Natural Gas Vehicles for America (NGVA) said President Obama’s call for producing more domestic natural gas would be a “welcomed step.”
In his Tuesday night address to both chambers of Congress and the American people, Obama said the nation now produces more natural gas than ever before and that the increase has led to greater energy independence. He called for an accelerated “shift” toward even greater energy independence going forward with a proposal to use some of the domestic oil and gas revenues to fund an Energy Security Trust to drive new research and technology. The goal is to move “our caras and trucks off oil for good.”
“Through more research and development, natural gas vehicles will get even more efficient, more cost-effective and cleaner. However, we don’t have to wait for the results of new research and new technology. Efficient, cost-effective and clean natural gas vehicles are available today,” commented Richard Kolodziej, president of NGV America. “American-made vehicles, using natural gas produced right here, already are displacing significant volumes of foreign oil.”
Kolodziej added that the use of natural gas vehicles in light-duty, medium-duty and heavy-duty applications is “rapidly” growing.
“We have been encouraged by the President’s past statements in support of natural gas vehicles,” Kolodziej concluded. “With supportive government policies, natural gas vehicle use could grow even faster—accelerating the reduction in our dependence on foreign oil, which would help keep more money and jobs, currently sent out of the country, right here at home.”
