Winona County may take a look at purchasing some new vehicles in the future that are powered by natural gas.
                  
County Environmental Services spokesperson Jill Johnson told the county board not only are there more places in the midwest where natural gas can be purchased for vehicles, right now the cost is running considerably lower than gasoline.  Commissioner Marcia Ward suggested the board continue looking at the possible purchase of natural gas powered vehicles.

Johnson estimated the cost of a natural gas vehicle could be as high as between $5,000 and $10,000 extra dollars...but a study showed that over the life of a natural gas vehicle, some $14,000 could be saved when compared to a similar gasoline powered vehicle.
                
Kwik Trip is in  the process of adding a natural gas island to its Minnesota City station along Highway 61. Similar natural gas islands have been installed in both La Crosse and Rochester.