Aqua America CEO among key speakers to discuss benefits of CNG
HARRISBURG, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Aqua America, Inc. (NYSE: WTR) today announced that its Chairman and
CEO, Nicholas DeBenedictis, will be a featured speaker at the Marcellus
Works press conference hosted by Pennsylvania State Rep. Stan Saylor
(R-York) on Wednesday, April 24 at 10:30 a.m. at the Capitol Fountain on
Commonwealth Avenue in Harrisburg. DeBenedictis will discuss the
company's Pennsylvania subsidiary's (Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc.) fleet
conversion to compressed natural gas (CNG) and call attention to the
state's abundant, clean-burning Marcellus Shale natural gas resources.
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is currently considering nine
bills collectively known as the "Marcellus Works" package, which are
sponsored in part by Rep. Saylor. The package is focused on developing a
cleaner, more affordable transportation system, creating jobs within the
Commonwealth, and using homegrown natural resources to work toward
energy independence.
DeBenedictis will join Rep. Saylor and speakers from several other
private industries at the news conference. DeBenedictis will discuss
Aqua Pennsylvania's (Aqua) decision to transition its larger vehicle
fleet to CNG. Aqua has pilot-tested five CNG vans, two dump trucks and
two bio-fuel pick-up trucks. Aqua has invested $657,000 in CNG to date,
including vehicles and infrastructure, and expects to have 90 CNG
vehicles in operation within the next five years.
"As a former DEP and Economic Development Secretary for the
Commonwealth, I strongly believe that Pennsylvania home-gown compressed
natural gas is the fuel of the future for transportation," said
DeBenedictis. "I applaud the ongoing efforts of the DEP for making
drilling for natural gas safe and an environmentally sound alternative
to petroleum-based fuels. Besides creating jobs, stimulating our economy
and saving money on fuel costs, it just is the right thing to do
environmentally because the payoff is less pollution when more CNG
vehicles are on the road."
CNG is credited with creating more than 88,000 jobs in Pennsylvania to
date, enhancing air quality and lowering energy costs, all while
generating more than $389 million in state and local tax revenue.
Aqua America is one of the largest U.S.-based, publicly-traded water
utilities and serves almost three million people in Pennsylvania, Ohio,
North Carolina, Illinois, Texas, New Jersey, Indiana, Virginia, Florida
and Georgia. Aqua America is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under
the ticker symbol WTR. Visit www.aquaamerica.com
for more information.
WTRG
Aqua America, Inc.
Justin Pizzi
Director, Communications
610-520-6308
484-868-5032
jcpizzi@aquaamerica.com
Source: Aqua America, Inc.
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