Natural gas legislation announced by Boren and Sullivan

By JIM MYERS World Washington Bureau
Published: 4/1/2009 3:23 PM
Last Modified: 4/1/2009 3:23 PM

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Dan Boren and John Sullivan, joined by energy executive T. Boone Pickens, announced legislation Wednesday to expand the use of natural gas as a cleaner-burning and cheaper alternative to conventional transportation fuel.
“This legislation can be a defining moment in the history of our nation’s energy policy,'' said Boren, D-Okla.

"We are at a crossroads, and the decisions we make today in Congress will determine the stability of our future energy industry, our domestic supply and the daily cost of energy for millions of consumers and businesses across the nation.''

Natural gas vehicles, he said, provide a real opportunity to establish a cleaner, cheaper fuel alternative that also would provide an independent energy future for America.

Boren introduced the legislation, which is similar to a bill introduced during the last Congress, and Sullivan, R-Okla., signed on as a co-sponsor.

"Increased use of natural gas is a key component of the comprehensive energy policy our nation so badly needs,'' Sullivan said.

"By ushering more natural gas vehicles to the marketplace as this legislation does, we will decrease our dependence on foreign sources of oil and put America on the path to energy security.''

Natural gas is not just American-made energy, he said, it's Oklahoma-made energy.

"This legislation would undoubtedly help our state as we are one of the top natural gas producers in the nation, typically accounting for almost one tenth of the total U.S. production,” Sullivan said.

Pickens,

who has launched a media campaign for his own energy plan that includes both natural gas and wind, applauded the legislation.
"America’s national and economic security depends on moving off foreign oil as quickly as possible,'' he said.

"Natural gas is the cleanest, most abundant, most economical domestic fuel to replace imported diesel. The U.S. has enough natural gas reserves to last us more than 118 years.''

Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., chairman of the House Democratic caucus, also appeared at the press conference.

"As long as we are exporting our dollars in exchange for oil, our economy and our national security are at the mercy of other countries,'' Larson said.

"The technology to build natural gas vehicles and the fuel to power them are all American. Yet we ship our natural gas powered cars to other countries, and we export our dollars to buy oil from other countries.''

Key provisions of the bill include an 18-year extension of three critical tax incentives that focus on natural gas as a transportation fuel, the purchase of natural gas-fueled vehicles and the installation of commercial and residential natural gas refueling pumps.


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