Avista recently received approval from the Public Utility Commission of Oregon to offer business customers within its Oregon service territory compressed natural gas (CNG) services. The service offering allows Avista to construct, own and operate dedicated CNG infrastructure that would be located on an individual customer’s premises for the purpose of refueling a commercial fleet of natural gas-powered vehicles.

The costs related to the service offering would be borne by the CNG customer and will not impact the rates of Avista’s regular residential, commercial and industrial natural gas customers.

“We’re pleased to have this service offering approved by the commission. It’s the next step in our plan to investigate the best uses of CNG, which is a cleaner, more efficient fuel for fleet vehicles,” said Dennis Vermillion, president of Avista Utilities. “We’re in the process of converting our own fleet of trucks to CNG. Over the past 24 months, we’ve built three high-capacity CNG refueling stations to service our own vehicles. Avista is committed to continuing to find ways of doing business that is environmentally responsible and cost-effective.”

Offering CNG services to businesses with a fleet of vehicles helps to advance Oregon Governor Kitzhaber’s energy plan, which calls for a 30 percent reduction of greenhouse gases by 2020. The increased availability of CNG in Oregon responsibly supports the state’s interest in improving air quality and lower greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, it provides customers with the economic and operating advantages of using this alternative fuel.

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