The Lemoore Union High School District refueling station project upgrades the existing compressed natural gas refueling station at 867 Iona Avenue in Lemoore (Kings County). A grant from the CEC allows the district to expand the existing compressed natural gas fueling station, which was originally built in 2012. The compressed natural gas station was upgraded to add one 200 standard cubic feet per minute compressed natural gas compressor, one fast-fill fueling dispenser, relocate the fueling island and install a canopy over the station. These improvements enhance the stations capabilities in support of the district’s compressed natural gas fleet of student transportation vehicles, the City of Lemoore’s service vehicles, as well as reliability and capacity to the public.
The compressed natural gas fleet has increased from nine buses in 2016 to 11 buses in 2017. The City of Lemoore has one compressed natural gas front loading refuse truck on order and expected to deliver in February of 2020. The new station increased compressed natural gas filling capacity to accommodate these needs and included electrical upgrades and spatial and infrastructure provisions for future expansion.
The project provided an upgraded electrical service, one 200 standard cubic feet per minute compressed natural gas compressor, one fast-fill fueling dispenser with two fueling houses and add a protective canopy. The fast-fill system is designed so two full-size buses can refuel simultaneously and deliver 30 gallons of gasoline equivalent per hose in a continuous five- to eight-minute period.
The fast-fill component will allow the district to enter refueling station access agreements with neighboring public agencies or to sell compressed natural gas at retail prices for personal vehicles. The district received verbal commitments for station usage from several other public entities in the area with a need for access to compressed natural gas fuel for their own fleets of transportation vehicles.