Louisiana 2010 2010 Regular Session

Louisiana House Bill HCR184 Enrolled / Bill

                    ENROLLED
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Regular Session, 2010
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 184
BY REPRESENTATIVES MICHAEL JACKSON, ARNOLD, BURFORD, HENRY
BURNS, BURRELL, CORTEZ, DIXON, DOWNS, FANNIN, GALLOT,
GISCLAIR, GUILLORY, GUINN, HARRISON, HAZEL, HONORE, KATZ,
LANDRY, LITTLE, NOWLIN, ROBIDEAUX, JANE SMITH, PATRICIA SMITH,
ST. GERMAIN, AND WILLIAMS
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To direct the Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of Transportation
and Development to study the feasibility of using buses fueled by compressed natural
gas in mass transit applications and report their findings and recommendations to the
House Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works and the House
Committee on Natural Resources and Environment prior to December 31, 2010.
WHEREAS, the United States imports more than sixty-five percent of its petroleum,
two-thirds of which is used in the form of gasoline and diesel fuel to power vehicles; and
WHEREAS, a large percentage of worldwide petroleum reserves are located in
politically volatile countries, making the United States vulnerable to supply disruptions; and
WHEREAS, the United States has an abundance of natural gas; and
WHEREAS, compressed natural gas provides safe, clean, reliable, efficient, and
secure energy and is the alternative fuel most used today for transportation in the United
States, with more than two hundred thousand buses, taxis, delivery vehicles, and other fleet
vehicles across the nation using compressed natural gas daily; and
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Energy indicates that compressed
natural gas can be used as a replacement for diesel in heavy-duty vehicles; and
WHEREAS, vehicles powered by compressed natural gas discharge far fewer
harmful emissions than vehicles powered by gasoline or diesel fuel; and
WHEREAS, studies indicate that maintenance costs for vehicles powered by
compressed natural gas are lower than for vehicles powered by gasoline or diesel fuel; and ENROLLEDHCR NO. 184
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WHEREAS, the federal government currently provides and is expected to increase
incentives for use of alternative fuels, and at the current price of various fuels, any additional
costs to purchase vehicles to run on compressed natural gas would be quickly recouped.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby direct the Department of Environmental Quality and
the Department of Transportation and Development to study the feasibility of using buses
fueled by compressed natural gas in mass transit applications and report their findings and
recommendations to the House Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works
and the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment prior to December 31,
2010.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality and the secretary of the Department
of Transportation and Development.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE