SoCalGas, CTA to promote benefits of gas as fuel

Southern California Gas, a Sempra Energy company, said it will team with the California Trucking Association to help expand the awareness of the economic and environmental benefits of natural gas and alternative fuels for heavy-duty trucking and goods movement.

A recent report by the Consumer Federation of America shows fuel costs are the single largest component of transportation costs, representing over one-third of the total cost. As transportation costs pass through to consumers, fuel is the largest component of the pass-through. Reducing transportation fuel cost benefits consumers and the resulting net savings for consumers gives them more discretionary income, which stimulates economic activity in other sectors to produce a significant positive economic multiplier, SoCalGas said in a statement.

Natural gas is one of the most affordable and cleanest burning alternative fuels available. The Department of Energy’s April 2015 alternative fuel price report shows the national average price for natural gas was $2.09/gasoline-gallon-equivalent compared to$3.06/gallon for diesel. The same report notes natural gas prices have been consistently stable for a long period of time, while gasoline and diesel prices have been volatile.

In addition to delivering cost savings, natural gas fueling has helped the trucking industry’s effort to achieve state and federal environmental goals and meet clean air regulations. Heavy-duty natural gas vehicles can reduce nitrogen oxide emissions and reactive hydrocarbons which form the principal ingredient of smog, by as much as 95 percent. Heavy-duty NGVs can also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent and carbon monoxide by 85 percent. Additionally, heavy-duty NGVs emit no diesel particulate matter, which has been identified by air quality agencies as a carcinogenic air toxic. Current data shows more than 200,000 heavy-duty trucks operate currently in California.

Taking advantage of the cost savings and environmental benefits of compressed natural gas fueling, major truck fleet operators such as UPS, Swift Transportation, Coca Cola, 99 Cents Only Stores, Frito-Lay and others in logistics, goods movement, food and other global industries have already started to transition fleets to CNG fueling.

[mappress mapid=”17556″]

Image: SoCalGas