Several Texas-based energy groups have come together with one objective, to form the Metroplex Natural Gas Vehicle Consortium and promote the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) as well as the conversion of diesel- or gasoline-fueled vehicles to natural gas vehicles (NGVs).

While these groups are interested in the benefits that will come from switching to natural gas nationwide, they have formed this consortium based on the idea that, if the energy source is to succeed on a larger scale, it must succeed at home first. Therefore, the consortium’s main focus in the short-term is acquiring natural gas from the Barnett Shale and making it as available as possible.

Knowing that they have access to an abundance of natural gas right in their backyard, as well as the technology needed to extract and utilize it, the next step is to ensure that they can successfully deliver the gas to consumers’ vehicles. The consortium has laid out a plan to develop sophisticated infrastructure throughout several cities, equipping them with fueling stations and support. These cities are known as “hubs” and would reach from Fort Worth, TX to Oklahoma or possibly even Louisiana.

Fort Worth Business Press published an article about the five-month-old consortium this week, addressing the natural gas trend from a global perspective. “Of the more than 11.1 million NGVs on the road worldwide, about 120,000 are on US roads.

 

Comparatively, Pakistan leads the world with 2.25 million vehicles, followed by Argentina and Iran at 1.8 million and 1.7 million NGVs, respectively,” according to the International Association for Natural Gas Vehicles.

To date, the U.S. plays a fairly modest role in natural gas development worldwide, while having access to one of the largest stores of natural gas. The consortium hopes to set the example, not only by creating the infrastructure to support CNG as a fuel source, but by converting its own fleets with the help of state and federal tax incentives. “We’re not in the car business or in the CNG station business,” said Taylor Shinn, of Chesapeake Energy Corp., “we are in the business of spreading the message of natural gas.”

The consortium includes the Texas Christian University Energy Institute, the Barnett Shale Energy Education Council, Clean Energy Fuels, as well as several other area gas operators.