Honda Civic gets about 37 mph and performs exactly as a gasoline-powered car.

When the compressed natural gas pump that accepts credit cards is ready, Girdler expects between 200 and 300 cars daily to fill up their natural gas-powered vehicles here.

“These are new people coming to Somerset that will eat at our restaurants and shop in our stores,” the mayor said. He expects Somerset to be a focal point for supplies of compressed natural gas until similar facilities are developed along interstate highways sometime in the future.

Consumer Energy Center, a division of California Energy Commission, says natural gas powers more than 12 million vehicles around the world, but only about 250,000 are in the United States. However, the number of natural gas powered vehicles in the United States has been increasing by 3.7 percent each year.

Somerset is replacing its 75-vehicle fleet with cars and trucks that use compressed natural gas. At last report the city has three Honda Civic cars and two F-150 Ford pickups, all of which use compressed natural gas. A new Dodge truck was on order and the city has just purchased for $225,000 a new compressed natural gas sanitation truck to replace one of its large garbage collection vehicles.

Compressed natural gas, a readily available alternative to gasoline, is made by compressing natural gas to less than 1 percent of its volume at standard atmospheric pressure. Somerset, with its abundance of natural gas, is trying to take advantage of what city officials believe is the energy source of the future.

The current problem is fueling stations. There are 12,000 around the world, but only 500 public stations in the United States. The Somerset fueling station, when operative, will be one of the first, if not the first, in Kentucky.

A recent report on CNN detailed efforts to fuel diesel trucks on interstates with compressed natural gas. The report noted scarcity of fueling stations as the biggest obstacle.

Obviously, Somerset’s fueling station is a bit off the beaten track for interstate traffic. However, Girdler, noting the recently purchased sanitation vehicle, said a bigger compressor has been installed at the fuel center and the local compressed natural gas pump will accommodate large trucks.

And, with Somerset located between I-65 and !-75, a relatively short detour east on Cumberland Parkway, south along Ky. 461 or west along Ky. 80 might be better than an empty tank.

Text Only

Local News

An aerial view shows Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore, Okla., Tuesday, May 21, 2013 as rescue workers make their way through the structure. At least 24 people, including nine children, were killed in the massive tornado that flattened homes and a school in Moore, on Monday afternoon. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Local schools prepared for the worst when storms strike

News like that out of Oklahoma this week has a way of striking a nerve with the rest of the nation. Particularly, those charged with the care of children — many of which were victims in the Midwestern tornadoes — find themselves paying close attention.

Steve Butcher, superintendent of Pulaski County Schools, said on Tuesday that there was a meeting of his district’s principals that very day — only one day after the storms in Moore, Okla., that killed over 90 people — to address such matters.

May 21, 2013 1 Photo
Minor damage reported after local afternoon storms
Pulaski County felt the first wave of strong weather blow through the area Tuesday afternoon, but came out much better for it than those in other parts of the country.

May 21, 2013 1 Photo
Dwindling numbers close Pulaski Central as education alternative
Students needing instruction in an “alternative education” setting will no longer be going to Pulaski Central High School, according to county school officials.

With dwindling numbers at the facility on Bourne Avenue, the Pulaski County School District has decided to transition any students using its services to similar programs at either Southwestern or Pulaski County High Schools.

May 20, 2013

Local Sports

The Pulaski County High School players mobbed sophomore Chris Henderlight (#29) after he hit a walk-off RBI base hit in the Maroons’ dramatic last inning come-from-behind win over Rockcastle County High School in the opening round of the 47th District Tournament.

Lorman, Henderlight keep Pulaski alive
Facing a four-run deficit and down to their last three outs, elimination looked inevitable for the Pulaski County High School baseball team on Monday night in the opening round of the 47th District Baseball Tournament at Charlie Taylor Field.
But a Pulaski last-inning rally capped off by a Henry Lorman bases-loaded clearing double off the left field wall and a Chris Henderlight walk-off RBI base hit propelled the Maroons to a 7-6 comeback win over Rockcastle County High School.

May 21, 2013 1 Photo
Warriors down Monticello, 11-1
It takes five wins to make it to the Forcht Bank/KHSAA Baseball State Tournament.
The Southwestern Warriors are one-fifth of the way there now, as they took down Monticello in the first round of the 48th District Baseball Tournament on Monday night at Warrior Stadium. With the five-inning, 11-1 victory over the Trojans, the Warriors advanced to the championship game and next week’s regional tournament.
Alex Eaton’s ball club did exactly what they needed to do to make it back to the regional tournament once again. The third-year Southwestern coach is hoping that his squad can come away with the program’s first regional title since 2004.

May 21, 2013 1 Photo
Lady Warriors advance to finals; looking for 8th straight district title
So far in the 2013 high school softball season, McCreary Central has had their way with Southwestern in their two regular season match-ups.
The Southwestern Lady Warriors will get a chance to get a little revenge against McCreary Central, as the two teams will meet up in the 48th District Softball Championship.

May 21, 2013 1 Photo

Features

Wayne Adams shows the coyote he shot last Monday at his farm on Pitman Creek. The animal, weighing 40 pounds, apparently had killed on of his calves.

Howling Success
May 16, 2013 1 Photo
Business booming for new liquor store
Five liquor licenses were approved for Somerset and the third store to open was this past week.
Called "First Stop,"the new package store it is located on the west side of U.S. 27 between lights 20 and 21, which is a little north of TSC Tractor Supply. The owner is Charlotte Perdisaris and the manager is Michael Scott.
Perdisaris has been working on getting the store ready for a number of months but was delayed by the shipment and installation of a large 10 x 20 foot walk-in cooler that lines the back of the shop. Otherwise, she thought they could have opened much earlier and, perhaps, have even been the first to open.With such a large cooler, they have a large supply of beer and wine in it to choose from. As to other spirits, they have a large variety of brands, especially high end brands such as Crown Royal and R&R. In addition, they have beer singles on ice. At this time, they are the only local liquor store selling beer in kegs.
First Stop is the last liquor store to open that is locally owned and operated. The remaining two licenses are to drug store retailers.

May 19, 2013 1 Photo
Scenic new trails opened at Pulaski County Park
Despite a rainy last several days, outdoor enthusiasts couldn’t help but play in the mud a little this weekend in celebration of the grand opening of biking and hiking trails at Pulaski County Park.
“We’ve been working on this .. for about four years,” said Pulaski County Judge-executive Barty Bullock to a crowd of around 50 people gathered at the head of the new trail at the park. “ ... It’s been such a good project.
“We think it’s going to be a huge asset to this community,” added Bullock.
The essence of the trail has existed at Pulaski County Park for decades as an Eagle Scout Trail. The newest trails, are almost 9 miles long, with five of those miles dedicated to biking.
The trail is built to the standards of the International Mountain Biking Association, a worldwide network that brings together serious bicycle enthusiasts.

May 19, 2013 1 Photo

Homepage

Search Results

Related Photos

Natural gas station almost ready to open

Mayor Girdler expects fuel pump to draw 200-300 cars daily

Site Map