The Politics of Natural Gas: Ignoring the Obvious February 18, 2010
Source: David A. Hill, Wyoming Energy News
Date: 2/18/2010 9:10 AM
The announcement yesterday that ConocoPhillips will not renew its membership in the U.S. Climate Action Partnership will be predictably criticized by many environmental and climate change advocates as another example of “big oil” not stepping up to the plate when it comes to reducing global warming.
The energy giant said it will instead focus on reducing near-term greenhouse gas emissions by developing its natural gas operations. Like other players, ConocoPhillips says the current energy bills under discussion in Washington are ignoring the critical role natural gas can play in reducing GHG emissions.
They’re right. Natural gas is an abundant domestic energy source that is cheaper and cleaner burning than other fossil fuels.
Said ConocoPhillips’ CEO, Jim Mulva, “The proposed bills to date have disadvantaged the transportation sector and its consumers, left domestic refineries unfairly penalized versus international competition, and ignored the critical role that natural gas can play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
As one of the most important centers for domestic natural gas development, the Wyoming-Colorado region will be significantly impacted by whatever energy bill eventually emerges out of Washington. We hope it will be positive, but lately we’re not so sure.
Natural gas has been touted by the Obama Administration and Colorado Governor Bill Ritter as a vital element of the New Energy Economy, a “bridge fuel” to a cleaner energy future. The action, however, hasn’t matched the rhetoric.
Expanding its role in the nation’s energy landscape should be a policy priority because it is one of the least expensive and biggest-payback options on the table.
One example that begs the issue is the need for CNG fueling stations along I-70 and elsewhere in the state. As an industry group points out in a recent letter to Rep John Salazar, you can drive from the East Coast to the Rocky Mountains using compressed natural gas as fuel. A driver can fill up with CNG in central Utah and complete the trip to the West Coast. But in between are what the Western Slope Colorado Oil and Gas Association is calling the “missing miles,” which happen to run through some of the West’s richest reservoirs of natural gas, where Interstate 70 bisects the Piceance Basin in Colorado. CNG stations are nowhere to be found in the region.
This week the Obama Administration announced $8 billion in funding to resurrect the nuclear power industry, slated for construction of a new plant in Georgia. Major tax breaks are part of the deal. It is no secret the nuclear power industry has been notorious for faulting on taxpayer-backed loans, and building a new nuclear facility is a long and very expensive process.
Would it make more sense, instead, for the money to be spent funding more natural gas fueling locations, and converting city, county and state fleets to CNG power?
At Wyoming Energy News, we think the answer is yes. This country is going to require development of all kinds of energy resources over the next couple of decades for us to become truly independent of foreign supplies, including more efficient and cleaner harnessing of traditional resources coupled with a growing renewable energy mix, efficiency measures and expansion of the power grid.
Clean energy proponents, however, (and you can count us among them!) must face the reality that even a massive influx of solar, wind, geothermal and other resources will not be able to replace traditional fuels for millions of Americans anytime in the foreseeable future. It is simply impractical to believe otherwise.
This article was first published by Wyoming Energy News on February 17, 2010.
AT&T Rolls Out Its 1,000th Alternative Fuel Corporate Fleet Vehicle February 18, 2010
Source: PRNewswire.com
Date: 2/18/2010 9:25 AM
Milestone Part of 10-Year, $565 Million Plan to Deploy Cleaner Fleet Vehicles
AT&T today announced the deployment of its 1,000th alternative-fuel vehicle in its corporate fleet. The deployment is part of a $565 million investment announced in March 2009 to replace more than 15,000 fleet vehicles with more fuel-efficient models through 2018. AT&T currently operates a fleet of more than 77,000 vehicles. The 10-year initiative includes an expected $350 million to purchase approximately 8,000 compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles over a five-year period, including the 1,000th alternative-fuel vehicle, a CNG van deployed in Oakland, California. This represents the largest initiative to CNG to date by a U.S. company. AT&T anticipates spending another $215 million through 2018 to replace 7,100 fleet passenger cars with alternative fuel models. According to the Center for Automotive Research (CAR), AT&T's overall alternative fuel vehicle initiative will:
- Save 49 million gallons of gasoline over the 10-year deployment period
- Reduce carbon emissions by 211,000 metric tons
"In a time of deep economic uncertainty, AT&T is making investments in our corporate fleet that are good for our business, the environment and our economy," said Jerome Webber, vice president, AT&T Fleet Operations. "The deployment of our 1,000th alternative-fuel vehicle signals a demand for cleaner alternative fuels that are less volatile in cost and that can be tapped here in America, right now." CAR estimates that the AT&T fleet initiative will create or save – on average – approximately 1,000 jobs per year over the first five years of the initiative.
GreenLine Fuel Corp. Acquires A Home Based Refueling Unit August 18, 2009
See Home Refueling page for more information !
New LNG/CNG Fueling Station For California May 26, 2009
USA, Temecula CA
Downs Energy, a local petroleum distribution and marketing company headquartered in Corona, CA, is to hold an official "Grand Opening Ceremony" of its 24-hour Liquefied/Compressed Natural Gas (L/CNG) fueling station located at 27985 Diaz Road in Temecula, CA on June 11th (10:00 AM). The L/CNG fueling station is part of the Interstate Clean Transportation Corridor (ICTC) development project.
The ICTC is a planned network of alternative fuel dispensing stations along key roadways that serve associated alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) fleets that move freight between cities and states in the Western United States. The goal of the ICTC Project is to mobilize and concentrate public and private resources to maximize the commercial viability of clean, alternative fuel trucks in goods movement.
At the time of the 'ground breaking' ceremony in April 2008, Downs said, "We are delighted to be a participant and contributor to the successful development of the ICTC in Southwest Riverside County" "With the ICTC's vision and leadership, we were able to secure over $1.1 Million in critical grant funding from key support agencies; including, the California Energy Commission (CEC), Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC), South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), Riverside County and the City of Temecula, to make this alternative fuel site a reality and expand the ICTC's L/CNG fuel site network in Southern California.
Clean Energy Backs Natural Gas Vehicle Legislation April 2, 2009
Clean Energy Fuels Corp. is adding its support for the New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions (NAT GAS) Act recently introduced in Congress. The federal legislation is aimed at increasing the use of natural gas-fueled vehicles.
Andrew J. Littlefair, Clean Energy president and CEO, said the federal government’s support through this legislation can have an impact on how Americans manage their energy resources and reduce their dependence on imported oil. The Seal Beach, California-based company owns and operates two LNG production plants with a combined capacity of 260,000 LNG gallons per day, and an expansion capability up to 340,000 LNG gallons per day.
NAT GAS, or HR 1835, introduced by Congressmen Dan Boren, John Larsen and John Sullivan, promotes the use of natural gas-fueled vehicles and increases the alternative fuel tax credits for natural gas used as a vehicle fuel, for the purchase of natural gas-fueled vehicles, and for the installation of natural gas vehicle refueling properties.
The bi-partisan-sponsored legislation would also encourage original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to produce dedicated natural gas and bi-fuel natural gas vehicles, and require federal government use of natural gas vehicles in a portion of its fleets.
Some companies are adding natural-gas powered vehicles. AT&T recently announced plans to add 8,000 natural gas vehicles. Wal-Mart is testing liquid natural gas-powered big rigs.
Pickens Brings Message Of Energy Independence
Source: The News Star
Date: 5/25/2009 10:00 AM
T. Boone Pickens' journey to redirect America's energy dependence made a pit stop in northeastern Louisiana on Friday.
EXCO Resources, Inc., an oil and natural gas producer that claims Pickens as one of its directors, unveiled a compressed natural gas pump station at its Vernon Field near Chatham. The company also pledged to convert 95 percent of its fleet, or 45 trucks, from gasoline to natural gas-powered engines in the next eight months.
Pickens, who has made billions of dollars off oil and natural gas in a career that spans six decades, spoke at the unveiling and argued his proposal to break the nation's dependence on oil.
"We need to run on domestic fuel and get off foreign oil," Pickens said. "Last month we imported 68 percent of our oil from overseas. That's $18.6 billion, the highest amount this year, and a lot of it is going to countries who don't like us. It's a matter of national security."
Pickens has proposed switching the nation's energy grid from natural gas to more renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. The remaining natural gas would be used to power vehicles like the EXCO's fleet of Ford F-250 pickup trucks.
Pickens spent millions of dollars to spread his message across the nation's television screens in the summer of 2008 and said he will continue to press businesses and politicians for his program. Since that time the price of gas has fallen from over $3 a gallon to under $2. But Pickens said his plan is as urgent as ever with the election of Barack Obama.
"The Obama administration is on board and said we need to be energy independent," Pickens said.
The longtime Republican who helped finance the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth campaign in 2004 said he even met with Democratic leaders Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi to garner support.
"This is a nonpartisan issue," Pickens said.
Doug Miller, chairman and CEO of EXCO, said the main consideration for converting the vehicles and creating the natural gas filling station was cost. He said with tax incentives and relatively cheaper fuel, the conversion would pay for itself in three years.
Louisiana Secretary of Natural Resources Scott Angelle was on hand at the ceremony and offered his support for what has been called "The Pickens Plan."
"Last year, $4 gallons of gas made a permanent impression on consumers," Angelle said. "No state has more to gain from an increased use in natural gas, and you can bet that Louisiana will be sitting at the table if not holding the meeting."
State Rep. Jim Fannin, D-Jonesboro, also attended the ceremony and said bills are working their way through the Louisiana Legislature that would provide further incentives to convert cars to natural gas power.
This article was first published by The News Star on May 09, 2009.