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 |  | | << Back to Wellhead | | Sullivan pushes for industry participation in D.C. February 2010 | |
| Congressman John Sullivan’s views on energy are not matched by many of his Washington, D.C., peers.
With the nation’s political majority focused on creating new taxes and regulations for the oil and natural gas industry, Sullivan and his Oklahoma peers are the few attempting to promote the use of fossil fuels.
With politicians in charge focused on green energy, Sullivan told the attendees at the OIPA’s January Wildcatter Wednesday luncheon legislation aimed at climate change, the designation of CO2 as a pollutant, increased regulations on hydraulic fracturing and tax changes that would repeal the expensing of intangible drilling costs are all aimed at putting oil and gas producers out of business.
“They know what they’re doing,” Sullivan said. “They’re trying to hurt this industry...
“When I first got to Washington, I was surprised how much people disliked the oil and gas industry and the misperceptions that were out there. But now, they’re attacking this industry like never before.”
Sullivan is one of the few who isn’t.
Realizing an American-made solution to the nation’s energy woes was available, Sullivan teamed with fellow Oklahoma Congressman Dan Boren to author legislation promoting the use of natural gas as transportation fuel.
The New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions Act, or NAT GAS Act, includes an 18-year extension of three critical tax incentives that focus on natural gas as a transportation fuel, the purchase of natural gas-fueled vehicles (NGVs), and the installation of commercial and residential natural gas refueling pumps. The legislation would also modify the current tax credits to provide even greater incentive for state and municipal fleet managers to buy natural gas vehicles and engines.
Another provision in the bill would create a new tax credit for auto manufacturers that produce natural gas and bi-fuel vehicles. All major automobile manufacturers currently make NGVs for overseas markets, and this incentive is critical to begin offering these vehicles in the U.S. market.
The NAT GAS Act also would require that by the end of 2014 at least 50 percent of the new vehicles purchased and placed into service by the federal government to be capable of operating on compressed or liquid natural gas.
Finally, the legislation would provide grants for light and heavy-duty natural gas vehicle and engine development.
“We need to use more natural gas to lessen our dependence on foreign oil,” Sullivan said. “It burns cleaner. It protects the environment. But most important, it’s homegrown.”
Sullivan told OIPA members they must remain vigilant in educating national office holders on the importance of the oil and natural gas industry.
“Come to Washington, D.C. Talk to your representative. Meet other representatives from other states and educate people,” Sullivan said. “When you walk into their office, they don’t see a guy who drives a Cadillac with horns on the front of it. They see a person. They see a businessman who employs people. They see a human being. It puts a face on it and makes a huge difference in Washington.” |
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