CNG News   

With the simultaneous opening of nine compressed natural gas (CNG) filling stations - one per state - the Austrian gas industry has celebrated the commissioning of the 100th CNG filling station. Since the beginning of 2007, the number of fuel stations dispensing CNG has almost tripled, from 36 to 100. It is expected that by 2010 there will be at least 200 public CNG filling stations in Austria.

Chesapeake Energy begins Converting Entire Fleet to Natural Gas

Chesapeake Energy, the third largest producer of natural gas in the U.S. and the first among independents, has begun to re-introduce natural gas vehicles to its fleet, which totals some 2,600 trucks, vans and cars. The firm is stepping up the promotion of natural gas as a vehicle fuel. Last week they completed the promotional wrap of two Chevrolet C5500 shuttle buses with 8.1-liter engines converted to natural gas operation using Baytech systems installed by BAF Technologies.

PAG's Clean Cities program helps Tucson region displace more than 5 million gallons of petroleum
Some forward-thinking fleet owners and individuals in the Tucson region saw the price of gas go up last year, but they chose alternative fuels
and made a difference in reducing the amount of petroleum used locally.
In 2007, coalition members of Pima Association of Governments' Clean Cities program reported displacing more than 5 million gallons of
petroleum with alternative fuels, such as biodiesel, ethanol, compressed natural gas, hybrid electric vehicles, propane and idle reduction
technologies. This represents a 20 percent increase from 2006 when 4.2 million gallons were displaced.
"The growing use of alternative fuels decreases our nation's dependency on foreign oil," said Colleen Crowninshield, PAG's Clean Cities manager.
"The local number is moving in the right direction, and it shows Tucson's commitment to a better quality of life for generations to come."
The Coalition, which consists of 63 public and private entities, such as the City of Tucson, Pima County, the University of Arizona, Tucson
Electric Power Co., Reay's Ranch Investors, Arizona Petroleum, Southwest Gas Corp., and many school districts. The school districts are using
alternative fuels and participating in a statewide school bus idle reduction program. Many other companies have made commitments to using
alternative fuels.
The goal of the U.S. Department of Energy for Clean Cities Coalitions was set for each Coalition to increase their alternative fuel use by
17 percent. The Tucson Coalition members exceeded that goal for a third year in a row. "Our increase in alternative fuel infrastructure has made
it possible for Coalition members to increase their use of alternative fuels," Crowninshield said. "In 2007, the Coalition assisted with five
additional E85 sites in Arizona and is working on a second public compressed natural gas (CNG) station and additional biodiesel stations for the next year.''
Colleen Crowninshield
Clean Cities Manager
Pima Association of Governments
177 N. Church #405
Tucson, AZ  85701
http://www.pagnet.org/Programs/EnvironmentalPlanning/CleanFuels/tabid/180/Default.aspx
(520)792-1093 ext. 426

Another Phill HRA being installed in Chandler

Dave Clement works on a Phill home refueling appliance going into a house in Chandler to fuel a brand new Honda GX, just purchased from Jerry Polick at San Tan Honda.           There is still a $1000.00 Federal Year end tax credit on installing alternative home fueling equipment

Jerry Polick, Phone 602-622-9600, still has  4 2008 Honda GX's in stock!  White, Blue, Silver & Green, Chandler, AZ  Loop 101 San Tan Freeway and Gilbert Road, just North.  jerry.polick@santanhonda.com  Call or email Jerry for a tour of the new dealership!  It is quite impressive.  There is still a $4000.00 Federal Tax Credit on the clean Honda GX.

Western Governors Release Report Advocating Greater Alternative Fuel Use                       
Last week, the Western Governors' Association (WGA) released a new policy report advocating increased use of alternative fuels. The report, entitled "Transportation Fuels for the Future," includes a number of recommendations for advancing the use of alternative fuels while reducing petroleum use. The report acknowledges that one of the "most critical issues facing our nation is our dependence on petroleum for nearly all of our transportation fuel." The report concludes that there is no silver-bullet approach that will solve our energy dependence. The report and its recommendations indicate that many different alternative fuels should be encouraged. Fuel efficiency, mass transit and smart growth strategies also must play a role in reducing petroleum use and reducing climate change emissions. Some of the major findings of the report include:

1. existing tax credits for alternative fuel and fuel efficient vehicles should be extended for up to 10 years;
2. individual states should adopt goals for reducing petroleum consumption and increasing alternative fuel use (e.g., California has a goal of 20 percent alternative fuel use by 2020); and
3. states should establish dedicated funding sources for alternative fuel and fuel efficient vehicles.

1. encourage automakers to increase availability of NGV models by providing manufacturers with tax incentives;
2. evaluate state incentives to determine if they encourage niche market applications;
3. encourage the use of biogas for all applications and adopt incentives for converting biogas to pipeline quality methane; and
4. encourage and support extension of federal incentives for alternative fuel, alternative fuel infrastructure and alternative fuel vehicles.

The report is available online here.           

CNG Projects To Stimulate California's Economy 

Source - NGV Global            
California Gov. Schwarzenegger has announced $394 million for transit projects to keep the State's economy moving while at the same time protecting the environment. Among the stimulus packages is funding for projects to "improve air quality by taking cars off the road and further encourage the use of public transit, benefiting California's environment for years to come," said California Environmental Protection Agency Secretary Linda Adams. Some of the notable compressed natural gas (CNG) projects approved for funding are:

• Fresno - $2.5 million to the city of Fresno to purchase cleaner CNG buses to replace older buses that emit more air pollutants.
• Los Angeles - funds for purchasing 95 new CNG buses
• Orange County - $25.2 million to the Orange County Transportation Authority to build CNG fueling infrastructure in Garden Grove, Anaheim and Irvine, and to purchase para-transit vehicles for persons with disabilities.               
  

AFV Tech to Offer 4 New GM Cars in CNG in May

Coming in May!
More choices in Clean Natural Gas Powered Cars!  2008 Dedicated CNG with a 300 mile range!
Chevrolet Impala & Malibu - Saturn Aura - Pontiac G6 From AFV Tech in Phoenix   www.afvtech.com

Click on the link for a PDF Brochure-  http://afvtech.com/component/option,com_docman/task,doc_download/gid,5/Itemid,2/

Texas Facility First to Feed Manure-Derived Methane into Commercial Pipeline

New Hampshire-based Environmental Power Corporation announced on January 22 that its pipeline-quality biomethane production facility in Texas is now operating at full commercial-scale.  The Huckabay Ridge facility uses anaerobic digestion to convert cow manure into purified natural gas that is then injected into a commercial pipeline for distribution, a first in the United States.  The Lower Colorado River Authority and Pacific Gas & Electric have made purchase agreements for the biogas, which can be used for heat or power generation. 

In addition to reducing dependence on fossil fuels, Environmental Power's eight anaerobic digesters solve a major environmental problem by keeping the waste of 10,000 cows out of local waterways.  "There are an awful lot more dairies that would probably like to have a way to get rid of their waste," said Travis Brown, a renewable energy community service specialist from the Texas Office of Rural Community Affairs.  "We need more projects not only in Erath County but in other parts of the state."

Sources: http://biopact.com/2008/01/first-for-us-company-feeds-biomethanehtml
http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/green/content/shared/news/stories/dairy_070907.html

Tenn. Governor orders state task force on energy policy, more fuel pumps

NASHVILLE - Gov. Phil Bredesen has signed an executive order creating an energy task force, and expanding the installation of Alternative fueling pumps across the state to allow state vehicles such as those powered by natural gas to fuel conveniently anywhere in Tennessee. Governor Bredesen was quoted " The state should be an example to its businesses and citizens of the best energy conservation practices".

 Biogas To Power OMV 2008 CNG Rally Team

Source - NGV Global

Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX to be 100 percent biogas operated

Austria   (Does anyone know if we get European Rally Racing on ESPN? We need to support this team) The OMV CNG (compressed natural gas) Rally Team is currently gearing up for the 2008 Austrian Championship, this time to be powered by biomethane (biogas). The cooperation between OMV Gas International Ltd., Stohl-Racing and the driver-duo Beppo Harrach and Andreas Schindlbacher is expected to yield another high performance year, building on the successes of 2006 and 2007. Their confidence is built on new techniques for production of clean natural gas from bio sources, in particular the unique work being done at the OMV funded biogas plant in Bruck / Leitha (Lower Austria) funded by OMV's Future Energy Fund. Questar Brigham City Utah CNG Station Grand Opening  (Photo-Springville, Utah)

The Grand opening of Questar Gas's newest public CNG station will be April 14th in Brigham City, Utah.  This station will also be .639 cents per gallon like the rest of Questar's CNG stations in Utah & Wyoming.  All of Questars stations are installed at existing area fueling stations located along the freeway system.  Representatives from CNG Chat will be there handing out bumper stickers! (Yes, we are still jealous of 64 cent natural gas)   We hope you had a great Spring Break and a Memorable Easter Holiday!

Dave Clement
President/Owner

Authorized FuelMaker Dealer for Arizona
Phone 480-461-5166
Cel. 480-789-1498
Fax 480-615-4338
Specialists in Compressing Natural Gas into Clean Vehicle Fuel
439 N. Clement St.
Mesa, Arizona 85201
Help Keep Arizona Skies Clean and Blue- Drive a Natural Gas Vehicle!
ROC231066  Licensed Arizona Natural Gas Fueling Equipment Contractor

Links-

www.cngaz.com  CNG Services of Arizona

http://www.blog.cngaz.com    CNG Services of Arizona Blog

www.fuelmaker.com   FuelMaker Corp

www.myphill.com    FuelMaker Corp - Phill Site

www.cngmotors.com    CNG Motors - Murphy- Used CNG Vehicles

www.cngchat.com      CNG Chat - Talk about our industry, vehicles & fueling!

www.cleanskies.org    New web site helping promote natural gas vehicles

www.ngvamerica.org    NGV America- The Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition

www.ngvglobal.com    Worldwide Natural Gas Vehicle News