Santa Clara County in California will construct a compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station at the fleet management facility in San Jose. The County’s goal is to convert 25 percent of its 2,500 vehicles to CNG within 10 years, decreasing its use of petroleum by 333,375 gallons per year, according to the Santa Clara County website.

The County will fund the CNG station with a grant award of $300,000 from the California Energy Commission and $900,000 in County funds. The station will be accessible to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week and will include a single CNG dispenser with dual hoses — one for buses and large applications and one for smaller vehicles. Construction is expected to start within 12 months and be completed by 2015.

In 2012, CNG fuel averaged $2.05 per gasoline/diesel gallon equivalent, compared to $4.03 for a gallon of gasoline and $4.23 for a gallon of diesel, according to the County. There are currently five CNG stations in Santa Clara County, including:

• PG&E, 308 Stockton Ave., San Jose, CA 95126.
• San Jose Airport, 2151 Airport Blvd., San Jose, CA 95110 – the only station open 24/7.
• San Jose School District, 2222 Unified Way, San Jose, CA 95125.
• Specialty Solid Waste, 3351 Thomas Rd., Santa Clara, CA 95054.
• PG&E, 10900 N. Blaney Ave., Cupertino, CA 95014.