Paying more at the pump
Clean air advocates object to natural gas hike
The commission late last month issued an order that will increase the price of a gallon equivalent of compressed natural gas for vehicles by 79 percent by next summer. The order called for the hike to take place in two phases.
The first phase would increase the price of compressed natural gas to $1.14 per gallon beginning immediately, up from 80 cents last month. The second increase would come on July 1 and would push the price up to $1.43 per gallon.
Commission spokeswoman Julie Orchard said that the ruling came following lengthy talks regarding proposed changes in pricing between natural gas for residential use and natural-gas fuel designed for transportation. The order arose from a rate case that Questar had submitted in December of last year, when the utility had asked the commission to set separate rate structures for residential natural gas and compressed natural gas used for transportation fuel.
The company contended that residential and industrial customers were paying higher rates and unfairly "subsidizing" the price that natural-gas vehicle drivers were paying at the pump.
Anderson is the founder and executive director of Salt Lake City-based High Road for Human Rights, an advocacy group for issues such as climate change. He said that the Salt Lake Valley's poor air quality and over-dependence on foreign oil are major concerns that need to be considered of the utmost importance right now.
"Those issues should carry far more weight than the narrow interests that have apparently driven the Public Service Commission's decision," he said.
Increasing the price of compressed natural gas would deter people from making the switch to what would be the most environmentally friendly choice for vehicle transportation, Anderson said.
"It's absolutely insane that we're not incentivizing people in every possible way to drive natural-gas vehicles in this community," he said.
Jerry Pace of Sandy said he and about eight other natural-gas vehicle owners have filed formal grievance letters with the commission expressing their displeasure with the decision. They hope to convince the commission to reconsider the way it sets pricing for compressed natural gas, so that it will not have the same kind of price volatility that gasoline has had, he said.
Recent comments
What no one has menionted on here is CNG tanks are very expensive....
Real Macaw | Jan. 6, 2009 at 2:14 a.m.
The problem is that users of gasoline powered vehicles are not...
Lew Jeppson | Jan. 6, 2009 at 12:44 a.m.
Personally, I could care less about the environment. Ride a bike if...
What Environment? | Jan. 5, 2009 at 7:46 p.m.
- Boy shoots mom with arrow 3:48 p.m.
- Haiti bans party from election 3:21 p.m.
- Marines see end of deployment 2:59 p.m.
- Colo. gov's lawn draped in toilet paper 2:42 p.m.
- Packers beat Lions 34-12 2:12 p.m.
- Dad locked kids in trunk 1:46 p.m.
- Korver's return hits snag 12:59 p.m.
- Salt Lake City woman shot 12:53 p.m.
- Woman suffers critical injury 12:50 p.m.
- China vows to slow emissions 12:18 p.m.
- Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
- Cave rescuers committed to free man
- Holiday television program listings
- Rivalry has had some 'turkeys'
- Highland players make special friend
- Temple Square to use LEDs
- Missions teach players perseverance
- Syracuse woman gets 1 year in jail
- Twitterati to BCS: 'We hate you.'
- Matt Reynolds vs. Koa Misi
- BYU would like friendlier rivalry
261 - Glenn Beck to enter politics?
228 - Protests against Phoenix LDS temple
210 - RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks
202 - Bronco, Kyle rubber match
139 - BYU records with win
133 - Letters: Rushing to judge Palin
131 - Thunder rolls by Jazz
129 - Boys basketball rankings
116 - Editorial: Poor welcome for Palin
112
My sons have no problem talking to me about sex. I remember when my stepson...
I think the change we need is moving Williams to the 2 spot and find a pass...
Healthcare Change values Families Outrageous Healthcare bills are the #1...
Just remember where your little buddy is, who is sitting in JAIL, ask him how...
Great man, great honor. BYU and Utah both have great coahces now...makes up...
Rich won't be playing for a state title! They were picked to be in there...
Re: Jim And if the rainforests are wiped out, what becomes of this oxygen...
Frank, we aren't even in the same league as the pros in the rest of the...
Rick was a great role model to me. I had some of the funnest times with him....
@Wow Charles: Of course every child and parent is different. How does that...



