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In January 2011, President Obama signed into law the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, which extended the original act signed into law in 2005. This appropriates $100 a year for eligible emissions reductions projects over the next five years.
In concert with these standards, the increased use of natural gas vehicles (NGVs) can have an immediate and positive impact on the issues of air quality, U.S. energy security and public health.
Here are some key benefits of using natural gas as a transportation fuel:
NGVs are clean
- NGVs are some of the cleanest vehicles in commercial production today, and produce only 5-10% of the emissions allowable even by today's most stringent standards. NGVs produce 20-30% less greenhouse gases than gasoline or diesel powered vehicles.
- Overall, natural gas is one of the cleanest burning alternative fuels available today. NGVs can reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions and reactive hydrocarbons which form ground-level ozone, the principal ingredient of smog, by as much as 95%. NGVs can also reduce emissions of carbon dioxide by as much as 30%, carbon monoxide (CO) by 85% and carcinogenic particulate emissions by 99%. More information on NGVs and the Environment is available from NGVAmerica.
- Clearly, NGVs present one of the cleanest choices for today and tomorrow.
90% less noise than diesel
- The sound pressure level of a CNG engine is lower than that of a diesel engine. This makes NGVs an especially good choice in densely populated areas or for vehicles that operate at night.
Less odor
- Refueling with compressed natural gas, versus gasoline or diesel, reduces odorant and evaporative emissions.
Low contamination risk
- CNG will not contaminate ground water. CNG refueling station owners do not have to contend with the threat of leaks from underground tanks, which is a major consideration with liquid fuels.
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