Switch to Natural Gas Paying off for St. Cloud Buses

ST. CLOUD -- A switch to compressed natural gas buses appears to be paying off for St. Cloud Metro Bus.

Two years ago, the transit agency started converting its fleet to CNG buses in a bid to save on fuel costs with the cleaner-running buses. Metro Bus also built its own CNG fueling station, which is open to the public.

Sales of the alternative fuel to the public have been slower than hoped. But officials consider the switch a success.

Metro Bus officials say the savings of $1 or more per gallon compared with diesel are better than expected.

The agency is replacing retired buses with models that run on compressed natural gas. Metro Bus now has 23 fixed-route CNG buses and will soon have 24.