Commissioner David Porter Launches Natural Gas Vehicle Initiative with Stakeholder Seminar

AUSTIN  – Railroad Commissioner David Porter hosted a Natural Gas Vehicle Stakeholder Seminar at the Railroad Commission in Austin today, the first in a series of statewide events as part of his initiative to promote the use of natural gas as a transportation fuel in Texas.

“Texas is blessed with an abundance of natural gas reserves, accounting for nearly 30 percent of our nation’s total natural gas production,” Porter said. “When used as a transportation fuel, natural gas emits up to 30 percent less greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline or diesel vehicles. In my opinion, natural gas vehicles are a win-win. It is my goal to gather all the stakeholders and have a productive conversation on what we can all do to best utilize this affordable, environmentally-friendly domestic resource.”

Today’s Seminar was designed to be a working session, at which participants have the unique opportunity to engage experts in a dialogue regarding perceived barriers and opportunities associated with converting to natural gas vehicles in Texas. The Seminar consisted of three panel discussions, focusing on: early adopters and current users of NGVs; infrastructure development; and regulations and incentives. The Seminar was moderated by Dr. Ken Morgan, Director of the Texas Christian University Energy Institute. Notable panelists included Commissioner Toby Baker of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and State Representative Jason Isaac, member of the House Environmental Regulation Committee.

“Natural gas is less expensive and burns cleaner than other more common fuels,” Representative Isaac said.   “Adoption of this inexpensive, abundant, and domestic fuel will help us reduce our dependence on foreign oil, all while creating jobs here at home.”

The purpose of Commissioner Porter’s statewide NGV Initiative is to increase the volume of natural gas used in Texas as a transportation fuel by facilitating communication between potential consumers, existing users and regulators. It will consist of series of statewide events through next summer: the NGV Stakeholder Seminar today in Austin; three NGV Fleet/Infrastructure Workshops that will be held in Midland, Longview and Laredo this spring; and a Statewide NGV Summit that will convene in the summer of 2014 in Austin.

These events are open to the public. The seminar will be archived online at: http://www.texasadmin.com/txrail.shtml

For more information on these events, please contact Mary Bell at 512-463-9057, or by email at Mary.Bell@rrc.state.tx.us

###

David Porter was elected to the Texas Railroad Commission on November 2, 2010. A Certified Public Accountant and successful small business owner, Commissioner Porter has worked with oil and gas producers for nearly three decades providing strategic financial advice and tax counsel. He has a long record of pro-business, free market, conservative credentials.