tlanta Gas Light Company announced today that it has executed service agreements with the City of Atlanta and three commercial operators to open five new compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling stations throughout Georgia.

"Our team has worked diligently since the initial proposals were received to turn those proposals into viable commercial agreements, and we are pleased that five new CNG stations will be opening soon as a result," said Bryan Batson, President of Atlanta Gas Light.  "The CNG station program is one of three economic development programs approved by the Public Service Commission over the past three years that will benefit Georgians and help increase CNG investment in the state."

The five proposed CNG fueling stations will be located in Downtown Atlanta, Forest Park, Savannah and Valdosta. Three of the five stations will offer public access. The list of the proposed locations and station owners is provided below:

Metro Atlanta

• 1120 North Avenue (City of Atlanta)
• 128 Claire Drive (City of Atlanta) 
• 323 Cash Memorial Blvd., Forest Park (Premier Transportation)

Savannah

• 401 O'Leary Road (Colonial Group, Inc., through its Enmark subsidiary)

Valdosta

• 1628 James P. Rogers Drive (The Langdale Company)

The initial five stations awarded under the AGL CNG Program will result in a $6.5 million investment from Atlanta Gas Light's Universal Service Fund (USF) to install compression and storage equipment owned by Atlanta Gas Light at the fueling stations.  Over the remaining four years of the program, Atlanta Gas Light will be able to negotiate additional service agreements with other station owners to invest an additional $5 million in funds authorized by the Public Service Commission.

In November 2011, the Public Service Commission approved a plan submitted by Atlanta Gas Light to invest $11.57 million from the company's USF to install natural gas compression and storage equipment at newly proposed CNG fueling stations. Atlanta Gas Light will provide service to the station owners under a new rate approved by the Public Service Commission. The initiative is the first state-sponsored investment program in the Southeast that allows the utility to add infrastructure to its market without rate impacts on current customers. All site development costs as well as any costs to maintain and operate the equipment will be paid by the station owners and their respective CNG customers.

In addition to this effort, Atlanta Gas Light recently launched a program aimed at helping individual consumers and small businesses conveniently fuel their CNG vehicles from their own premises. Authorized by the Public Service Commission, the program provides low cost leases of home refueling appliances, known as HRAs, which allow commuters to refill their CNG cars at their own premise overnight. Monthly lease payments will typically be $60, with a minimum five-year commitment for a standard unit, including scheduled maintenance and installation.