NAT GAS ACT OF 2009

New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions Act of 2009

The New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions Act (NAT GAS Act) is proposed legislation that would provide a significant boost to natural gas vehicles (NGVs). The NAT GAS Act of 2009, aims to extend and increase tax credits for NGVs and refueling infrastructure. There are two proposed versions of the NAT GAS Act: House Resolution (H.R.) 1835, introduced in April 2009 by Representative Dan Boren (D-OK), and Senate (S.) 1408, introduced July 2009 by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV). Both versions of the NAT GAS Act will provide incentives for consumers, commercial truckers, and state and local governments to aggressively move from using vehicles burning polluting, imported gasoline and diesel to vehicles running on clean, domestic natural gas.

The mission of this bill is to "to encourage increased production of natural gas vehicles and to provide tax incentives for natural gas vehicle infrastructure." It is quickly gaining significant momentum in Washington D.C. with tremendous support with over 120 bi-partisan co-sponsors in Congress. Below is a brief overview of the benefits the NAT GAS Act could provide for the transportation industry.

For a printable summary of the NAT GAS Act, please click HERE.

To learn why NAT GAS is important, please click HERE.

With the passage of the NAT GAS Act, the following tax credits will be available:

Fuel:

• 50-cent per gasoline-gallon-equivalent of CNG or liquid gallon of LNG vehicle fuel (equivalent to $0.57 per diesel gallon for CNG and $0.87 per diesel gallon for LNG)

Vehicles:

• Up to 80% of the vehicle's incremental cost for all dedicated natural gas‐fueled vehicles (up to a maximum credit of $64,000 per vehicle)
• Up to 50% of the vehicle's incremental cost for bi‐fuel natural gas‐fueled vehicles (up to a maximum credit of $64,000 per vehicle)

Infrastructure:

• Up to $100,000 per station (CNG, LNG, or LCNG)

The goal of the NAT GAS Act is to make such tax credits available for 10 to 15 years, thus allowing OEMs, fuel suppliers, infrastructure providers, and end-users to make firm investment decisions based upon long-term business plans. The NAT GAS Act has provisions to allow the tax credits to be available to both for-profit and non-profit and municipal organizations.

The NAT GAS Act would also increase that available federal investment in natural gas vehicle infrastructure by increasing the refueling property tax credit from $50,000 to $100,000 per station.

Cost Benefit of Natural Gas in Heavy Duty Operations:
Significant fuel cost savings can already be realized through the use of natural gas in heavy-duty fleet operations. Fleet operators today are consistently showing a 30% fuel cost savings for their natural gas fleet operations compared to their diesel fleet. With the passage of the NAT GAS Act, fuel cost savings can increase to 60% or greater.

Natural Gas Vehicles in the Heavy Duty Market:
Four leading truck OEMs (Freightliner, Peterbilt, Kenworth, and Autocar) now offer factory-built NG truck platforms; this has never existed in the truck industry. There is a groundswell of activity and interest in natural gas trucks from on-road truck fleets in all four corners of the nation. Fleets such as JB Hunt, UPS, Wal-Mart, Pepsi, and many other are now seriously investigating, demonstrating, and/or deploying natural gas truck technologies. JB Hunt and UPS will soon deploy up to 500 LNG tractors in their respective operations in two high profile U.S. DOE-funded efforts.

The Time is NOW!
Click HERE to let your Senators and Representatives know that your company supports the NAT GAS Act and what the passage of this legislation could mean for your business. Be a part of this monumental decision and support this bill that could facilitate the creation of jobs, help realize significant cost savings, and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Your elected officials need to hear from you now. Let them know that passage of the NAT GAS Act would result in more viable options for fueling and equipment for our fleets and urge them to vote YES!

Let us help! Event organizers will draft a customized letter of support for your company to send directly to your Congressmen. Call 888-993-0302 for more information.