There are 25% more operating natural gas fueling stations in the Lone Star State than there were last September. Texans can now natural gas-up at 130 locations, according to the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC).

An RRC survey showed that 42 more stations are planned to open in the next 12-18 months, suggesting a steady buildout of natural gas fueling infrastructure.

“We have seen unprecedented growth in Texas’ natural gas industry; more natural gas vehicles on the road, more fuel sold and more fueling stations installed,” said RRC Commissioner David Porter. “Fleets are buying more natural gas vehicles because we have more stations. And the more vehicles they buy, the more natural gas stations get built.”

The state’s 77 public fueling stations and 53 private stations serve more than 7,200 natural gas vehicles. Since Sept. 1, these stations have dispensed 14.6 million gallon equivalents of natural gas, double the amount from the same time last year. Texas has more vehicles running on natural gas than on any other alternative fuel, according to the RRC.

Porter is hosting the Texas Natural Gas Workshop in Austin on March 26. It will focus on initiatives in transportation, exploration and production for fleet managers and oilfield operators. Information and registration is available at www.rrc.state.tx.us under “Workshop.”

A bill, SB 12, to incentivise natural gas vehicle adoption by state agencies was recently introduced in the Texas Legislature and is currently in the Senate Natural Resources and Economic Development Committee (see Daily GPI, March 13).