FAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP -- Dirt flew during the groundbreaking ceremony at the future site of Compass Natural Gas Quaker Terminal near Montoursville.
The $15 million project will be the first natural gas trucking terminal in Pennsylvania for the company from the Harrisburg area.
"You may have heard a term called mobile pipeline, virtual pipeline, pipeline on wheels. This is what we are doing. We are taking Pennsylvania gas and we are taking it to folks here in Pennsylvania," said Compass Natural Gas executive vice president Yves Pollart.
In less than a year, Marcellus natural gas flowing through pipelines in Lycoming County will be compressed here and then shipped from this site to businesses around the area.
"Some of the folks might want to take advantage of the low price of gas but they can't because they don't have a gas main beside them. Well, guess what? We are their gas source," Pollart said.
Construction on the first terminal hasn't even begun yet but Compass employees say they already have over 200 businesses across Pennsylvania ready to have natural gas trucked to their facility.
"We believe that the CNG is going to give us better pricing."
This terminal near Montoursville will only deliver to businesses. Compass Natural Gas plans to add more terminals across the state.
Ken Michaels from Cable Services in Williamsport says his business may be interested.
"Hopefully, someday we'll switch over when it makes sense. In groups, you know large groups maybe, to CNG, which makes sense as we get more stations where we can fill," Michaels said.
Compass Natural Gas plans to have the CNG Quaker Terminal up and running by fall.
