The Laclede Group is teaming with the Building Technologies Division of Siemens Industry Inc. to launch Spire natural gas fueling solutions.

Natural gas as a transportation fuel is significantly less expensive on average than equivalent gallons of gasoline or diesel. A typical transit agency can reduce fuel costs by up to 30% using compressed natural gas in place of diesel. That equals $12,000 savings per year per bus.

Spire will deliver station design, build and operation as well as financing, ongoing maintenance, facility improvements, safety, billing, technical consultation, and strategic planning.

Fleet managers are also attracted by the environmental benefits of the cleaner burning fuel.

Working closely with officials from Lambert-St. Louis International airport and the city of St. Louis toward final approval, Spire is set to launch in St. Louis later this year with a commercial/public CNG fueling station just west of the airport. Open 24 hours a day, the station will initially fuel 160 fleet vehicles already on the road with capacity to accommodate a growing local and regional need.