Darrell Issa and CNG for Trucks...

Dear Members --

My question to the Congressman last evening at his campaign kickoff was, ostensibly, "What efforts are being done regarding subsidies to incentivise truck owners to convert to using natural gas?"

His response was extremely interesting and may be surprising to some of you. The essence of his answer was that the economic incentive in terms of reduced operating costs for using CNG were already evident, and there was no reason, in his opinion, to help with the conversion process. There is, however, a great need for infrastructure in terms of filling stations for CNG powered vehicles. On this topic, we were in agreement given the cost of building such facilities and the slower pay back afforded those responsible.

He gave a great answer to a good question. Unfortunately, with democrats in control in the current administration and Senate, he wasn't of optimistic of any action being taken with regards to making better use of natural gas in the short run given their wrongful assumptions about environmental harm and global warming as a result of burning any type of hydrocarbon.

You are all encouraged to support your local Republican candidates for the House and Senate so that we have a chance to effect changes in laws, rules and regulations geared towards reaching energy independence. If we can have the collective wisdom to nominate a candidate for President in the upcoming election who can defeat the current administration, our odds of a better future will increase markedly.

Your comments are welcome. Thank you!

Yours very truly, Paul Martens / Leucadia, CA

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by SJC on March 5, 2012 at 3:16pm

It seems to me the Republicans have been supporting the tax breaks for oil companies and the 1995 Republican House provision not requiring Alaskan oil to have to come to the U.S. They also recently defeated a provision that would keep Keystone XL pipeline oil in the U.S. Now they want us to believe that they have always been for environmentally friendly natural gas...really.

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Permalink Reply by Carlo F Colombo on March 17, 2012 at 11:07am

I work in the RV industry, brokering campgrounds nationwide. I want to help build momentum in the RV industry to lead the way converting to NG. We share the infrastructure needs of the trucking industry.

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Permalink Reply by Ronald Wagner on May 31, 2012 at 4:31pm

Great idea!

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Permalink Reply by Ronald Wagner on May 31, 2012 at 4:30pm

I am a conservative Republican, but think you are misled. Harry Reid, most Democrats and many Republicans support the Natural Gas Act. Obama is trying to streamline (purportedly) the process. Republicans are not supporting the act, as a group. I am against most subsidies, but we have been supporting Big Oil with trillions of dollars and thousands of lives and blood and anguish for decades. Republicans and Democrats can at least work toward getting the EPA to get out of the way of natural gas conversions. There are many regulations that are not necessary, and are expensive to comply with.

Natural gas is the future of energy. It is replacing dirty and dangerous coal and nuclear plants. It is producing the electricity for electric cars. It will directly fuel pickup trucks, vans, buses, long haul trucks, dump trucks, locomotives, aircraft, ships etc. It will keep us out of more useless wars, where we shed our blood and money. Here are over 150 recent links for you: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NbaKYme3bqOw0b6KMxXSjOLHLNeflalPy9gIAiTYFMQ/edit

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Permalink Reply by Carlo F Colombo on June 1, 2012 at 11:50am

Good articles! Natural Gas should be the new Internet - a booming economy, what? Thanks Ronald.