CNGVC Supports Hydrogen Highway Initiative, Says Natural Gas Is Clear Bridge

Group Says Existing Network of Compressed Natural Gas Stations Across California Provide Hydrogen Infrastructure, Link to Gaseous Fuels

SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 26 -- The California Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition (CNGVC) today voiced support for the Governor's "Hydrogen Highway" initiative, which was presented at an event today at the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal-EPA), and touted by high-ranking state officials and private industry.

"Natural gas provides the on-ramp to the Governor's 'Hydrogen Highway,'" said Mike Eaves, president of the CNGVC. "While hydrogen holds promise as an alternative transportation fuel, natural gas has provided a clean, domestically-produced alternative for transportation for over a decade. The infrastructure we have built is exactly the type of infrastructure that will be needed to support another gaseous fuel, like hydrogen."

Andrew Littlefair, President and CEO of Clean Energy, the largest provider of vehicular natural gas in North America, and Chairman of the Natural Gas Vehicle Coaltion, applauded the Governor's initiative saying, "Governor Schwarzenegger has shown good leadership on clean air issues and he is right that eventually California will go hydrogen. I also think the Governor understands that natural gas provides a great bridge to hydrogen."

Eaves said the Governor's announcement yesterday about the development of hydrogen infrastructure in California stakes a role for the 365 compressed natural gas stations that exist across the state today. Of those 365 stations, roughly 150 are public stations and more public stations are currently being built to serve even more Californians.

Eaves agreed with the Governor's comment that the state must begin investing in its hydrogen future now and said that investment should begin with the only other existing and commercially viable, gaseous transportation fuel -- natural gas.

Natural gas is a clean, proven transportation fuel already at work in many urban areas in California helping address air pollution and health issues like asthma. As such, the natural gas industry will be a partner in expanding hydrogen fuel throughout the state through the natural gas stations in place today.

Littlefair reiterated that the growing natural gas fueling station infrastructure in California provides the logical foundation for hydrogen and could help propel the development of hydrogen fuel and the viability of gaseous-fueled vehicles for consumers.

"Natural gas employs the storage, production, and distribution technologies that are the building blocks for a hydrogen transportation system," said Littlefair. "As the natural gas fueling infrastructure grows, it's creating the foundation for a hydrogen fueling infrastructure tomorrow."

In fact, the natural gas industry participated in the 'Hydrogen Highway' project by sharing "lessons learned" in developing infrastructure and introducing a new fuel to the public. Policymakers listened to the natural gas industry and geared their information accordingly, as indicated in the California Hydrogen Blueprint Plan.

One of the main environmental goals projected in the California Hydrogen Blueprint Plan is a 30 percent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions relative to the comparable number of today's fuels and vehicles. Natural gas vehicles on the road today emit approximately 25 percent less greenhouse gases than their gasoline counterparts.

"If hydrogen is California's future -- which was the message of the day -- then natural gas is California's present and the clear bridge to that future," said Eaves. "Clean-burning natural gas should be the natural choice for Californians today."