Leading Natural Gas Vehicle Advocacy Groups Join Forces

Two leading natural gas transportation advocacy groups are joining forces to advance the growth of clean and affordable natural gas vehicles (NGVs) in the United States. The Drive Natural Gas Initiative, formerly a collaboration between the American Gas Association (AGA) and America’s Natural Gas Alliance (ANGA), will integrate its activities with Natural Gas Vehicles for America (NGVAmerica) to help promote greater use of the nation’s domestic abundance of clean, affordable natural gas in transportation.

“Natural gas vehicles offer a trifecta of solutions for our economy, environment and energy security,” said AGA President and CEO Dave McCurdy, who will serve alongside ANGA President and CEO Marty Durbin on NGVAmerica’s executive committee. “The momentum for NGVs has never been greater, and local natural gas utilities will play a key role in enabling NGV adoption. AGA is proud to join with ANGA and NGVAmerica to help ensure this momentum continues to grow.”

AGA and ANGA initially launched the Drive Natural Gas Initiative in 2010 as a two-year collaboration between the natural gas utility and natural gas production communities. The Drive Initiative played an integral role in securing a level playing field for natural gas vehicles in 2012’s CAFE standards for light-duty vehicles. Due to the initiative’s success, the participating companies elected to extend the collaboration for a third year in 2013. Now, AGA, ANGA and NGVAmerica leadership have decided the time is right to combine resources and help allow more Americans to benefit from the economic, environmental and energy security opportunities provided by natural gas. 

“This reorganized NGVAmerica will really help demonstrate to people the many benefits of employing natural gas vehicles as a growing part of our highway fleet,” said Marty Durbin, ANGA’s President and Chief Executive Officer said. “ANGA stands ready to help NGVAmerica as they build appreciation for the many economic and environmental benefits of using more natural gas on America’s highways.”

Natural gas vehicles offer significant long-term cost savings for drivers. These market dynamics create tremendous opportunity for NGV adoption, which can be strengthened by policies that help ensure natural gas can compete on a level playing field with other alternative transportation fuels. Clearing the way for greater use of natural gas in transportation will also contribute to greater use of American energy and greater energy security, as cleaner air. NGVs produce 20 to 30 percent fewer tailpipe emissions than today’s gasoline vehicles.  

“The NGV industry is poised for historic growth,” said Rich Kolodziej, President of NGVAmerica. “NGVs are an essential part of America’s transportation system, and this new partnership will only help to grow that role and bring the benefits of natural gas to more Americans.”

“NGVAmerica is excited about this new partnership with AGA and ANGA,” said Ron Eickelman, NGVAmerica Chairman and President, Agility Fuel Systems. “Joining efforts will create a stronger front than we had individually, and I look forward to working with these two organizations to embrace the great opportunities that exist for NGV’s in our nation.”

The transportation sector offers significant opportunity for businesses, policymakers and the public as they look to find more ways to benefit from the nation’s abundant supply of domestic natural gas. By helping to educate consumers, supporting favorable policies and facilitating the growth of refueling infrastructure, NGVAmerica and its members will help lead the charge to help the nation realize the economic, environmental and energy security potential of natural gas.