In what could have a trickle-down effect on the public, compressed natural gas (CNG) is filling area pumps as an alternative fuel of choice.
The Ann Arbor-based
Clean Energy Coalition, under its Green Fleets program sponsored by the U.S. Dept. of Energy, last week awarded a $5.4 million grant to DTE Energy. MichCon, a unit of DTE, will use the funds to convert 173 service vehicles to run on CNG fuel and also to construct new fueling stations in Melvindale and East China Township and refurbish 11 others throughout Michigan, according to a statement from DTE.
The Green Fleets program has a core focus on petroleum displacement, Clean Energy Coalition Executive Director Sean Reed says. "And because natural gas vehicles operate on 100% compressed natural gas...they score quite highly because they displace 100% petroleum."
One of those slated for refurbishment is in Ypsilanti, says Reed. While that station is used by DTE for its own operations, "Washtenaw County is really fortunate in that it actually already has [four] existing public compressed natural gas fueling stations," he points out.
Stations open to the public are located in Ann Arbor, at the Meijer store on Ann Arbor-Saline Road and the Ann Arbor Municipal Garage, and in Ypsilanti, at the Meijer on Carpenter Road and MichCon Gas Company.
Sources: Sean Reed, executive director, Clean Energy Coalition; DTE EnergyWriter: Tanya Muzumdar
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