CNG Refueling Stations

As demand increases for CNG vehicles, the infrastructure for them will also need to increase. CNG Refueling Stations may only exist in certain states, however the underground pipeline system is in place to distribute the gas all over the country. The US Department of Energy states "Gas is distributed between and within states by 300,000 miles of transmission pipelines. An additional 1.9 million miles of distribution pipes transport gas within utility service areas. The distribution system also includes thousands of delivery, receipt, and interconnection points; hundreds of storage facilities; and more than 50 points for exporting and importing natural gas."  By using the existing natural gas pipeline infrastructure CNG can be provided to consumers in the US. Check out this Natural Gas distribution map from the US Energy Information Administration found here: http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/natural_gas/analysis_publications/ngpipeline/ngpipelines_map.html

This map shows high concentrations of pipelines in certain areas, and with continued marketing and adoption of CNG Vehicles in the US, CNG Refueling stations will pop up all over to fulfill the new consumer demand. The top ten states with existing CNG refueling stations are found here courtesy of cngnow.com and the US Department of Energy.

As the data above shows that only one state has more than 100 refilling stations, which can serve to limit consumer adoption of CNG vehicles. Something will need to drastically change to allow for these stations to multiply. Whether that is by government subsidies, or by investments by the private sector an entity is going to need to step in and devote a lot of time and money into expanding the infrastructure. But that's really part of the problem, isn't it? Why expand the infrastructure if there aren't very many cars around to use it? It's a catch 22 that doesn't have a quick or easy solution. 


- Sean Liddell