Solobay Again Urging State to Study the Benefit of Converting State Fleet to Natural Gas

State Sen. Tim Solobay is again urging the Department of General Services to study whether it should convert more state vehicles to run on natural gas.

Solobay has reintroduced a resolution in support of a study and is asking colleagues to support it.

“Pennsylvania is at the forefront of the natural gas industry and our resource supply puts us in a position to reap great benefits from using this asset wisely,” he said.  “One of the ways in which we can do this is by setting an example for the commonwealth by using natural gas in our state fleet.”

Many gasoline-powered vehicles can be cost-effectively converted to run on natural gas, Solobay said. While many private companies have converted truck fleets to take advantage of historically low natural gas prices, consumer conversions have been hampered by a lack of refueling infrastructure.

“If we could convert the state fleet that would kick-start the development of refueling stations in all corners of the state and it could have a snowball effect,” he said. “More refueling stations could lead to more converted cars and that would mean less dependence on foreign oil.”

With the exploration of gas deposits in the Marcellus Shale, Pennsylvania has become a leader in natural gas production and the production could spin-off other economic benefits.

“If we want to keep the jobs and the economic benefit of natural gas drilling, we have to help create new markets,” Solobay said. “Building momentum toward widespread use of this cheaper, cleaner fuel will pay dividends to future generations.”