Gov. Rick Perry ceremonially signed HB 432 in Dallas last week.
(Photo: courtesy of the Office of the Governor Rick Perry)
A new Texas law taking effect on September 1, requires state agencies to run 50 percent of their vehicles on alternative fuels 80 percent of the time, and to increase the percentage of newly purchased low-emission state vehicles from 10 to 25 percent. The state fleet is currently comprised of about 27,000 vehicles distributed among 95 agencies.
“House Bill 432 addresses the fact that our state is a leader in the research and production of alternative fuels, but we lack the infrastructure to get drivers who would use it to fuel their vehicles”, Governor Perry said at a ceremonial bill signing in Dallas last week. “Since our state already spends money on a fleet, this bill requires it to include vehicles that use alternative fuel. That will drive the creation of a basic distribution infrastructure and take advantage of the fuels we produce in Texas, including natural gas coming from the Barnett Shale”.
The strategy is similar to the one announced by AT&T. The Dallas based company stated earlier this year that it will work with natural gas service providers to build up to 40 new compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling stations, start retiring its fleet of gasoline-powered vehicles and invest up to $565 million in alternative fuel vehicles.
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Comments
This is what the great state of Texas gives to us? Trying to convince its residents that natural gas is the panacea for all that ails us while secretly fondling the oil industry at the same time? I wouldn't expect other states to follow suit. This is one of the worst laws I think I've ever seen passed in Texas.
Yes, it IS what Texass gives us! That, and teaching the bible i high school......hm. So, look for that to be attempted here in Oregon too and guard against it. Texas is the number TWO buyer of textbooks folks so if they manage this, sooner or later that company will be here, and the conservatives will be (already are gearing up for) at it here.
I also just read that Texas may actually revise textbooks to celebrate the likes of Phyllis Schafly and Newt Gingrich [and it WON'T be about his affairs!] while leaving out completely, Lincoln and Washington. THIS IS NOT ANY JOKE, people: Ck out Think Progress' August 8 web page......sick and twisted. I'd post the link but this site won't let me, darn it!
WAKE UP PEOPLE, for Gawd sakes! If we don't start REALLY FIGHTING BACK, these big mouth conservative religious wackos will have OUR kids in THEIR Christian Madrassas! WTH is WRONG WITH US, allowing these radicals to take over here??!?
Um... Natural gas is NOT an alternative fuel it's just another dirty fossil fuel.
Probably one of the better ideas to come from law makers in decades. With 1300 TCF, and growing, of natural gas as a US resource, it serves the entire US economy to start using our own resources rather than sending our hard earned money overseas and over borders to communist countries like Venezuela and Russia. The fact is that natural gas is significantly cleaner than all other transportation fuels at this time... and yes electric cars are cleaner, but...where does the electricity come from? Natural gas and Coal fired power plants! Maybe 1% of the power sent to the present day electric car battery would come from solar or wind and that is only if you as a residential home owner "request" that your power come from those sources. Natrual gas is an alternative fuel to gasoline and diesel. It is a cleaner burning fuel and most important, it is a domestically sources fuel. Think about energy. Energy provides us with Civilization. Your computer & internet & transportation fuels are needs
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