Natural Gas as a Transportation Fuel Mar. 16, 2011 D.C.
March 14, 2011
Natural Gas as a Transportation Fuel: Prospects and Challenges
Here are the panelists
- Danilo Santini, Technology Analysis Section Leader, Center for Transportation Research, Argonne National Laboratory
- Mark Smith, Vehicle Technology Manager, Clean Cities Program, U.S. Department of Energy
- Dana Aunkst, Chief, Division of Planning and Permits, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
- Lynn Pittinger, Petroleum Engineer, Pittinger Consulting
- Steven Hamburg, Chief Scientist, Environmental Defense Fund
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
2318 Rayburn House Office Building
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing on the prospects for increased use of natural gas as a transportation fuel. Natural gas has a current price advantage over diesel fuel and gasoline (per gallon equivalent), emits fewer greenhouse gases when burned (per unit energy), and comes from mostly domestic sources at present. However, increasing and sustaining U.S. gas production will rely heavily on unconventional sources (shale gas, coal-bed methane, and tight gas), which face potentially rising costs, require continuous and intensive drilling, and present significant water supply, water quality, wastewater, air quality, land use, and seismic risk issues. The deployment of new vehicle technology and fueling facilities would also face cost and environmental challenges of using a gaseous fuel, including climate change implications of leaking methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. Furthermore, other energy and non-energy uses of natural gas compete for this high value resource. This briefing will examine the economic, energy security, and environmental implications of a large-scale shift to natural gas trucks, buses, and cars, and related fueling infrastructure. Speakers for this event include:
- Danilo Santini, Technology Analysis Section Leader, Center for Transportation Research, Argonne National Laboratory
- Mark Smith, Vehicle Technology Manager, Clean Cities Program, U.S. Department of Energy
- Dana Aunkst, Chief, Division of Planning and Permits, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
- Lynn Pittinger, Petroleum Engineer, Pittinger Consulting
- Steven Hamburg, Chief Scientist, Environmental Defense Fund
Numerous policies and programs have been proposed at the federal, state, and local levels to encourage development of natural gas resources and promote natural gas vehicles (including, in the 111th Congress, the Natural Gas Act, S.1408, H.R.1835, Promoting Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles Act, S.3815, and Fueling America Act, S.1350). These measures employ a combination of tax credits, financing support, research and development assistance, and other incentives. In California, a low-carbon fuel standard that is currently being implemented may also encourage more natural gas vehicles. At the same time, many states are developing regulations to address the impacts of new natural gas operations.
This briefing is free and open to the public. No RSVP required.
For more information, contact Jan Mueller at jmueller [at] eesi.org or (202) 628-1400.
GDACC 
