The first compressed natural gas pump for public use in Kansas is now open in Wichita.

The $1 million station was officially opened Thursday at the CNG Services in Wichita. It was designed by Midwest Energy Solutions of Kansas City, Kan.

Michael Batten, president of Midwest Energy, said it is the first in Kansas for the public. But Batten expects the number to grow rapidly because natural gas costs less and provides better gas mileage than other fuels.

The Wichita Eagle reports the natural gas comes from Black Hills Energy’s regular gas lines. A compressor condenses the gas from 60 pounds per square inch to 3,600 pounds square inch and dispenses it from what looks like a gasoline pump.