To further combat the long standing problem of poor air quality in the area, the Kern County Superintendent of Schools (KCSOS) upgraded its CNG station by doubling its size, as well as including the ability to pay with credit cards and refuel with fast-filling.
For almost 15 years, KCSOS has attempted to stem the rise of air pollution. It embarked on helping alleviate this air-quality problem in 1999 with the purchase of the first CNG bus. Back then, KCSOS had to rely on outside dispensers to fill up. California, however, made it a priority to get more CNG vehicles on the road and provided incentives to grow the infrastructure through a number of programs.
“There have been a good number of grants available not only for the purchase of CNG vehicles but for the development of CNG fueling infrastructure, all of which KCSOS has utilized to take our CNG program to its current level,” said Scott Fieber, energy conservation supervisor for KCSOS.
To design the new CNG facility, a considerable amount of time was spent listening both KCSOS drivers and the public on what they would like to see in the expansion, and the collected data was incorporated into the design of the finished product.
“KCSOS has incorporated larger compressors, larger piping, faster fill dispensers and reconfigured storage into its design so that the KCSOS station can deliver a CNG fills in just about the same amount of time they can get a liquid fuel fill,” said Fieber.
The station is open to any motorist that operates a CNG vehicle. “The KCSOs station is the only 24/7 fully public CNG station in the area. We serve everything from fleet vehicles to long haul trucks plus families with CNG vehicles,” said Fieber.
General use of the new dispensers will not interfere with KCSOS operations, as they have facilities located within the transportation yard for its school buses. This use of the new station by the public will help generate revenue, which “goes towards covering the expansion and ongoing operational and maintenance costs,” said Fieber.
Fieber reported that KCSOS has pushed forward with initial preparations for the second phase expansion project that will add a thirdcompressor, along with “a rapid fill CT5000 dispenser tailored for large trucks and busses again to deliver the best and reliable CNG fueling experience possible.”
