South Bend Showcasing CNG Filling Station

A grand opening is set Thursday afternoon for a new compressed natural gas filling station in South Bend. The multi-million dollar, fast-fuel center is the first of its kind in the region.

The project was completed earlier this year and will be open to the public. The South Bend Public Transportation Corp. says the bulk of the facility’s funding, nearly $5.4 million, was from the Federal Transit Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, State of Indiana DieselWise program and the city of South Bend. Transpo says it has pumped more than $4.4 million into the region in infrastructure improvements as part of the CNG effort. The city is also working toward converting its entire fleet to CNG.

Transpo Chief Executive Officer David Cangany says "this is an exciting time for Transpo and our region. We are committed to sustainability and proud to have the largest fleet of CNG powdered buses in the State of Indiana with a total of 16 buses in service, an additional three that arrived this week and a five-year fleet conversion plan."

Thursday’s ceremony is set to include Congresswoman Jackie Walorski, South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Mishawaka Mayor Dave Wood.