By Murray (UT) Mayor Daniel C. Snarr
November 1, 2004

Sometimes we have to think outside the box in the spirit of cooperation. As a city, we are part of the county, which is part of the state, which is part of our nation, which is part of our world and when it comes to air quality, we are truly part of the world. The bigger picture of our world should include looking at ways for a city to contribute to good air quality. This year, I had an opportunity to do this on behalf of all Murray residents and businesses.

I was approached by Utah Clean Cities and Questar Gas Company to allow location of a natural gas fueling station on the city's property at 4646 South 500 West. Questar needed a location in central Salt Lake Valley close to the I-15 freeway to fill a gapping hole between fueling stations at the north and south ends of Salt Lake County.

I felt finding a way to make this work would promote cooperation and clean air. An agreement is now in place and these pumps, located behind the Murray Public Services Building at 4646 South 500 West, are open 24 hours a day to businesses and the public.

This agreement meets the goals of Clean Cities, a program of the U.S. Department of Energy, to improve air quality and reduce America's dependency on imported oil. In addition, it meets the goals of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Air and Radiation, which encourages innovation when it comes to improving air quality.

By partnering and locating this natural gas station on city property, you as stakeholders of Murray City Corporation, are providing a fueling station for public and private fleets of natural gas vehicles and individual owners, who need a more convenient location in the center of the valley. In addition, our actions may make fueling with natural gas easy enough that other entities can consider investing in natural gas vehicles including businesses, school districts and even Murray. The city does have three hybrid electric vehicles used in the Power Department fleet pool. I commend the city council for budgeting the funds for these alternative fuel vehicles (AFV). It is my intent to examine our budgetary ability next year to begin the process of adding more AFV's to the Murray City Fleet.

If you have a natural gas vehicle and are interested in using the natural gas fueling pumps you must first obtain a Questar Natural Gas credit card. The credit card can be obtained by calling 1-800-737-3835. If you are interested in buying a natural gas vehicle visit www.eere.energy.gov/cleancities/ccn/ or call 1-800-224-8437 for some step-by-step guides on how to make informed alternative fuel vehicle purchase decisions.