Hatch pushes natural gas incentives

Oilman T. Boone Pickens has been calling loudly over the past year for more vehicles fueled by natural gas. Wednesday, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and two Democratic senators stood with him after they introduced a bill designed to give some tax incentives to make that happen.

Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., introduced the bill, which is co-sponsored by Hatch and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., bringing praise from Pickens as he appeared with them at a press conference.

"This bipartisan legislation does more to reduce our foreign oil dependency crisis than any other piece of legislation in the past 40 years," Pickens said. "Natural gas is cleaner, cheaper, it's abundant and it's American."

The bill will extend some credits created for natural gas vehicles in a bill that Hatch passed four years ago. It also makes it easier for more natural gas vehicles to qualify for credits, allows dual-fuel vehicles that use natural gas to qualify for credits and gives tax incentives for fuel stations that offer natural gas.

It also increases the purchase tax credit cap to $12,500 for light-duty vehicles, up from the current $5,000.

Hatch said he's proud that a bill he helped to pass four years ago helped many people buy hybrid vehicles. "But I have been less pleased with the growth in natural gas as a transportation fuel. I believe strongly an extra push is needed."

He said, "Natural gas is an important alternative fuel to help pave the way to energy independence."

Menendez said, "Our economic crisis has shined a spotlight on the urgent need for alternative, cleaner and cheaper sources of energy that we don't have to import."

Reid said, "We must get serious about using cleaner burning natural gas and renewable energy, and this legislation is a strong step in the right direction."

Pickens said, "For too long, our dependence on foreign oil has been one of the factors influencing our foreign policy, and if we can eliminate that issue by using our own domestic natural gas resources, I am confident that it will benefit our national security, our economy and the environment."

E-mail: lee@desnews.com