SoCalGas Lauds California Assembly Speaker Villaraigosa
9 April 1999
SoCalGas Lauds California Assembly Speaker Villaraigosa for Leadership in Shepherding New Air-Quality Legislation
LOS ANGELES--April 8, 1999--At a medium- and heavy-duty natural gas vehicle exposition in Downey, Calif., state Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa today announced he has reintroduced a permanent legislative funding package that will accelerate clean-fuel vehicle conversions in the state.Assemblyman Villaraigosa made the announcement at Southern California Gas Co.'s (SoCalGas) Energy Resource Center, where air- quality policy leaders and natural gas vehicle manufacturers from across the country gathered for the daylong expo.
The announcement prompted high praise from SoCalGas, which has played a key role in jump starting the alternative-fuel vehicle market in California over the last decade.
"The technology is here, the fuels are available, and the Legislature can act now to significantly improve air quality in our state," said Warren Mitchell, chairman and president of SoCalGas, and a past chairman of the National Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition.
"We applaud Assembly Speaker Villaraigosa for championing this funding effort to defray the capital costs required by private fleet owners to convert their medium- and heavy-duty diesel-powered vehicles to run on alternative fuels.
"SoCalGas worked to develop the market for natural gas and other alternative-fuel vehicles by helping regulators and legislators to see that such vehicles represent a viable solution to our air-quality problems," Mitchell added.
"We helped establish the refueling infrastructure, which has since been bought by private enterprises, and now every major vehicle manufacturer has developed alternative-fuel vehicles.
"And fleet operators are starting to convert their vehicles, but more funding assistance is needed to accelerate this process. To his credit, the speaker has stepped up to the plate to provide the leadership that can help make this happen."
The new legislation -- Assembly Bill 1571 -- is similar to a bill passed last year by the California Legislature but vetoed by then-Gov. Wilson. The measure will provide permanent financing for the "Moyer Fund," which is named after the late Dr. Carl Moyer, a leader in the effort to improve air quality in California.
AB 1571 will also set new standards for the conversion of large transportation vehicles to operate on clean fuels.
The natural gas vehicle exposition was attended by about 350 industry and air-quality policy leaders, including Dr. Alan Lloyd, chairman of the California Air Resources Board, who delivered the keynote address; Richard Kolodziej, president of the Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition; and Barry Wallerstein, executive officer of the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
The expo highlighted medium- and heavy-duty vehicles that can effect much greater emissions reductions than lighter-duty vehicles, according to Mitchell Pratt, general manager of natural gas vehicles for SoCalGas.
Southern California Gas Co. is the nation's largest natural gas distribution utility, serving 18 million consumers through 4.8 million meters. The Gas Co.'s service area encompasses 23,000 square miles in most of Central and Southern California. The Gas Co. is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy, a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San Diego.