The station, W229-N2086 Redford Blvd. in the City of Pewaukee, is one of nine CNG stations in Wisconsin and Minnesota. The store opened Dec. 11. Its grand opening with Kwik Trip officials will be from 10 to 11 a.m. today.

Kwik Trip is developing an infrastructure of stores in major markets that provide CNG fuel, said Joel Hirschboek, Kwik Trip’s alternative fuels superintendent.

Private and commercial vehicles that use CNG are on the rise because it’s cheaper and cleaner fuel, Hirschboek said. The cost of CNG is equivalent to paying $1.79 for a gallon of gasoline, he said.

“It’s extremely easy to dispense,” Hirschboek said. “CNG uses the same dispensers as gas and diesel and it has a similar flow rate.”

Other CNG Wisconsin stations are located in La Crosse, Sturtevant, Oshkosh and Sheboygan. Minnesota stations are in Rochester, Minnesota City, Owatonna and Sheboygan. 10 additional locations are planned to open this spring.

Kwik Trip officials believe that for the company to be successful, it needs to use compressed natural gas vehicles and simultaneously build a functional CNG infrastructure for its guests, he said.

Hirschboeck said Kwik Trip owns and operates more than 20 natural gas vehicles, ranging from light duty vehicles to heavy duty semis.

“In addition, we will take delivery of 14 more natural gas semis this fall, and plan to order 20 more in 2013,” he said. “Through our own anchor fleet, we can test, promote and educate Kwik Trip consumers about the benefits of natural gas as a vehicle fuel. Kwik Trip’s goal is to promote and market the knowledge that it acquires from purchasing, operating and maintaining its own natural gas fleet.”

Attending the grand opening will be Remy Battery, Wisconsin Kenworth of Milwaukee and Wisconsin Clean Cities. The event will feature fueling demonstrations for natural gas vehicles. There will also be a wide variety of CNG powered vehicles on display.

Kwik Trip is one of the largest convenience store chains in the upper Midwest. Headquartered in La Crosse, it operates more than 400 stores in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa.