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Bradford County Purchases Natural Gas Vehicles

TOWANDA– Commissioners in Bradford County unveiled the county’s first vehicles that run off of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). The two 2013 Honda Civi...

TOWANDA-- Commissioners in Bradford County unveiled the county's first vehicles that run off of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).

The two 2013 Honda Civics were purchased through Williams Auto Group in Elmira, New York.

Rated by the EPA, they are expected to get 27 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway.

Bradford County Commissioner Mark Smith said that the county has been looking to purchase CNG vehicles for a while.

"It's important to us that we are making that move. Being the most drilled county in the state and certainly one of the biggest natural gas producers in the country," Smith said.

Officials said the Marcellus Shale industry is keeping the county thriving.

During the last six months of 2012, officials said 286 billion cubic feet of natural gas was produced in Bradford County.

Smith said using CNG vehicles will save taxpayer dollars.

"I think it's a good example that we can set and also push forward with the rest of our fleet converting it to a cleaner fuel and one that costs a lot less for the taxpayers to run," he said.

There are currently two CNG fueling stations in Bradford County.

At the Dandy Mini Mart in North Towanda, CNG is currently $1.99 a gallon.

"Obviously at $1.99 equivalent per gallon is definitely something that they're interested in. The cost savings is the big deal," Brad Lister of Williams Auto Group said.

County leaders said they will continue to switch its county vehicles to run on CNG.

Vehicles for the sheriff's department are in the process of being converted.

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