The House of Representatives unanimously passed H.R. 1622 that will move along the process of bringing more natural gas vehicles into the mainstream.
The bill, according to information from NGVAmerica, would direct the Secretary of Energy to conduct a five-year program of natural gas vehicle research, development and demonstration. It also will have the Secretary of Energy coordinate with the natural gas vehicle industry and with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding streamlining the certification of natural gas conversion systems to federal certification requirements and in-use emission standards.
The bill was sponsored by Rep. John Sullivan, R-Okla., who has been a champion in support of natural gas vehicle issues, NGVAmerica reports.
“We commend Mr. Sullivan’s committed leadership on this issue,” says Richard Kolodziej, president of NGVAmerica. “NGVs can make an even greater impact on displacing foreign oil while reducing greenhouse gases and urban pollution. But to do so we need more natural gas engines integrated into more vehicle platforms. The two parts of this bill would help do that by providing federally supported R&D funding and streamlining the EPA certification process for conversion equipment to get more conversion equipment into the market faster and with less cost.”
The bill would authorize $30 million a year from fiscal 2010 to 2014 for natural gas vehicle research and development.
NGVAmerica is a national organization dedicated to the development of a growing, sustainable and profitable market for vehicles powered by natural gas or biomethane. NGVAmerica represents more than 100 companies interested in the promotion and use of natural gas and biomethane as transportation fuels, including: engine, vehicle and equipment manufacturers; fleet operators and service providers; natural gas companies; and environmental groups and government organizations. For more information, visit www.ngvamerica.org.
