On April 6, 2011, Representatives John Sullivan (R-OK), along with original co-sponsors Dan Boren (D-OK), John Larson (D-CT) and Kevin Brady (R-TX) introduced H.R. 1380, the New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions (NAT GAS) Act of 2011.
This legislation is driven by the need for America to quickly reduce its dependence on foreign oil, and to give American families and businesses options instead of being forced to fill their tanks with $4 per gallon gas.
Natural Gas is cheaper, cleaner, more abundant and best of all – it is made right here in America.
The Need for the NAT GAS Act Now
America’s Addiction to Foreign oil is a major economic and national security issue:
- In 1970, the U.S. imported twenty-four percent of our oil. In 2011, the U.S. currently imports sixty-five percent and growing.
- Crude oil prices are hovering at $110 per barrel. Average gas prices are $4 per gallon.
- American taxpayers are sending $1 billion overseas every single day for foreign oil. The U.S. spent $42.5 billion on foreign oil in April 2011 alone!
- Taxpayers are being held hostage by foreign dictators and unpredictable price hikes at the pump.
- The U.S. is subsidizing foreign job growth instead of investing in the 125-year reserves of American-made natural gas sitting right under our feet.
- America needs a new direction for energy security, and American-made natural gas is the bridge fuel we have been looking for.
The NAT GAS Act:
Lower Fuel Prices, Less Foreign Oil, More American Jobs
The NAT GAS Act offers American taxpayers a new direction for energy security, by increasing the use of American-made natural gas as a transportation fuel for cars, trucks and heavy duty fleets. The bill provides a plan, which sunsets after five years, to jumpstart the NGV marketplace by offering tax incentives.
- Lowering Taxes: The NAT GAS Act lowers taxes for the production or purchase of vehicles that run on American-made natural gas. Making these vehicles more affordable will jumpstart the process of getting more NGV’s on our roads, and decrease the amount of foreign oil we need to buy.
- Market Driven Approach: The NAT GAS Act contains zero government mandates. Instead, this bill lowers taxes for anyone who builds or buys a natural gas vehicle. Lowering taxes to incentivize more NGV’s on American roads is common sense.
- Focus on Heavy Duty Trucks and Fleet Vehicles: Natural gas is an important domestic fuel at our disposal that can replace foreign oil to power heavy-duty fleet vehicles. Converting heavy-duty trucks and high-fuel use commercial fleet vehicles to natural gas can reduce our OPEC dependence now.
- Decreasing Dependence on Foreign Oil: Sixty-Nine percent of the oil used in American is for transportation fuel, two thirds of which is imported from foreign nations. By contrast, ninety-eight percent of Natural Gas is produced in North America. Lets power our vehicles with cheaper, cleaner American-made fuel instead of foreign oil.
- Natural Gas has picked us: This isn’t picking winners and losers in the energy market. Natural Gas picked us. The natural gas industry is thriving because of its enormous potential to meet our energy needs. All the NAT GAS Act does is jumpstart the process for a marketplace we need right now.
- Environmentally Friendly: Converting one traditional garbage truck to run on natural gas is the environmental equivalent of taking 300 cars off the road. Converting transportation fleets to run on cheaper, cleaner burning natural gas not only saves on fuel costs, but also is also better for our environment.
- Creates Jobs: The bill is consistent with the goals of a national energy policy that would encourage the use of a clean-burning, domestically produced fuel. All told, this legislation will create 500,000 jobs.
*Click here for additional information on the specific provisions of H.R. 1380.
Natural Gas as a Transportation Fuel:
- Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) technology is readily available, and widely used throughout the in Europe, South America and Asia. There are over 12.5 million natural gas vehicles on the world’s roads. We only have 150,000 in the United States.
- We have the supply, the technology and the pressing need to use natural gas. Let’s secure our energy future by utilizing the full potential of this American-made resource right now.
