Support for NAT GAS Act

From the 4/11/2011 issue of CalNGV News:

Coalition Drums Up Bill Support

Letters to California representatives seek new sponsors for federal NAT GAS Act, thank current supporters

The Coalition has sent two letters to California’s House of Representatives delegation aimed at enhancing support for the federal New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions (NAT GAS) Act, one thanking co-sponsors for their leadership and another asking the remaining members to sign on.

The letter requesting additional sponsors says there is a “tremendous opportunity to displace petroleum with abundant, low-cost, domestic natural gas. Increasing our use of natural gas as a transportation fuel will help achieve multiple national goals, including energy security, clean air, economic security, and improving economic prosperity.

“Each year Americans spend tens of billions to import petroleum from other countries,” the letter continues. “This is simply not sustainable
and is absolutely not the best use of our money. Now is the time for Congress to act to incentivize the increased use of natural gas vehicles.”

The letter lists highlights of the legislation (see CalNGV News, 04.04.11), noting that the NAT GAS Act will:

• Create or extend for five years tax credits for natural gas used as a vehicle fuel, NGV purchases, and the installation of NGV refueling facilities.
• Expand and modify previous tax credits for alternative fuel vehicles and refueling facilities.
• Exclude the natural gas vehicle and infrastructure credits from AMT provisions, and allow taxpayers to transfer them back to the manufacturer, seller, or lessee.
• Provide a production tax credit to NGV manufacturers.
• Clarify the definition of “advanced technology vehicle” to include dedicated, bifuel, and dual-fuel NGVs and to allow fleets covered by EPAct 1992 to receive EPAct credits for repowering and converting vehicles.
• Direct the EPA to take steps to reduce the regulatory burden on conversion manufacturers, and the EPA and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to fashion credits to reward NGV manufacturers for reducing petroleum use and greenhouse gas emissions.
• Direct the Department of Energy to provide funding for RD&D to improve NGV performance and efficiency and to integrate natural gas engines into additional on-road vehicles.

The thank-you letter—to representatives Baca, Bilbray, Bono Mack, Calvert, Cardoza, Costa, Denham, Farr, Filner, Gallegly, Honda, Hunter, Issa, Lee, Lungren, Matsui, Richardson, Sanchez, Speier, and Thompson—recaps the reasons for supporting the legislation. See more on the NAT GAS Act at the NGVAmerica site.