Wawa Will Add CNG to Fuel Offering

WAWA, Pa. -- Wawa Inc. will soon begin selling compressed natural gas (CNG) under a newly formed joint venture with South Jersey Gas. The convenience store operator is slated to open its first CNG fueling station in Logan Township, N.J., exit 10 off Route 295, within the Pureland Industrial Complex.

The station is expected to open in early 2015 and Wawa is considering adding CNG to additional locations in the future, according to a news release.

"Wawa is pleased to offer compressed natural gas for the first time to our customers at our Logan Township store," said Brian Schaller, vice president of fuel for Wawa.

"This joint project with South Jersey Gas is another step in the evolution of Wawa's fuel offer, providing an alternative that is cheaper, cleaner and domestically available. Compressed natural gas provides an opportunity to increase the value of our fuel and convenience offer to the customer, and positions us for the future," he continued. "We are excited about the growth potential of this alternative fuel."

Natural gas is purported to be available in abundant quantities domestically, as well as more environmentally friendly and cheaper than traditional gasoline. There are currently more than 10,000 natural gas-powered vehicles on American roads, according to federal government estimates.

"We're very excited to begin this joint project with Wawa as it's a natural extension of the growth within our CNG business line," said Jeffrey E. DuBois, president of South Jersey Gas. "This initiative will build greater faith among the general public in natural gas as a reliable, cost-effective and environmentally friendly transportation fuel source. With compressed natural gas costing approximately one-third less than gasoline at the pump and producing up to 30 percent less greenhouse gas emissions compared to diesel- and gasoline-powered vehicles, the market for customers to make the switch to CNG, particularly fleet vehicles, is plentiful."

South Jersey Gas, the principal subsidiary of South Jersey Industries, provides natural gas service to more than 362,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers.

Privately-held Wawa Inc. operates more than 650 convenience stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and central Florida.