After a hard fought win on health care, Congressional allies of the Obama administration are now beginning to refocus on climate change and energy policy. Today, the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a hearing on transportation policy as an opportunity to address energy security and the environment. It’s an idea that finally seems to be gaining some legislative traction.

Testifying at today’s hearing, Richard Kolodziej, president of NGVAmerica told the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee: “Faster growth in the use of natural gas as a transportation fuel would provide increased energy security, cleaner air, less greenhouse gas emissions, and more U.S. jobs.” Kolodziej urged the Senators to establish transportation policies that support natural gas as a transportation fuel.

Kolodziej testified before the Committee’s hearing on “Opportunities to Improve Energy Security and the Environment through Transportation Policy.” Click to read Kolodziej’s full statement

Unlike the health care debate, which split sharply along partisan lines, Senators on both sides of the aisle are working on climate legislation, and that inevitably includes the use of alternative fuels for transportation. One reason is the fact that our current dependence on imported petroleum is viewed as a national security issue as well as an environmental issue, and legislation to curb emissions is also expected to spur domestic job creation.

Senator John Kerry, (D) of Massachusetts recently stated, “Climate legislation is the single best opportunity we have to create jobs, reduce pollution and stop sending billions overseas for foreign oil from countries that would do us harm. If we sell those arguments we’ve got a winning issue on jobs, on security and on public health. This can happen.”

Stay tuned as we continue to track this issue during the 111th Congress!

NAT GAS ACT: Compare Senate and House Bills
Visit Thomas, the Library of Congress website…

Alternative Fuels Policy, NAT GAS ACT, natural gas