Officials: Terminal will be operational spring 2015

DOLGEVILLE — The compressed natural gas facility and distribution terminal under construction in the town of Manheim is anticipated to be fully operational by spring 2015, according to a release issued by Xpress Natural Gas.

Construction on the terminal on state Route 167 began in October and XNG officials said when operational, it will employ up to eight full-time employees and will result in the creation of nearly 100 related jobs in the area.

XNG officials previously said they hoped construction would be finished by December and that the facility would be operational by the first quarter of 2015.

The eight full-time employees represent an increase in jobs at the terminal, as the Boston-based company previously announced six full-time employees would work there.

The project resulted from an announcement last fall that XNG and Direct Energy Business entered into an agreement to deliver compressed natural gas to off-pipeline industrial and commercial businesses and institutions in New York.

XNG President John Nahill said in a release the companies are working together to solve two of the biggest concerns in the New York business community — the high cost of traditional energy options and the lack of competitive alternatives — through the construction of the 2,000-square-foot terminal. “Compressed natural gas is enabling companies and communities that currently must rely on expensive heating fuels like oil, propane and biomass to lower their overall costs and compete more effectively,” he said.

“Direct Energy Business is uniquely positioned to combine its resources with companies such as XNG to help customers modify their facilities and take advantage of cheaper natural gas prices in North America,” John Schultz, president of Director Energy Business, said in a release. “We are excited about the construction of this facility to help New York state businesses and municipalities save money on their primary fuel costs.”

When operational, the terminal will pull natural gas from the Iroquois Pipeline and dry, compress and cool it before delivering it to customers by company tractor-trailers.

Depending on seasonal demand, XNG estimates to fill between eight and 45 trucks per day at the Manheim facility, with peak times between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

The terminal will be operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The town of Manheim’s Zoning Board of Appeals approved the facility in July, after months of meetings, public hearings and debate. The decision was met with mixed emotions, as some residents questioned how the terminal would affect their health and the overall quality of life. Others saw it as an opportunity to expand the town’s tax base. “Read more”

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