Obama’s Budget FY 2013 Request Includes NGV Incentives

An article in NGV Global News:

1. Provide a Tax Credit for Medium & Heavy-Duty Alternative Fuel Vehicles (page 34). The credit is $20,000 for vehicles weighing more than 14,000 pounds but not more than 26,000 pounds and $40,000 for vehicles weighing more than 26,000 pounds. However, incentives for light-duty vehicles are not included.
2. Extend several expiring tax credits through FY 2013 (page 65 and Table 4) including six alternative fuel incentives: biodiesel, renewable diesel, alternative fuel, alternative fuel mixtures, cellulosic biofuel, alternative fuel vehicle refueling property, plug-in hybrid conversion.
3. Extend to 100 percent the first-year depreciation deduction for qualified property (pages 3-4). This provision was available at 100 percent during the period September 8, 2010 to December 31, 2011. It currently is available at 50 percent.
4. Request $26.5 million in funding for the Clean Cities program for FY 2013.

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"Natural gas contribution to sustainable transport"

An opinion in GNV Magazine by Roberto Dobles, Former Minister of Environment, Energy and Telecommunications of Costa Rica.

A study published by the International Energy Agency (IEA), entitled "The Contribution of Natural Gas Vehicles to Sustainable Transport", discusses the enormous benefits (economic, social and environmental) of natural gas use in the transportation sector. It points out what many experts have said: the natural gas will have a key role in significantly reducing emissions to the environment with a very low cost and will be part of strategies to progressively decarbonise energy consumption and reduce pollution.

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LNG vs. CNG at Flying J/Pilot

An informative presentation by Clean Energy on why they are installing LNG instead of CNG for the interstate network at the Flying J/Pilot stations (some will include CNG where warranted).

President Obama's Las Vegas Speech

The full text of the President's address is available here.

Hydrogen-powered truck debuts in Long Beach

It's called "Tyrano!" Zero emissions. 536 hp.

EDITORIAL: President’s State of the Union Spotlights Clean Fuels and Clean Energy

Clean Cities Coachella Valley Region
Editorial
January 25, 2012

President’s State of the Union Spotlights Clean Fuels and Clean Energy

In his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama called for a national focus on developing a long-term energy plan for America. The Clean Cities Program has long advocated for a solution to our dependency on OPEC oil and to the harmful emissions caused by motor vehicles. We know we can’t solve our political problems or our air quality problems without focusing on transportation, which accounts for two-thirds of America’s oil use.

For the first time in a long time, it seems both parties agree that natural gas can provide a solution. A White House report on rebuilding our economy states that natural gas is the cleanest of the fossil fuels. We have massive amounts of natural gas reserves in the U.S. and we should immediately move to better utilize it.

We believe it’s time for the rest of the nation to follow the lead set by the Coachella Valley. In 1994, we had to move from the vague generalities of converting our bus fleet from diesel to an alternate fuel to the specifics of procuring natural gas vehicles and developing infrastructure. We also had to develop training materials so our mechanics and drivers could learn the properties of alternative fuels and how to handle them safely. Congress needs to get equally specific about a nationwide transition plan.

Since electricity is rarely produced from oil, creating more energy from natural gas, hydro, wind, solar and nuclear will not have a major impact on our dependence on OPEC oil. But finding a substitute for oil as a major transportation fuel will.

Now is the perfect time for this long-awaited action. We hope the President and the Congress will proceed with haste to provide the incentives for developing alternative fuels infrastructure and to large diesel users to convert to cleaner fuels.

Clean Cities Coachella Valley
Coordinators:

Suzanne Seivright (bio)
P.O. Box 1379
Palm Springs, CA 92263
Website

Richard Cromwell III (bio)
Richard Cromwell III and Associates
PO Box 1207
Desert Hot Springs, CA 92240
Website

President Obama Showcases NGV Project

President Obama Showcases Natural Gas Vehicle Project Organized by GNA. President Obama spoke yesterday at the UPS Las Vegas South facility. UPS and the South Coast Air Quality Management District received over $14 million to provide "for three liquefied natural gas (LNG) fueling stations and the deployment of 150 heavy-duty natural gas trucks."

In the 2012 State of the Union address delivered to members of Congress just two days earlier, the President reinforced that "the development of natural gas will create jobs and power trucks and factories that are cleaner and cheaper, proving that we don't have to choose between our environment and our economy." His visit to the UPS facility underscores how natural gas transportation technologies, domestic energy, and a commitment to investing in U.S. infrastructure are key elements in the foundation of a successful economic recovery. This specific project has directly led to the creation of 117 American jobs and is eliminating 1.25 million gallons of petroleum use per year, replacing it with cleaner burning, domestically-produced natural gas.

Watch the C-Span video: