A bill introduced in March this year, has been approved by the US Committee on Science and Technology’s Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, and now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. As introduced, the bill (H.R. 1622) directs the Secretary of Energy to: (1) conduct a five-year program of natural gas vehicle research, development, and demonstration; and (2) coordinate with the natural gas vehicle industry and with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding streamlined certification of natural gas conversion systems to federal certification requirements and in-use emission standards.
“To transform our nation’s energy sector we must explore a diverse range of fuels and vehicle technologies. While only a piece in very complex puzzle, natural gas can potentially provide us with an option that is both cleaner than petroleum and domestically available,” said Brian Baird, sub-committee chairman in a press release.
The bill, which NGV America says reauthorizes the NGV research, development and demonstration program that was created in the 1992 Energy Policy Act, commits US $150 million over the next five years for a Department of Energy (DOE) program to undertake the following:
1) The continued improvement and development of new, cleaner, more efficient light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty natural gas vehicle engines;
2) The integration of those engines into light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty natural gas vehicles for on-road and off-road applications;
3) Expanding product availability by assisting manufacturers with the certification of the engines or vehicles
4) The demonstration and proper operation and use of the vehicles under all operating conditions;
5) The development and improvement of nationally recognized codes and standards for the continued safe operation of natural gas vehicles and their components;
6) Improvement in the reliability and efficiency of natural gas fueling station infrastructure;
7) The certification of natural gas fueling station infrastructure to nationally recognized and industry safety standards;
8) The improvement in the reliability and efficiency of onboard natural gas fuel storage systems;
9) The development of new natural gas fuel storage materials;
10) The certification of onboard natural gas fuel storage systems to nationally recognized and industry safety standards; and
11) The use of natural gas engines in hybrid vehicles.
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[...] bill, first approved by House Science Committee in June, was sponsored by Rep. John Sullivan (R-OK), who has been a champion in support of natural gas [...]