GREELEY, CO – Weld County, Colo., will open its first public compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station, the first of four to open in the area, according to the County. The County has replaced 11 of its fleet vehicles with CNG models. The SkyBlu fueling station is operated by Mansfield Energy Corporation.

“Weld County has already replaced 11 of its own fleet vehicles with CNG vehicles, and we recently approved the purchase of a heavy-duty liquefied natural gas truck for the County Public Works department,” said Weld County Commissioner Barbara Kirkmeyer.

The County worked through the Weld County Natural Gas Coalition to get funding for area CNG-related projects. The Coalition works with municipalities, school districts, and fire districts to use Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds to purchase CNG vehicles as part of government entity fleet replacement programs. In this case, the CMAQ funding for the project was made available through the Denver Regional Council of Governments.

In addition to Weld County;s fleet vehicles, the Coalition has used CMAQ funds to help purchase four CNG vehicles for the city of Evans and a 1-ton CNG truck for the LaSalle Fire Protection District. The Coalition is working to get funding for up to eight additional CNG vehicles for two other towns and three fire protection districts, the County stated.

For more information about the Weld County Natural Gas Coalition, or to read the Weld County Smart Energy: Alternative Fuel Corridor Plan, visit www.weldsmartenergy.org.