Transit agency seeks natural gas source in Ventura County

SCAT, the regional transportation agency in Ventura County, looks like it will finally secure a new supply of natural gas to fuel its busses:

South Coast Area Transit might finally get natural gas pumped to its Oxnard fueling station today, nearly a month after its fuel supply was suddenly cut off and bus service disrupted.

A bypass around a ruptured pipeline that normally carries natural gas to the station was scheduled to be installed and working today, but whether that would happen on time or not was unclear Friday.

The Southern California Gas Co. pipeline near Piru ruptured in a landslide Feb. 28. After canceling all bus service the next day, SCAT resumed limited service using diesel buses borrowed from nearby transit agencies. Gas has also been trucked to Oxnard by the company, but not on a consistent basis, according to SCAT officials. A modified bus schedule has been in place for the past several weeks.

Gas Co. officials said they hope the bypass will be in service today.

Ironically, a dedicated source could be online for SCAT and other local customers in a few years if State and Federal agencies approve the Cabrillo Port liquefied natural gas terminal.

However, the same local leaders struggling to find natural gas they can compress and put on City streets, are quesitoning the safety of having a natural gas facility 21 miles offshore from Oxnard!