Natural Gas Discussion Group

Add a Comment

Comment by Richard Barnard on November 19, 2009 at 8:46am

The latest from CA. Carbon TAX?

Richard Barnard

November 18, 2009

Dear Mr. Barnard:

Thank you for contacting my office in support of H.R. 1835, the NAT GAS Act. I agree with you that our nation can no longer be reliant on oil to meet our transportation needs. I also agree with you that natural gas can play a role as a transitional fuel while we develop cleaner fuels and methods of transportation.

I support some provisions of H.R. 1835, such as encouraging the federal government to purchase vehicles that can run on natural gas. However, I don't think providing large tax credits for purchasing natural gas powered vehicles is the best way to incentivize purchase of natural gas vehicles or other highly efficient vehicles. The real problem is the volatility in the price of conventional gasoline. When conventional gasoline prices are high, consumers will demand alternatives, such better mass transit, more efficient cars, and natural gas vehicles. We saw this happen last summer when gasoline prices were over $4. When the price comes down, however, the demand dries up. With no guarantee or even general idea of what gasoline prices will be in the future, there is no consumer demand for alternatives and no incentive for businesses to invest in new technologies. The answer is to stabilize gasoline prices and steadily increase them through the use of a gas or a carbon tax. If both consumers and businesses know that the price of gasoline will continue to rise, behavior will change and consumers will both demand more clean and efficient transportation and fuel choices and will have more choices made available to them. I've proposed legislation, H.R. 594, the Save Our Climate Act, that would impose a carbon tax with the goal of spurring innovation and combating global warming.

Natural gas vehicles do have a role to play in transforming our energy policy. I appreciate hearing from you and I will keep your thoughts in mind if the NAT GAS Act comes up for a vote.

Sincerely,
Pete Stark
Member of Congress

Comment by Sam Fleet on November 19, 2009 at 6:03am

thanks for the video Dave, by the way, you ready to call it on our FB Challenge? lol

John, love to see people finding ways of financing, that is always a hurdle, but I think we are showing that we will find a way!

Amy, yes, Energy = Jobs, I am looking forward to getting one myself!!

Let's get the Nat Gas act passed! Go Pickens Plan!

Comment by John Wesley Nobles on November 18, 2009 at 3:23pm

Dave, thanks for the video---very informative. Several months ago we had Congressman Brian Bilbray, CA 50 on The Green Revolution Show. He thinks the gas companies should pay for the fuel stations and collect the cost in the monthly gas bill. Sounds to me like this economy of scale would really lower cost of fueling stations for residences and would encourage more private NG vehicle purchases. With the right financing this would be workable for the utilities. Guess for the immediate future concentrating of the 18 wheelers is where we really get started. You are right on, cost is a major consideration in any alternative, particularly in this economy. Whatever it takes to get off foreign oil sounds good to me. Congressman Bilbray is a co-sponsor of HR 1835, and an all of the above supporter as well. You can hear his comments on the archived shows.

Comment by Dave Clement on November 18, 2009 at 2:34pm

Some points to put into our dialogue with others!
Watch the Honda and Phill video, pay attention to the 3 E's
The 3 E's are an important messsage to pass on whenever we talk about natural gas vehicles! Environment, Energy & Economics

Comment by amy oconnor on November 18, 2009 at 9:18am

Passing the Act and implementing Nat Gas means J-O-B-S, plain and simple. We will need Training First....We will need money to do so. Is there money for this in the Stim Bill OR is there money for this in the Nat Gas Act ?

Comment by amy oconnor on November 17, 2009 at 10:10am

Company Name :
SANDAV PACIFIC Pte Ltd
Location :
21 Toh Guan Road East #04-25 Toh Guan Centre Singapore 608609 [View Map]


As previously stated, the pickens plan was not developed to help foreign companies. if anyone needs natural gas they will patronize American Gas Companies to help our country gain strength in the Green Revolution. But thanks for your offer.

Comment by Dave Clement on November 16, 2009 at 7:45pm

National CNG Road Show
One of the first stops on the tour was held in Benson Arizona last Thursday, it included county, city, school and private participants, its all about building awareness!

There were 6 speakers and 6 vehicles on display
Click here for more info on the National CNG Road Show

More Local and National Sponsors are needed to expand this effort to inlcude more locations!

Comment by Robert Schultz on November 12, 2009 at 4:02pm

I reposted the discussion Lets talk about the Natural Gas Act of 2009 in the WA and OR District groups, and also at NW Renewable Energy Group.

Comment by John Wesley Nobles on November 12, 2009 at 1:22pm

We in the Pickens Army are the people that will push legislation over the top with our continued telephone calls, emails, letters, etc. to congress. With 119 co-sponsors to HR 1835 we have made progress, but we are not there yet. Doing the work that is necessary with our elected officials takes a lot effort, but I think we all agree that it is worth it. Being this close, we do not want to lose our momentum now.

Comment by Rich Remmy on November 12, 2009 at 12:38pm

Efficiency is definitely a good thing, but the real issue is legislation. As it is right now in my home state of Colorado, it's very hard to get a vehicle to run on natural gas. There are two ways to do it:
1) Legally, using EPA-certified parts installed by EPA-certified technicians
2) Illegally, using non-EPA-certified parts installed by non-EPA-certified technicians

The difference between them? Cost--at least $10,000. for the EPA-certified route and $1,000-$3,000 for the non-EPA-certified route.

If we, as United States citizens, really want to exchange Saudi Arabian oil for United States Natural gas to get us from point A to point B, we need to look this issue straight in the face.

We need to put pressure on our Congressmen and Representatives so they will make it cheaper and easier to convert our vehicles to American Natural Gas. Call your elected official today!

• First
• Previous
• Next
• Last