Oklahoma, Colorado Governors Report On 22-State CNG Plan

An initiative launched by the governors of Oklahoma and Colorado to encourage the production of compressed natural gas vehicles for their state fleets has produced more than one hundred bids from vehicle dealerships in 28 states, the two said on October 4.

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin and Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper said the bids represent significant savings when compared to the cost of converting gasoline- or diesel-burning vehicles, freeing up scarce taxpayer dollars for other needs.

A total of 22 states are now participating in the initiative, enough to demonstrate to vehicle manufacturers that there is "pent-up demand" for CNG vehicles, Fallin said, adding there are about 11,000 vehicles in Oklahoma's state fleet system and 15,000 in Colorado's. She said thirty-eight percent of Oklahoma's state vehicles have more than 100,000 miles on them and the state replaces up to 700 vehicles a year.

Hickenlooper said natural gas burns cleaner and is less expensive than gasoline and diesel, and predicted there will be sufficient demand for CNG vehicles within two years that they will be widely available nationwide for public fleets and private car buyers.

The national average price for a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline is $3.78 compared to $1.35 for the gallon equivalent of natural gas.

Hickenlooper said he and Fallin launched the initiative as a way to stimulate the natural gas industries in their states, expand the CNG infrastructure nationwide, and wean the nation off foreign oil.

Earlier this year, Fallin and Hickenlooper met with representatives of General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler in Detroit. Fallin said they also have been in touch with officials from Honda.

Other states participating in the initiative are: Arkansas, Connecticut, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

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