The U.S. House is considering providing for research and development of natural gas-powered vehicles. The bill, already approved by the House Science and Technology Committee, would direct the Energy Department and Environmental Protection Agency to focus research on commercial vehicles. The legislation would charge the agencies with developing procedures and national standards for the vehicles and for natural gas fueling stations. The program would cost $30 million a year from fiscal 2010 to 2014.
Oilman T. Boone Pickens has been crusading for a switch to greater use of natural gas vehicles, as a centerpiece of his campaign to reduce dependence on foreign oil. His plan has been winning growing support from members of Congress. In addition to using a fuel that is abundant domestically, proponents say, natural gas vehicles produce as much as 95% less overall toxic emissions than diesel and gasoline powered vehicles.
The House also is scheduled to take up another bill that would designate seven existing National Environmental Research Parks as permanent outdoor research reserves. The parks are essentially outdoor labs that provide large tracts of federal land on which to perform ecological studies.
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