JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A $5.6 million project offering the public a new source for clean energy has been completed on North Myrtle Avenue.
The Jacksonville Transportation Authority partnered with Clean Energy to construct a compressed natural gas pump station just west of the downtown area.
JTA decided to trade gasoline for compressed natural gas because it's cleaner, quieter and cheaper.
The 15-year partnership means that as long as JTA keeps using Clean Energy's fuel, it won't cost taxpayers a dime.
The facility had its ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday, officially opening the CNG pumping station.
But JTA buses won't be the only vehicles gassing up. The pump station is also available to the public.
"Our plan is to start helping spur conversions to compressed natural gas,” JTA CEO Nathaniel Ford said.
JTA and Clean Energy hope more families and businesses will opt for CNG vehicles, not only to help the environment, but the economy.
Through the public-private partnership, Clean Energy footed the bill for construction and maintenance of the pump station.
"They will be able to recoup some of their investment from the private fueling sales, and the JTA will benefit from that also,” Ford said.
JTA will also get a cut of the money made from public sales. Over the next few years, it plans to add more than 75 CNG vehicles to its fleet.
Clean Energy said it can add three more pump stations to the original structure if demand increases.