Spire Offers New Choice for Natural Gas Fueling in Upstate South Carolina

GREER, S.C., Nov. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Drivers of natural gas vehicles in the Upstate region will soon have a new fueling option that provides an extra perk for drivers. A new compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station from Spire Natural Gas Fueling Solutions will be developed next to an all-new QuikTrip (QT) travel center in 2015. Drivers can soon fuel at the station located in Greer at the intersection of Interstate 85 and Highway 101. The Spire station is a new offering from The Laclede Group (NYSE: LG) with support from the Building Technologies Division of Siemens Industry, Inc., bringing together more than 150 years of experience in the safe, reliable distribution of natural gas and building solutions.

The Spire CNG station will be located immediately off I-85, offering easy access for drivers. The adjoining QuikTrip travel center provides all the amenities that Class 8 drivers have come to expect from QT, including the large convenience store, fresh food, expanded parking and certified scales. The Spire station will be open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year serving both CNG fleets and the general public. The station is designed for all vehicles including passenger cars and service vans up to large Class 8 trucks. Designed for heavy-duty commercial vehicles, accommodations include fast fueling dispensers and a wide turning radius, with the ability to fuel four tractor-trailers at once.

"Fleet owners will quickly see the financial benefits of this technology and the price difference in the fuel. When you add that up over a fleet of vehicles, the math makes sense," said Peter Stansky, chief operating officer of Spire. "Right now, many drivers are paying $3.60 a gallon for diesel at the pump. These drivers can save a full dollar or more per gallon for compressed natural gas fuel compared to gasoline or diesel. Natural gas is clean, abundant and domestic, and that keeps the price down while also being better for our environment."

This will be the first Spire compressed natural gas fueling station in South Carolina. Using top-of-the-line equipment from leading manufacturers to provide a reliable, efficient and safe fueling experience, the station will be built by Siemens Industry, Inc. Customers will be able to fuel their vehicles quickly and safely thanks to the high quality control technology and compression equipment. Additionally, the well-lit station will be monitored around-the-clock to help ensure customer safety.

"We've kept the driver in mind at every point in designing this station. We know drivers are on a busy schedule and a convenient, reliable fueling experience is important. That is why we are installing fast-flow fuel dispensers to keep them moving throughout their day," Stansky said.

ABOUT THE LACLEDE GROUP
The Laclede Group, Inc. (NYSE: LG), headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, is a public utility holding company whose primary business is the safe and reliable delivery of natural gas service to more than 1.5 million residential, commercial, and industrial customers across Missouri and Alabama. Its Gas Utility segment consists of three natural gas utilities: Laclede Gas (serving St. Louis and eastern Missouri), Missouri Gas Energy (serving Kansas City and western Missouri) and Alabama Gas Corporation (serving more than 200 Alabama communities including Birmingham and Montgomery). Laclede's primary non-utility business, Laclede Energy Resources, Inc., included in the Gas Marketing segment, provides non-regulated natural gas services. Laclede Group is committed to pursuing growth through 1) developing and investing in emerging technologies; 2) investing in infrastructure; 3) acquiring businesses to which the Company can apply its operating model, and 4) leveraging its current business unit competencies. For more information about Laclede and its subsidiaries, visit www.TheLacledeGroup.com.

ABOUT SIEMENS BUILDING TECHNOLOGIES DIVISION
The Building Technologies Division of Siemens Industry, Inc. is the world market leader for safe and secure, energy-efficient and environment-friendly buildings and infrastructures. As a technology partner, service provider, system integrator and product vendor, Building Technologies is a leading single-source provider of cost-effective facility performance solutions for the comfort, life safety and security of some of the most technologically-advanced buildings in the world.

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SOURCE The Laclede Group, Inc.

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http://www.TheLacledeGroup.com