PANAMA CITY — Even before his natural gas pump is operational, James Walker has drawn enough interest to make him want to expand.
Walker, a local businessman and owner of CNG Technologies, plans to build an eight-pump natural gas station along East Avenue in eastern Glenwood.
Walker said the capacity of the station would be about 3,000 gallons, roughly the size of the gas station the city proposed at Redwood Avenue and 11th Street. Walker’s station, to be built by the end of the year, would be big enough to accommodate garbage trucks and semi-tractor trailers. Walker expects the station to cost about $2 million.
“I’m not worried about getting my money back because who doesn’t want $1.95 gas?” he said. “I can guarantee that price.”
Glenwood residents convinced the city at a Jan. 15 meeting to abandon the location on Redwood Avenue because of traffic concerns, particularly with Oscar Patterson Elementary nearby.
Lois Barker, one of the vocal opponents at the meeting, said she would oppose a natural gas station “as long as it’s in Glenwood.” She cited continued concerns about an increase of traffic
Walker said the station would be in a residential area on a mixed-use property. He declined to specify the location while negotiations for the property purchase continue. He doesn’t think traffic would be a problem because of semi-trucks that already use East Avenue traveling to Eastern Shipyard and the paper mill.
Walker also is hoping the fact that he lives in Glenwood, over a natural gas pump, might assuage the concerns of area residents.
“I’m going to do it,” Walker said of building the natural gas station. “I have to use the land I can afford. When cars were first introduced, people were scared to drive them.”
The city has not abandoned the idea of a city-owned natural gas station. City Manager Jeff Brown said the city is considering about six different sites, but the city would need to purchase the pieces of property and in some places there are zoning concerns — pushing back the timetable considerably. Brown also said the city is interested in purchasing natural gas garbage trucks this year, but only if there is a fueling station available.
“We don’t know yet when this will happen,” Brown said. “We don’t budget for vehicle type. I would have vehicles here I couldn’t operate.”
If Walker misses the boat with the city, he is hopeful private companies in the area could make use. UPS General Manager Jeff Gibbs in Panama City said he expects UPS to try to fuel vehicles on-site, as they do with vehicles that run on other fuels.
