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A liquefied natural gas fueling station formally opened Friday by EnCana Natural Gas Inc. at the Relay Station holds the distinction of many “firsts.” It’s the first:

LNG station open in Louisiana.

Public LNG station in the U.S.

Location for Heckmann Water Resources to use LNG trucks.

And when the Relay Station in a couple of months opens its compressed natural gas pumps, the facility will be the first in the state to offer four fueling options: LNG, compressed natural gas, or CNG, gasoline and diesel.

So it was no surprise that 100 or so industry representatives, public officials and residents filled a tent on the blustery afternoon to mark the historic occasion. Recognitions and speeches were followed by the traditional ribbon-cutting.

But guests also had the chance to view LNG in action. Tractor-trailers fueled at the LNG pumps as quick as the gasoline pumps, albeit with a little heavier dispenser.

LNG differs from CNG in that it’s more dense and suitable for heavier vehicles such as Heckmann’s fleet of water transport trucks, ships, barges or mining equipment.

Natural gas-powered cars and trucks fueled with CNG or LNG operate similarly to gasoline- or diesel-powered vehicles and generally have a longer operating life because of the cleaner combustion.

Converting freight trucks and commercial vehicles also has an immediate effect on saving fuel costs and reducing carbon emissions.

Converting one 18-wheeler from diesel to LNG is equivalent to removing the emissions of about 325 cars from the road. Estimated savings range from 20 percent to 40 percent cheaper than gasoline or diesel.

EnCana forged ahead with the LNG station after cementing a partnership with Heckmann Water Resources, which provides water management services to EnCana and other Haynesville Shale operators, to use the pumps in its vast Haynesville Shale operations. The pumps are now available for public use.

David Hill, EnCana’s vice president of natural gas operations, believes if more would embrace the alternate fuel choices, which burn cleaner than gasoline or diesel, it would give America the competitive advantage as the fuel future clouds with so much foreign unrest.

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