Two more Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations will open next week – one in Kersey and one in Fort Lupton – bringing the total number of public CNG stations in Weld County to four.

“We are excited to reach this milestone,” said Commissioner Barbara Kirkmeyer, who formed the Weld County Natural Gas Coalition in 2009. “One of the goals of the Coalition was to create an alternative fuel corridor between the Denver metro area and Wyoming. With the opening of these two stations, Weld County and the Natural Gas Coalition have reached that goal.”

On Tuesday, December 18, 2012, the Coalition will celebrate the opening of the Fort Lupton station with a grand opening ceremony at 2:00 p.m. The station, owned by ZeitEnergy, will be the first public CNG station to be located in the southeastern part of the county. On Thursday, December 20, 2012, a fourth CNG station, also owned by ZeitEnergy, will open in Kersey with a 2:00 p.m.

WELD COUNTY, CO – When Weld County Chemist Mark Thomas speaks about his office’s newest instrument, there is a tinge of excitement in his voice. “We are talking about testing parts per billion,” Thomas said. “That is like saying we can measure something that is as small as one eyedropper drop of water in an Olympic-sized swimming pool.”

Thomas, who works in Weld County’s Department of Public Health and Environment laboratory, is referring to the county’s new gas chromatograph and mass spectrometer instrument which will enable the county to provide free ground-water testing for individuals concerned about potential impacts to their wells from oil and gas activity near their property.

“This instrument will analyze a water sample for volatile organic compounds, also known as VOCs, and will produce a report as to what level those compounds exist – if they exist at all,” said Thomas.

The Colorado Army National Guard has joined firefighting efforts at the Waldo Canyon fire in Colorado Springs, Colo.