The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) announced it has contracted with a private company to develop a 4,000-square-foot fueling station and travel center featuring a range of alternative fuels and food options on City-owned vacant land near O’Hare International Airport. Located at the Southeast corner of Higgins Road and Patton Drive, the travel center will offer CNG, biodiesel and fast-charge charging stations for electric vehicles, as well as conventional gasoline.
An increasing number of vehicles using the airport are powered by alternative fuels, including taxis, and hotel and rental car shuttles. “Providing better access to alternative fuels at O’Hare provides multiple benefits for the City and the public. We are able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality, while at the same time generating revenue,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
The travel center will be built and operated by PMG Airport Developers, builder and operator of cutting-edge travel plazas at airports across the country, and Clean Energy Fuels. The target opening date for the travel center at O’Hare is early 2016. The project is expected to generate 73 construction jobs and 30 permanent positions. The CDA will receive a base rent of $100,000 for the land and 5 percent of gross sales.
“Building out the infrastructure for CNG fuel is critical to increasing the number of green vehicles on the road,” said Peter Grace, senior vice president for Clean Energy Fuels. “This CNG station will support airport traffic and serve as catalyst to help small businesses and larger fleets that are looking to improve their environmental footprint and their bottom line by switching to cost-efficient natural gas vehicles.”
Source: City of Chicago
