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PugetSound Energy to Give WTO Delegates a Clean Ride During Conference

23 November 1999

PugetSound Energy's Natural Gas to Give WTO Delegates a Clean Ride During Conference; 55 New Ford NGVs to Help Curb Increased Air Pollution During Conference Week

    BELLEVUE, Wash.--Nov. 22, 1999--Delegates attending next week's World Trade Organization conference in Seattle will help reduce vehicle emissions every time they travel in their cars, which will operate exclusively on Puget Sound Energy's clean-burning natural gas.
    The 55 new Ford Motor Company natural gas vehicles (NGVs) -- 50 Crown Victoria sedans and five Econoline vans -- designated for use by the WTO delegates, were unveiled today, Nov. 22, at the Pier 48 ferry terminal along the Seattle waterfront. Speakers at today's event included Dennis McLerran, executive director of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, and representatives of the Puget Sound Clean Cities Coalition, which encourages greater use of alternative fuel vehicles in the region.
    With the delegates shuttling around in the clean-burning NGVs, Puget Sound Energy estimates it will deliver nearly 5,000 gasoline gallons-equivalent (GGE) of natural gas for use by the vehicles during the conference week. Natural gas used as a vehicle fuel cuts overall tailpipe emissions by up to 80 percent, and reduces emissions of carbon monoxide by as much as 90 percent.
    In addition to being environmentally friendly, NGVs have comparable gas mileage to gasoline-powered cars. Vehicles operating on natural gas delivered by Puget Sound Energy enjoy a low fuel cost, averaging 80 cents GGE. Natural gas satisfies all federal Clean Air Act requirements for emissions, and is a designated alternative fuel under the National Energy Policy Act.
    Following the WTO conference, Ford will make the 55 natural gas vehicles available for sale, pushing the number of NGVs operating in the Puget Sound region to more than 1,000.
    The natural gas vehicles used for the WTO conference will refuel at Seattle-area compressed natural gas stations operated by Puget Sound Energy and the City of Seattle.