NeWSolutions, the company contracted by the City of Tulsa for trash and recyclable collection, dedicated Tulsa's newest compressed natural gas fueling station Monday.
The fueling station at 41st Street and Galveston Avenue is a joint effort between NeWSolutions and Blue Energy Fuels. The waste management company's contract with the city requires its trucks to run on CNG.
Unlike the city facility at 23rd Street and Jackson Avenue, this facility — said to be the largest in Oklahoma — is not open to the public.
"That's why it's tucked back into this commercial property," said Tom Sewell, president of Blue Energy Fuels. "Now, we have plans to, on the other side of the fence, open up a complete public refueling center, but, you know, there's a lot of property and a lot of things — hoops you have to jump through."
Sewell and NeWSolutions President Jason Kannady told those attending the dedication that more than 900 Oklahoma jobs were involved in the project, including building the fleet of 41 CNG-powered packer trucks.
State Secretary of Energy and Environment Michael Teague praised the companies' efforts as a win-win situation and said Oklahoma needs more projects like it.
"It's about using an Oklahoma resource of natural gas, using an Oklahoma resource of people — with the technology to build this — then you use it to serve our communities and save money?" said Teague. "I'm not sure how many more wins I can do there."
The fueling station accommodates 64 vehicles in 62 slow-fill slots and two quick-fuel slots. It began operating in June.
Sewell said the facility can be expanded should the need arise. It currently houses two compressors; he said it could house up to five.
