The 1,200 member U.S. Conference of Mayors met in Oklahoma City yesterday an unanimously adopted a resolution calling the federal government to boost its support for natural gas vehicles by renewing tax credits and expanding federal research into natural gas engines.
According to the New York Times, the Mayors “called on the House and Senate to pass the ‘New Alternative to Give Americans Solutions Act’ – what we have been calling the NAT GAS Act (S. 1408 and H.R. 1835).
America’s Natural Gas Alliance cheered the resolution, saying the mayors were “demonstrating they stand ready to help lead” the push for more natural gas vehicles.
“The mayors’ emphasis on natural gas should serve as a model for federal and state policymakers,” the group said in a release. “By taking a page from these local leaders’ playbooks, we can take advantage of our nation’s vast natural gas resources to advance clean power generation and transportation.”
The American Clean Skies Foundation also applauded the action and noted that the mayors’ resolution lined up nicely with its own set of proposals.
“This resolution proves that mayors are keenly aware of the role natural gas can play in decarbonizing their cities and spurring the local economy,” said CEO Gregory Staple. “The low-cost opportunities to run municipal fleets on natural gas would result in budget savings and cleaner air, especially compared to diesel.”
— The Pickens Team