Senators Menendez, Hatch and Reid Introduce NAT GAS Act

WASHINGTON--Today on Capitol Hill, Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) took an important step towards lessening America’s reliance on foreign oil, protecting the environment, and saving consumers money. The New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions (NAT GAS) Act will make it easier for Americans to buy natural gas vehicles, refuel them, and convert their existing cars to a cleaner, more efficient fuel.

The legislation would extend the existing natural gas fuel, vehicle and infrastructure tax credits by 10 years, and augment them to further encourage the purchase and use of natural gas vehicles and the installation of more fueling stations. Specifically, the bill would provide a credit for 80% of the incremental price for the purchase of natural gas-only vehicles and 50% of the incremental price for the purchase of vehicles that can run on either natural gas or gasoline.

NGVAmerica President Richard Kolodziej said, “Senators Menendez, Hatch and Reid are committed to helping Americans lessen their reliance on foreign oil. Natural gas is the cleanest, most abundant, most affordable, domestic fuel available today. Already, natural gas is being used in fleet vehicles from dump trucks to transit buses. This legislation will make buying and using of natural gas vehicles more economically attractive. More natural gas vehicles on America’s roads means less imported oil, less urban pollution and less greenhouse gases.”

Natural gas is the cleanest commercially available fuel for transportation today and costs less than gas or diesel. Vehicles running on this fuel produce between 93-95 percent less overall toxics and 20–30 percent less greenhouse gas emissions compared to diesel and gasoline-fueled vehicles.

“President Obama has set a clear and obtainable goal to end our dependence on oil from the Middle East within 10 years. Almost 10 million NGVs are on the roads worldwide. Only 120,000 of those are in the United States. Senators Menendez, Hatch and Reid want Americans to be leaders when it comes to utilizing our domestic resources. We commend them for their leadership and their effort to help the President meet his oil displacement goal,” Kolodziej said.

NGVAmerica is a national organization dedicated to the development of a growing, sustainable and profitable market for vehicles powered by natural gas or biomethane. NGVAmerica represents more than 100 companies interested in the promotion and use of natural gas and biomethane as transportation fuels, including: engine, vehicle and equipment manufacturers; fleet operators and service providers; natural gas companies; and environmental groups and government organizations. For more information about NGVAmerica, visit our website at www.ngvamerica.org.