Chesapeake Utilities Corporation and Sharp Energy Inc., its wholly-owned subsidiary, opened the new Sharp Energy headquarters building and AutoGas fueling station in Georgetown.
The ribbon cutting ceremony last week was attended by state, local and company officials.
The new 18,000-square-foot building provides a central location for both customers and employees and consolidates Sharp Energy’s operations. Sharp has nearly a dozen service centers in an area that includes Delmarva, northeastern Maryland and the Pocono area of Pennsylvania.
Chesapeake, based in Dover, offers natural gas service on the Delmarva Peninsula, with Sharp providing propane in areas without natural gas. The company is adding areas to fuel vehicles using. propane. Chesapeake also offers natural gas service and propane service in portions of Florida.
With the construction of this new modern facility, Sharp Energy can house its retail and supply functions in one location, increase its storage capacity and offer a public dispensing center for AutoGas. Also, 20 positions have moved to the new facility nearly doubling the previous number of employees based in Georgetown.
“I am extremely pleased to see the completion of the new Sharp Energy headquarters building in Georgetown,” said Michael P. McMasters, CEO of Chesapeake Utilities Corporation. “This new facility will allow us to more effectively meet the needs of our Delmarva energy customers in Sussex County. We’re looking forward to playing an even bigger role in supporting this community.”
Sharp Energy’s new headquarters site is the location of the seventh public AutoGas fueling station in the Mid-Atlantic region. “We’re very proud to add this propane fueling station to Sussex County,” said Elaine B. Bittner, senior vice president of Strategic Development and chief operating officer of Sharp Energy, Inc. “The stations are supporting the company’s environmental initiatives in supplying propane, a clean burning alternative fuel, to the rapidly growing number of fleet vehicles in the area.” AutoGas-powered vehicles produce up to 20 percent lower emissions than gasoline vehicles and offer substantial cost savings on fuel and maintenance.
“The site of our new headquarters building provides an ideal working environment for our employees and a convenient location for our customers,” said S. Robert Zola, president of Sharp Energy. “We look forward to continuing to serve our customers and the community for many years to come.”
Sharp Energy’s new facility incorporates green technology practices that consist of grassed channels, bio-swales and filter strips. These practices clean the runoff through filtration and reduce the amount of rainfall leaving the site.
The headquarters building is located on 12 acres. Construction was completed on time in May and created 80 construction jobs.
