Why SB 12 Must Pass
By C
hris Faulkner
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas The 84
th Texas Legislative session in Austin is considering a
critical bill that could help clean up the 
air we breathe and position
Texas as a national leader of environmental stewardship. Texas Democratic Senator Carlos Urestis
Senate Bill 12 would use existing state funds already earmarked for emission reduction programs. The measure would convert many of the states vehicles to cleaner fuel sources such as natural gas and propane and provide funding for local communities to do the same.
Texas has 30 of the estimated natural gas in the U.S. which is the worlds largest reserve. It is estimated by the Energy Information Administration that America has enough natural gas to meet current and future demand for up to 150 years.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) says there are about 150000 natural gas vehicles on the road in America. Worldwide it swells to 15.2 million. In my international travels I have observed how other countries embrace natural gas vehicles as a cheaper cleaner more efficient transportation fuel source. The Honda Civic GX was introduced domestically to flat sales mostly because of limited fueling options.
Here in Texas natural gas vehicles have been deployed in several areas.
- At DFW Airport nearly 500 maintenance vehicles run on CNG and the airport has its own fueling station.
- Dallas Area Rapid Transit is phasing in 650 CNG busses and vehicles.
- In Houston 30 CNG airport shuttle busses save the city nearly $250000 annually in fuel costs.
- San Antonios riverboats run on compressed gas safely and efficiently carrying one million passengers a year along the citys infamous Riverwalk canals.
- More than 30 Texas companies like UPS FedEx Frito-Lay HEB and McShan Florist successfully use natural gas vehicles.
A DOE - Argonne National Lab Report reveals that natural gas could reduce CO2 emissions by 20-30 and toxic carbon monoxide emissions by 75. As a much cleaner burning fuel particulate matter emissions are reduced by 95 and nitrogen oxide and volatile organic compounds are each cut in half.
SB 12 would re-allocate three percent of the states $1 billion Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP) a fund created in 2001 specifically for emissions reduction funding. Many of the 28000 state-owned vehicles would be converted to natural gas propane or other alternative fuels. It would also fund strategically placed fueling stations. Municipalities could tap into the allocation on a voluntary basis to convert local fleets to the cleaner burning fuel.
The bill faces an uphill battle from environmentalists arguing for impractical electric powered vehicles and from some lobbyists who fear more natural gas usage could drive up prices and reduce corporate profits. Refiners oppose the bill protecting their market share of petroleum distillates.
This legislation deserves bilateral support. Texas needs to lead by example. We have a rich abundance of gas flowing out of the Barnett shale the Eagle Ford shale the Permian Basin and the Haynesville-Bossier shale in East Texas. We also have a vast pipeline infrastructure to move it around the state.
Lawmakers are facing immense pressure from self-interested groups who are putting individual agendas and profits ahead of common sense and what is naturally good for Texas.
Its time to call your state senators and representatives now and tell them we want to become a national example of environmental leadership. The Texas legislature should pass SB 12 for the good of our air our future and to position Texas as a national leader in producing natural gas while reducing our carbon footprint.
Chris Faulkner is CEO of Breitling Energy Corporation a Dallas-based exploration and production company with wells in the Permian Basin and other Texas locations. He is author of The Fracking Truth: Americas Energy Revolution The Inside Untold Story" and Breaking Free" a documentary film promoting the benefits of shale oil and gas development.
