April 1, 2023. NGVAmerica applauds the introduction by Representatives Linda Sanchez (D-CA) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) of H.R. 2448, the Renewable Natural Gas Incentive Act of 2023, a bipartisan effort to provide a $1.00 per gallon tax credit for motor vehicles that use renewable natural gas (RNG) to further support clean and efficient transportation across America.
The new bill updates legislation introduced in the 117th Congress by the two U.S. House NGV leaders last year – H.R. 9396, legislation that complemented a similar Senate bill – S. 4568 – introduced by then Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) and Senator Mark Warner (D-VA).
“If we want clean air, we need ultra clean trucks and buses,” said NGVAmerica President Daniel Gage. “This introduction signals how important clean and carbon-negative renewable natural gas vehicles are to growing our economy, improving our air quality, and enhancing our energy security while reducing our carbon footprint. We are fortunate to have bipartisan, and soon bicameral support in getting this credit passed into law in the 118th Congress.”
NGVAmerica’s natural gas vehicle fleet and fueler members eagerly support the bill’s introduction:
“The use of RNG is integral to UPS’s strategy to reduce our environmental impact and invest in our future,” said Mike Kiely, UPS President of U.S. Government Affairs. “This legislation will help to support the use of methane-reducing RNG and encourage clean and efficient transportation while building energy security. It’s a winning solution for the logistics industry.”
“WM supports this thoughtful approach to investing in vehicles and trucking fleets running on Renewable Natural Gas,” said John Skoutelas, Vice President, Government Affairs & Legal, WM (Waste Management). “WM is focused on working towards a more sustainable tomorrow through our action and investments to create a near-zero-emission fleet. This piece of legislation is critical towards helping the heavy-duty vehicle sector shift away from diesel vehicles and transition to a cleaner greener future.”
“Because RNG captures harmful greenhouse gases at the source – like dairies and other agriculture facilities – and at the vehicle, it is rated the cleanest fuel in the world, many times cleaner than electric vehicles,” said Andrew Littlefair, CEO and President of Clean Energy Fuels Corp. “The bipartisan approach to this legislation demonstrates the win-win-win nature of RNG – addressing climate change, providing an affordable alternative fuel for U.S. fleets, and helping our farmers.”
With this credit, America’s transit agencies can continue to invest in cleaner, commercially available and proven renewable natural gas buses without reducing service or increasing fares, school districts can provide exhaust-free rides to school by replacing their dirty legacy fleets, and freight haulers and package delivery companies can afford to replace aging diesel trucks with cleaner renewable natural gas trucks.