Washington, D.C. — Dave McCurdy, president and CEO of the American Gas Association (AGA), today released the following statement applauding both President Obama’s commitment to ensure continued responsible access to America’s vast supplies of clean, domestic natural gas, and his call to increase the number of natural gas vehicles on our roads:
“I am pleased to see the president focusing on what America can be doing to further increase our energy and national security. And we at AGA applaud his commitment to reduce American consumption of foreign supplies of oil by increasing the role natural gas, renewable energy and emerging technologies can play, particularly in the transportation sector.
Natural gas is the foundation fuel for our clean energy future, and with more than 100 years of supply readily available, and a safe and reliable delivery infrastructure already in place, we can put it to use right now to help us meet our energy challenges.
New fuel economy and emissions standards will support a larger role for clean, efficient natural gas vehicles (NGVs) in securing America’s clean energy future. Tough fuel standards will raise average fuel economy to 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016 and the administration’s national fuel economy and greenhouse gas emission standards for commercial trucks, vans and buses will help to cut oil use and further promote the increased deployment of NGVs.
The president’s commitment to the responsible development and use of domestic natural gas is also a step in the right direction. The safe, transparent production of America’s vast natural gas resources, particularly shale gas, should be a top priority for the industry and we are committed to working with all parties to ensure that happens.
Equally important is the inclusion of natural gas in any clean energy standard. Clean, efficient and domestically abundant natural gas is the natural fit for achieving the president’s goals.
We look forward to working with the administration and Congress to craft thoughtful policies that put natural gas to work creating a cleaner more secure energy future.”