The city of Albuquerque, New Mexico, is adding a new compressed natural gas (CNG) station by Trillium to refuel its buses.

The new station marks the start of a 20-year partnership between Trillium and Albuquerque, where Trillium will build and maintain a station that serves the city's CNG bus fleet. Albuquerque first began purchasing CNG buses in 1997. The new CNG station will replace a more than 20-year-old station.

"In 1997, the alternative fueling landscape had less offerings than it does today," said Danny Holcomb, transit director for Albuquerque. "Currently, the city of Albuquerque is still determining what the fueling source of its fleet will be in the coming years, and thankfully, we will have the infrastructure in place if the decision to pursue all or some CNG buses is made."

Albuquerque's fleet currently has 41 CNG buses, but the station could service up to 101 CNG buses by 2032. If the city chooses to increase its fleet even further, Trillium's design allows for an additional CNG compressor to accommodate expansions.

This will be the second CNG station in New Mexico for Love's Travel Stops, the parent company of Trillium. Its existing station, located on Interstate 40 at exit 149, serves heavy-duty transit customers on the westside of Albuquerque. Construction of the new station will begin in October.