State Reps. Mike Schlossberg, D-132nd, and Dan McNeill, D-133rd, announced a $430,991 state grant for upgrades to a compressed natural gas fueling station in Allentown.

Schlossberg and McNeill said Clean Energy Inc. received the grant from the Commonwealth Financing Authority's Alternative and Clean Energy Program to expand and upgrade the Allentown Lehigh Gas facility. The current station does not have the capacity to accommodate future growth, which is preventing area fleets from deploying CNG vehicles.

The upgrade will double the fueling capacity and will add a second dispenser.

"Serving on the transportation committee, I am excited to see this important addition to the Lehigh Valley's transportation network," Schlossberg said. "This will be good for the region and provide customers and businesses with this important alternative fuel."

The current yearly production at the station is 12,000 gasoline gallon equivalents of CNG, and based on commitments from fleets, Clean Energy estimates after the project is complete, the yearly production of the facility in year one will be 60,000 GGE and will increase annually, reaching a production of 447,000 GGE in year 10.

"This project will not only help to invigorate the energy market, but it will also create dozens of jobs in the region," McNeill said. "I am thankful that the state recognized the initiative's importance and supported it as generously as it did."

Clean Energy is the largest provider of natural gas fuel for transportation in North America, fueling over 35,000 vehicles each day at approximately 500 fueling stations throughout the United States and Canada.

The project's total cost is $1.08 million and Clean Energy Inc. will provide $646,487 in matching funds.

The Alternative and Clean Energy Program provides grants and loan to applicants that utilize, develop and construct alternative and clean energy projects, develop infrastructure associated with compressed and liquefied natural gas fueling stations and support energy efficiency and conservation projects.

More information about the program and the CFA can be found online at www.newpa. com.