In early April, before a standing room only crowd, Boone Pickens joined a bi-partisan group of Congressmen, including Dan Boren (D-OK), John Larson (D-CT), John Sullivan (R-OK), Betsy Markey (D-CO) and Mike McMahon (D-NY), at a news conference to announce the introduction of the New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions Act of 2009 (NAT GAS Act; HR 1835). The bill, which was introduced with numerous co-sponsors, seeks to accelerate the production and use of natural gas-fueled vehicles.
Specifically the bill:
- Extends until 2027 the tax credits for natural gas used as a vehicle fuel, the purchase of natural gas-fueled vehicle, and the installation of natural gas vehicle refueling property
- Makes all new dedicated natural gas-fueled vehicles eligible for a credit equal to 80 percent of the vehicle’s incremental cost.
- For the first time, makes all new bi-fuel natural gas-fueled vehicles eligible for a credit equal to 50 percent of the vehicle’s incremental cost
- Requires that no later than 12/31/2014 at least 50 percent of the new vehicles purchased and placed into service by the federal government must be capable of operating on CNG or LNG.
“With natural gas vehicles, we have a real opportunity to establish a cleaner, cheaper fuel alternative that will provide an independent energy future for America,” said Rep Boren.
Congressman Larson noted, “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. The technology to build natural gas vehicles and the fuel to power them are all American.”
Congressman Sullivan echoed their remarks saying, “Increased use of natural gas is a key component of the comprehensive energy policy our nation so badly needs. 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.”
Boone Pickens also commended the Congressmen for introducing the NAT GAS Act and said that “they’re showing that a bi-partisan approach to energy policy is not only possible, but do-able. America’s national and economic security depends on moving off foreign oil as quickly as possible. Natural gas is the cleanest, most abundant, most economical domestic fuel to replace imported diesel.”
