Natural Gas Vehicle Research Measure Wins Overwhelming House Approval
By John O'Dell July 21, 2009
Natural gas vehicles got a boost today as the House of Representatives voted 393-35 to reauthorize the Department of energy's natural gas vehicle research program and to provide $150 million in funding over the next five years.
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This Toyota Camry natural gas-electric hybrid concept might become real and sights like this Southern California CNG pump more prevalent if DOE research is approved in Senate and proposed tax incentives become law.
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The measure, H.R. 1622, focuses on development of engines for all classes of natural gas vehicles, according to a report from the subscription only Energy & Environment News service.
But it also contains funding for improving the nation's spotty natural gas refueling infrastructure, to study use of natural gas engines in hybrids and for improvements to present storage technologies.
Natural gas appears to be one of the few issues with strong bipartisan support in the lower chamber, as the lopsided vote shows.
It also appears to have support in the Senate where Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, recently said he may seek time on the floor to stump for passage of a bill to extend and perhaps increase tax incentives and other support for natural gas vehicles
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