Natural Gas Vehicle Proponents and Customers Say 'Now Is the Time for NGVs!'

California Natural Gas Vehicle Education Campaign Joins Clean Vehicle Advocates in Pledge to Raise Awareness of NGV Benefits

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 23 -- With growing concern over foreign oil dependence, energy security and the need to improve air quality, fleet executives, policy makers and clean vehicle advocates met in San Antonio, Texas this week at the National NGV Conference & Exhibition.

The annual conference focused on how to expand the use of natural gas vehicles (NGVs) as they are an immediate, proven solution to these important challenges.

"We have to look at natural gas together with other available energy sources, including oil, as part of a continuum that requires kind of a balancing for the long term and the common good," said speaker Andrew Littlefair, president and CEO of Clean Energy. "Our twin goals should be achieving energy security through less dependence on foreign oil and protecting the environment."

Conference attendees and speakers addressed current and future alternative fuel options, and what kind of role NGVs can -- and should -- play in developing up-and-coming technologies. Since NGV infrastructure is already proven and in place, for example, it can be leveraged when building future technology such as hydrogen fuel. Natural gas provides the "pathway to hydrogen" because many of the necessary hydrogen components will come from natural gas developments including already built fuel stations and the personnel who maintain those stations.

The conference highlighted many success stories of municipal, corporate and airport fleets that are taking advantage of the cost savings from NGVs -- all the while helping the environment through lower vehicle emissions. Conference presenters included H-E-B Grocery Company, UPS, the U.S. Postal Service, the City of Dallas, the New York State Department of Transportation, Oakland International Airport and Albany International Airport.

Awards sponsored by the Clean Vehicle Education Foundation and the Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition were presented to individuals, companies and organizations that made outstanding contributions toward promoting natural gas as a vehicular fuel. This year's award recipients were: Stephen Park (City of Dallas), Milton Copulos (National Defense Council Foundation), Sharon Subadan (Montgomery County, MD Fleet), Long Beach City (NY) School District, Michael Andre (Lower Marion School District - PA), Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, Pacific Gas & Electric Company, Claudia Sherrill (Elk Grove Unified School District - CA), Renee Dowlin (Oakland International Airport), James Graham Jr. (U.S. Postal Service Southwest Area), and the Massachusetts Highway Department.

In addition, a Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Gordon Larsen (Questar) for his pioneering work in the natural gas industry.

"We have so many advocates for natural gas, and for good reasons," added Mr. Littlefair. "Many people and organizations have found success with NGVs and are committed to spreading the word and educating the public and our government representatives, so that we can make smart decisions now that will lead us well into the future."

For example, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) is holding a hearing in Los Angeles today and tomorrow at which its final report proposing a regulation that limits greenhouse gas emissions from passenger cars and light trucks will be issued. The report will call for automakers to build vehicles that produce significantly lower emissions of greenhouse gasses beginning in 2009. It is expected that the report will call for cars and light trucks to emit about 25% fewer greenhouse gases and for large trucks and SUVs to have an 18% reduction in emissions.

Because natural gas is the cleanest burning alternative transportation fuel available today, NGV's are already capable of meeting the CARB regulations -- four years before they go into effect. As a result, NGVs have been certified as meeting some of the nation's most demanding environmental standards.

NGVs look like any other vehicle and they operate on natural gas as opposed to traditional gasoline. They also reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, the principal "greenhouse" gas that contributes to global warming. There are almost 130,000 NGVs on U.S. roads today and more than two million are in use worldwide.

For more information on the California Natural Gas Vehicle Education Campaign, please contact us at 888-264-5034.