It has been almost two years since businessman and energy expert T. Boone Pickens launched the Pickens Plan and accelerated the discussion of using natural gas to help relieve America of its dependence on foreign oil. In that time, legislation has been introduced to the House and the Senate advocating the conversion of fleet vehicles and heavy-duty trucks to natural. This legislation (known in the House as H.R. 1835 and the Senate as S. 1408) has already garnered tremendous support and continues to gain momentum.

Rep. John Larson (CT-01), Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, recently recognized the importance of maintaining the current natural gas tax incentives in the year end tax extender bill.   In a statement, Rep. Larson had this to say, “natural gas is a vital part of our transition to cleaner American energy.  By encouraging businesses to spend their money on a fuel found in abundance here in America, we are making our economy and our homeland more secure and reducing our reliance on foreign energy.”

By extending the tax credit, Larson’s legislation not only provides the leverage needed to move the utilization of natural gas from a good idea to a necessary reality, but also provides the support needed to create a natural gas industry that will provide thousands of Americans with good-paying jobs.

Adoption of natural gas in fleet vehicles help Americans secure our homeland and stimulate our economy.  We have an abundance of natural gas here at home, as well as the knowledge of how to obtain it. According to Pickens, natural gas is the bridge that will take us to sustainable energy and OPEC independence, and these steps to incentivize businesses, will bring us that much closer.