American Gas - August/September 2011 - (Page 29)

Due to their economic and environmental friendliness, natural gas vehicles are fueling more fleets. richard Kolodziej, president of NgVamerica, discusses how NgVamerica is working to increase the popularity of natural gas vehicles. NGVs for America NGVAmerica discusses how it is helping to fuel the need for natural gas vehicles. s oaring gasoline prices combined with increased concern about air quality and energy security may be creating an environment in which natural gas vehicles (nGVs) truly come into their own. For decades, industry pundits have predicted a promising future for the energy-efficient vehicles, and American Gas recently sat down to discuss with richard Kolodziej, president of nGVAmerica, how nGVAmerica is working to increase the popularity of nGVs. nGVAmerica (www.ngvc.org) is a national trade association dedicated to the development of a growing, sustainable and profitable market for vehicles powered by natural gas or hydrogen. AMERICAN GAS: When and why was NGVAmerica created? KOLODZIEJ: In 1987, AGA’s board-level Technology Committee studied new markets for natural gas, including NGVs. The study concluded that, if these markets were to take off, all the market stakeholders—not just utilities—had to work together at the national level. Since that activity couldn’t occur within AGA itself, broad-based outside associations were formed. So in 1988, the Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition was born. We had 20 members—all of them gas utilities, and the goal was simple: grow the U.S. NGV market. In 2005, the organization’s name was changed to NGVAmerica. Today, we have 130 member companies, including 15 gas utilities, nine gas producers and four vehicle and engine manufacturers. The biggest membership category, equipment and service providers, contains 88 companies, including fueling station owners, station builders, vehicle converters, vehicle and station parts manufacturers and finance organiAmericAn GAs august/september 2011 Photos courtesy of NGVAmericA 29 http://www.ngvc.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Gas - August/September 2011

American Gas - August/September 2011
Contents
President’s Message
In the Know
Industry News
Safety First
Is Now the Time for NGVs?
NGVs for America
The Drive to Succeed
Peer Pressures
Vendor News
Marketplace
Advertisers’ Index
Places to Be
Noteworthies
Jobline
Facts on Gas

American Gas - August/September 2011