Remember this?  It was back in January that we worked to inform readers about the viability of compressed natural gas as an alternative to gasoline and diesel for transportation fuels, especially for fleet vehicles.  The Louisiana Legislature, now in session, has passed HB 110 which extends meaningful tax credits to individuals and businesses who purchase vehicles fueled by CNG, convert existing vehicles to CNG, or construct fueling facilities to support the distribution of CNG.

The Governor has signed it, and it is now law.

Natural gas is available in abundance, and Louisiana is home to one of the largest, if not the largest, natural gas “play” in the nation in the Haynesville Shale.  It is wise for Louisiana to promote the use of this natural resource.

Natural gas qualifies as an alternative fuel.

“Alternative fuel” means a fuel which results in emissions of oxides of nitrogen, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, or particulates, or any combination of these which are comparably lower than emissions from gasoline or diesel and which meets or exceeds federal clean air standards, including but not limited to compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, biofuel, biodiesel, methanol, ethanol, and electricity.

The City of Shreveport is purchasing a major expansion of their city transit fleet as CNG powered buses, and they are in the process of designing and building facilities for fueling.  Louisiana DEQ is converting several large trucks to CNG.  Hopefully this legislation will encourage others to consider this cleaner, less expensive transportation fuel, and will further encourage the construction of fueling facilities.