A new energy bill has been proposed by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to move the country away from foreign oil. The “Clean Energy Jobs and Oil Company Accountability Act,” accelerates the introduction and use of natural gas vehicles (NGVs) and offers $3.8 billion in rebates to buyers of NGVs, from passenger cars to heavy-duty vehicles.

Additional proposed legislation would also establish a NGV and infrastructure development program within the Department of Energy. Along with the rebates, the bill would provide grants for infrastructure development, research and development projects, and establishes a loan program to enhance domestic manufacturing of NGVs and components.

Some basic provisions of the act include:

• Establishes within the Department of Energy an NGV and infrastructure development program whose specific purpose is to facilitate the use of natural gas as an alternative transportation fuel
• Directs the secretary of energy to develop regulations that shall provide up to $3.8 billion in financial rebates to all qualified owners who purchase a NGV
• Directs the secretary of energy to develop an infrastructure and manufacturing development program for NGV users and refueling stations
• Establishes a direct loan program to provide loans to qualified manufacturers to produce new qualified alternative-fuel motor vehicles or components

The benefits of NGV and infrastructure development include:

Funding

• $4.3 billion vehicle purchase incentives
• $500 million infrastructure grants
• $2.0 billion loan program to enhance domestic manufacturing

Displacement of foreign oil

• Use abundant domestic natural gas resources to begin displacing foreign oil especially in heavy-duty vehicles and high fuel use fleet sectors
• Achieve more than 1.8 billion gallons annually of petroleum displacement in the third year of the program – 18 billion gallons over 10 year vehicle life

Creation of domestic manufacturing and service jobs

• Jobs to produce heavy-duty engines and vehicles and medium-duty vehicles for fleets
• Jobs to build, service and maintain a domestic natural gas fueling infrastructure
• Jobs to build, service and maintain domestic liquid natural gas (LNG) production facilities

Creation of infrastructure

• Construction of more than 400 LNG stations for regional trucking
• Construction of more than 1,000 CNG/LNG stations for urban transportation
• Construction of more than 50 LNG plants connected to domestic natural gas pipelines

Greenhouse Gas Reductions

• Use of natural gas as a transportation fuel will reduce greenhouse gas emissions 29% when compared to gasoline and 22% when compared to diesel

Take Action

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Dubbed “The American Power Act,” this new bill proposes doubling the current federal tax credits available for purchasing natural gas-powered fleet vehicles for the next ten years. Eligible natural gas vehicles (NGVs) include heavy-duty trucks and certain shuttle vans.

New natural gas legislation is making the rounds in our nation’s capitol. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., Sens. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., and Orrin G. Hatch, R-Utah, held a news conference to introduce the “New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions (NAT GAS) Act.”

Leaders in our nation’s capital are proposing new natural gas legislation to lower pollution, stimulate the economy and reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil. Introduced by Reps. John Larson, D-Conn.; Dan Boren, D-Okla.; and John Sullivan, R-Okla.; the new bill encourages an increase in the production and use of natural gas vehicles (NGVs) through increased tax credits and incentives for American consumers, auto manufacturers and refueling stations.