PVC Applauds Alternative Motor Fuel Legislation
16 March 1998
PVC Applauds Alternative Motor Fuel Legislation
WASHINGTON, March 13 -- The Propane Vehicle Council of
Washington, D.C. today announced its strong support for legislation introduced
by Rep. John Ensign (R-NV) that would encourage greater use of clean burning
alternative vehicle fuels such as propane, natural gas, and methanol.
Ensign's bill, the "Clean Burning Fuels Incentive Act of 1998," would provide
an income tax credit equal to 50 cents per gasoline gallon equivalent of clean
burning fuel used as a motor fuel in vehicles placed in service after December
31, 1998.
"This is an exciting proposal for several important reasons," said Joe
Colaneri, Executive Director of the Propane Vehicle Council. "First it will
accelerate the use of alternative fuels that are clean and are domestically
produced. Second, by improving the economics for consumers it will stimulate
production by vehicle manufacturers of a wider variety of alternative fuel
vehicles. This in turn will enable those fleets including the federal fleet
to meet their purchase mandates under the Energy Policy Act," said Colaneri.
"Both Congress and the President have long recognized the important role that
alternative transportation fuels can play in reducing oil imports, improving
air quality, and providing domestic jobs," Colaneri declared. "But the tax
code has been a major impediment to the widespread use of these fuels. The
Ensign bill is a major breakthrough that will greatly improve the economics of
alternative motor fuel use."
The Propane Vehicle Council is a Washington, D.C.-based national trade
association founded in 1994 to advance propane's use as a clean, safe, and
superior-performing alternative transportation fuel. The Council's membership
includes propane marketers, propane producers and pipeline operators,
equipment manufacturers and distributors, and vehicle and engine
manufacturers.
"Enactment of the Ensign bill will also restore the principle of fuel
neutrality in our tax policy regarding alternative fuels," Colaneri noted.
"Last year, the Congress leveled the playing field between gasoline and the
other alternative fuels namely, propane, liquified natural gas, and methanol
in terms of the calculation of the federal excise tax," Colaneri pointed out.
"This new Ensign bill will level the playing field in terms of the incentives
that all alternative fuels can receive."
Colaneri praised the efforts of Rep. Ensign and Senator Don Nickles (R-NV)
in last year's successful effort to achieve tax parity for propane, LNG, and
methanol. "Ensign's new bill continues the momentum begun last year. We in
the propane industry look forward to working with Rep. Ensign on this new
legislative challenge and the great opportunity it represents."
SOURCE Propane Vehicle Council
