Utilization of natural gas as a motor fuel has been steadily increasing since new domestic production of this natural resource began in the mid-2000s. It has provided businesses with a cheaper and cleaner way to operate their vehicle fleets. Additionally, elected policymakers have supported adoption of natural gas motor fuel as a strategy to achieve energy independence.
Unfortunately, just as natural gas is starting to penetrate the commuter vehicle market, regulators are making a hard push to force consumers to purchase natural gas motor fuel in kilograms. The National Conference of Weights and Measures (NCWM), which is comprised of state weights and measures officials, is attempting to pass this new regulation at their annual meeting in mid-July.
Forcing the metric system on natural gas motor fuel consumers is discriminatory because other motor fuels such as gasoline and diesel are sold in gallons and not kilograms. This regulation is also unnecessary since natural gas motor fuel is currently sold in gallon equivalents.
A gasoline gallon equivalent of natural gas has the same energy content as a gallon of gasoline; likewise, a diesel gallon equivalent has the same energy content as a gallon of diesel. These units allow the consumer to make an easy price comparison between natural gas and conventional fuels. It also allows consumers to purchase fuel in units in which they are familiar.
Consumers, elected officials, industry stakeholders and the market place have built a consensus around gallon equivalents as the method of sale. Email your governor and state weights and measures official today and ask for their support for gallon equivalents before chaos and confusion is created in the growing NGV market.