Natural Gas Ignored in EPA-DOT Proposals – NGVAmerica

January 3, 2011 set as the deadline for comments

Domestically produced natural gas, which already fuels fleets across the country, has been left out of the government’s proposed rule to reduce emissions and improve fuel efficiency in medium and heavy duty
vehicles, in spite of the fact that natural gas is the cleanest burning
alternative transportation fuel commercially available today. The
Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of
Transportation has released a 660-page proposed rulemaking that
establishes targets for reducing the emissions and increasing the fuel
economy beginning with the 2014 model year for three categories of
trucks: combination tractors, heavy-duty pickups and vocational
vehicles. The rule includes regulatory incentives for electric, hybrid
and fuel cell vehicles, but not for natural gas vehicles.   

“It is unfortunate and disappointing that this Administration has not included incentives for natural gas powered trucks,” said Richard Kolodziej, president of NGVAmerica.
“The rules are designed to address the urgent and closely intertwined
challenges of dependence on oil, energy security and global climate
changes, and natural gas vehicles do just that and more.

“These vehicles are capable today of delivering greenhouse gas reductions of more than 20 percent compared to petroleum fueled vehicles.   And every new dedicated natural gas vehicle that is put into
service displaces 100% of the petroleum that would otherwise be used.”

Unlike other fuel choices, natural gas powered vehicles are readily available today for many medium and heavy-duty vehicle applications.  Waste collection and transfer vehicles, for example, now account for
about 11 percent of total vehicular natural gas use, are the fastest
growing natural gas vehicle segment.

“In the weeks ahead, NGVAmerica  will be working with our members and others in the natural gas industry to ensure that EPA is aware of the benefits of natural gas trucks and includes a stronger role for them in
its final rule,” said Kolodziej.

The two agencies have set January 3, 2011 as the deadline for comments on the proposed rule.