Mansfield opens region’s first public CNG station

Lott Oil president Buddy Lott was lauded for being the first private investor in the state to add natural gas. “As a company, we see the new fueling station in Mansfield as meeting the growing demand, especially from CNG fleet operators in this area. We are optimistic more companies will convert their fleets in the future and consumers will gravitate to NGVs as manufacturers produce more CNG models,” he said.

A partnership with Chesapeake and an “Empower Louisiana” grant from the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources paid for the compressor equipment and dispensers at the filling station, reported Shreveport Times.

A number of oil and gas companies working in the shale region already have converted portions of their fleet vehicles to CNG. According to Lott Oil spokesman David Dollar, his firm has converted four of its trucks to bi-fuel with the cost expected to be recouped within 10 months through fuel savings. In addition, the DeSoto Parish School System this year will become the first school district in the state to convert some of its buses to natural gas.

Other CNG pumps are located in Red River and Bossier parishes, but those initially opened for private use.