I’ve been reading more and more articles out of newspapers such as The Washington Post and The New York Times and the Atlanta Journal recently about the conversion of diesel fuel into compressed natural gas, and how and where this is happening. Just a few days ago, BEEMAC, a trucking company out of Pennsylvania, began construction on a compressed natural gas station for the use of its trucks and for the traveling public to use.
Other examples of present-day usage of natural gas in vehicles are in San Francisco; since 2008 over half the city’s taxis use CNG, consuming 2.9 million FEWER gallons of gasoline and producing 35,000 TONS less greenhouse gas per year. Two suburbs of Atlanta are in the process of changing their cities’ mode of refueling their cities’ public transportation systems to compressed natural gas. And manufacturing companies such as Peterbilt and Kenworth have orders for hundreds of trucks that will use compressed natural gas.
Why not just get the car manufacturers on board with making cars that are fueled with compressed natural gas versus gasoline? For one, there hasn’t been a major outcry from the public. Two, no one, or at least from the reports I’ve read, not one auto manufacturing company is providing any stats on what a transfer to natural-gas-fueled autos will eventually cost consumers to buy. And thirdly, there simply aren’t any places to refuel with natural gas right now—not for the traveling public.
COULD THIS FREE THE U.S.?
Using natural gas to fuel our cars and trucks could substantially cut America’s reliance on oil. But experts in both the natural gas industry and the electric companies argue that the plug-in electrical car will play a much more important role in weaning the country off crude oil. It would be far more efficient to use natural gas to generate electricity to power thousands of plug-in cars than to directly fuel individual cars and trucks with natural gas.
The counterargument is that electric vehicles are expensive and typically require a completely different and new type of “charging” method.
WHY NOT NORTH DAKOTA?
My question is: why isn’t North Dakota actively doing far more to build a natural gas conversion plant? This is something the entire country needs economically as well as environmentally. Shale oil production is what is being used in Pennsylvania. So, why not North Dakota? And why not do it now?
Why haven’t the heavy-hitting newspapers such as The FARGO FORUM or the newspaper they own out west, The Dickinson Press, or The Bismarck Tribune, written updated news accounts of what is happening with the natural gas markets and how the ‘oil patch’ can change the face of America by building natural gas plants? Are they afraid of getting oil companies upset? WHO CARES?! North Dakota has a product in demand and is in a pivotal position to make a difference. For that matter, if North Dakota wanted to, they certainly have the revenue to build their own without the assistance of oil companies or the Federal government. However, I find it hard to believe the Feds would resist this.
So, what does it take in a backwater state with a legislature that meets only every other year to get off its laurels and do something constructive? Anyone with an answer, I’d love to hear it.
Good luck, Chief!
For those who may have missed the article in The Forum, it seems Moorhead’s Police Chief, David Ebinger, is ready to say ‘adios’ to our fair city, as he recently applied for a lateral position in the city of St. Cloud. When the Chief first arrived my understanding was that he wanted to finish his career within an area of less stress and angst. A move to Moorhead from Little Rock, Arkansas certainly provided that. One would believe robberies versus murders has got to be a bit less stressful. However, a move to St. Cloud would mean he’s not planning on retiring terribly soon. Maybe the Chief has changed his mind and he’s on a crusade to “clean up” Minnesota’s larger towns and cities of their businesses selling CDs, clothing, tobacco and pipes one by one. Maybe that was the reason for pressing for the passage of Moorhead’s pipe ordinance in the first place. It’s a fiercely competitive world out there and when promoting oneself, it certainly helps to identify what changes you have implemented for the “safety” of the public prior to moving on. And there is none more so than in politics — except police work.
Here’s wishing a SAFE and celebrated 4th of July for everyone. Next week, I am on vacation!
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