Northwest Natural Gas Company (NW Natural) has received approval from the Public Utility Commission of Oregon (OPUC) to offer a service to install, own and maintain gas compression equipment at business locations of customers who want to fuel their fleets with Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).

NW Natural filed the tariff with the OPUC in June after receiving requests from businesses interested in switching to or expanding the number of fleet vehicles fueled by natural gas. The OPUC approved the tariff today, and will review it in two years after assessing the development of the market.

“We are excited to offer this service to business customers who want to take advantage of this abundant, clean and affordable fuel,” said Barbara Summers, director of business development. “Our next steps will be to work with interested customers operating vehicle fleets to help them through the process and understand the service option that NW Natural can now provide.”

Business customers that sign up for this service will pay 100% of the costs associated with providing this service, and the costs will not be spread to NW Natural’s other customers.

Natural gas is one of the cleanest-burning alternative transportation fuels commercially available today. And because natural gas is in abundant supply in the United States, prices have dropped dramatically. That means by switching to natural gas, fleet operators can cut their fuel costs nearly in half while reducing their greenhouse gas emissions by up to 30%.

Summers adds that the service supports Governor John Kitzhaber’s goal of developing a comprehensive alternative fuel program, as well as legislative interests in alternative fuels.

More information on natural gas fleets for businesses can be found at https://www.nwnatural.com/business/benefitsofgas/naturalgasfleets.