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State Controlling Board awards Trumbull County $100K grant for TNG study
By Marc Kovac
COLUMBUS
The state Controlling Board OK’d a $100,000 grant Tuesday for efforts to help Trumbull County officials gauge the benefits of using vehicles that run on compressed natural gas.
The funds will be used by the Trumbull County engineer for a two-part feasibility study on the advantages of converting existing vehicles or purchasing new ones, as well as the potential construction of a CNG fueling station in the county.
The county commissioners, Howland and Weathersfield townships, Dominion East Ohio and Stanwade Inc. will be involved in the study.
Eastern Ohio’s emerging shale oilfields have prompted increased attention to using natural gas in private and public fleets.
According to documents, “CNG is significantly cheaper than gasoline, which averages $3.50/gallon, and diesel, which averages at $3.44/gallon. The price of CNG is $2 [per gallon equivalent].”
The funding approved by the board was part of nearly $2.5 million in grants and loans approved as part of the Development Services Agency’s Local Government Innovation Fund.
The latter backs projects that promote “collaboration, efficiency, mergers, and shared services among local governments,” according to documents. “Projects are also expected to facilitate improved business environments and promote community attraction.”
The Local Government Innovation Council signed off on the funding at its December meeting.