Louisiana could pave the way for natural gas vehicles

So you’ve heard of biodiesel and corn ethanol and maybe you’ve even seen one of those mini-electric cars on the roads. Well, get ready for one more alternative player on Louisiana’s highways and byways: the compressed natural gas vehicle. It’s an exciting technology, especially when you consider that natural gas is 50% cheaper than gasoline on an equivalent energy basis. So far, Germany has been leading the push globally and already hosts hundreds of filling stations. Back here in the U.S.A., federal tax credits recently became available for purchasing CNG vehicles, but few people take advantage of them. Still, state lawmakers don’t want to miss out on what could be the next big green thing. That’s why Rep. Nick Gautreaux and Sen. Jane Smith have combined efforts in a bipartisan push to put a variety of tax incentives and programs on the books for consumers and businesses. The CNG legislation is still being drafted, but is expected to be filed after lawmakers convene their regular session on April 27. To read the full story, click here. – Jeremy Alford