Alternative Fuel Advocates Push Senate to Include Unbiased AFV Incentives in Sen. Reid's 'Energy-lite' Package

WASHINGTON, July 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Senator Reid is on track to release the details of his new, pared-down energy plan today. In addition to some other energy-related provisions, the plan is expected to provide tax breaks for natural gas vehicles and infrastructure.

But advocates of propane Autogas, an alternative vehicle fuel widely used by public and private vehicle fleets, are pushing the Senate to include Autogas along with natural gas in the vehicle and infrastructure incentive provisions.

"The majority of propane Autogas is derived from the refining of natural gas," says Stuart Weidie, director of industry coalition Autogas for America. "Autogas has similar environmental benefits to natural gas and about 90% of it is produced here in America. There's no logical reason this bill should exclude propane Autogas but include natural gas."

The National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) and Autogas for America have asked the propane Autogas industry to flood their Senator's offices with letters petitioning that Autogas be included in Sen. Reid's plan.

"Propane Autogas is comparable to natural gas when it comes to reducing harmful emissions - and, at the same time, it's vastly less expensive to implement," says Rick Roldan, president of the NPGA. "Senator Reid is moving this along so quickly that we're afraid they may not include Autogas. It would be a tremendous oversight by the Senate, because they'd be failing to support an alternative fuel that they're already investing in."

Roldan is referencing a number of Department of Energy-administered, Recovery Act-funded programs that will be implementing thousands of propane Autogas vehicles and hundreds of Autogas fueling stations over the next several years. Together, these programs represent about $50M of investment on behalf of the federal government. "Failing to include incentives for Autogas in this plan would inhibit the development of an alternative fuel market in which the government is already investing," says Weidie. "We believe propane Autogas should be included in every incentive provision that applies to natural gas."

For more information about Autogas for America or how to contact your Senator about including Autogas in this legislation, visit: www.autogasforamerica.org

SOURCE Autogas for America