Natural Gas Vehicles: Cheaper, Greener, Energy Independent Says NWGA Whitepaper

Editors Note: November 17, 2011; At the LA Auto Show today the 2012 Honda Civic was named "Green Car of the Year" {Full story HERE) So I thoughtt it would be interesting for you to read this CNG story from last month...GO CNG.

PORTLAND, OR--October 27, 2011: This week the Northwest Gas Association released "Natural Gas Vehicles: Today's Transportation Solution" a whitepaper outlining the opportunities natural gas vehicles (NGVs) provide for energy efficient, clean, safe and reliable transportation. Full text available at NWGA .

Along with providing a primer on NGV operations the whitepaper dedicates sections to regional success stories and opportunities to expand NGV adoption, making it an excellent resource for fleet managers, policymakers and transportation enthusiasts.

NGVs are benefiting from natural gas' low prices and domestic abundance, now estimated at over 100 years worth of supply sourced directly from North America. At current prices the cost of natural gas averages 30 percent less than gasoline or diesel making NGVs an attractive alternative to companies seeking to reduce vehicle fleet costs.

Environmentally, the use of natural gas for transportation reduces GHG emissions up to 30 percent compared with conventional transportation fuels. Across most of the world, NGVs' overall carbon footprint is also smaller than that of electric vehicles when factoring in emissions from coal-generated electricity.

A number of NGV projects are already active or being implemented. NWGA member companies currently deploy 162 vehicles fueled by compressed natural gas, a number that continues to grow. Member Williams Northwest Pipeline intends to convert all of their 1,500 fleet vehicles over the next five to seven years. Other regional NGV adopters include Portland and Sea-Tac Airports, Waste Management, Allied Waste and a number of local and regional transit authorities.

To learn more please read the full version, comprised of four sections located at: Natural Gas White Paper

ABOUT THE NORTHWEST GAS ASSOCIATION: The NWGA works to foster understanding among opinion leaders and informed decision-making by governing officials on issues related to natural gas in the Pacific Northwest. Its members include six natural gas utilities serving communities throughout Idaho, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia, and three transmission pipelines that transport natural gas from supply basins into and through the region.