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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                CONTACT: Heather Ball

                                                                PHONE: 512-766-8964

                                                                        heather@txng.org

Texas Natural Gas Motor Fuel Sales Continue to Climb

Transportation Sector Growth Contributes to 5% Sales Increase

AUSTIN - Motor fuel tax collection figures from the Office of the Comptroller show a continual increase in natural gas motor fuel sales. Tax collections as of February are up 5 percent over the same period last year, .  (See Figure 1 below.)

Major fleets such as VIA Metropolitan Transit Authority, Central Freight, and Sun Metro recognize that Texas natural gas still offers better value for fleet users,” said State Representative Jason Isaac, President of the Texas Natural Gas Foundation.  Isaac reported tax revenue from sales of compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) motor fuel totaled $2,938,291 as of January 31, the midpoint of the state’s fiscal year.

With ultraclean engines, natural gas trucks reduce emissions of smog-causing pollutants by as much as 90 percent compared to the newest diesel engines. Natural gas is a clean and cheap source of energy, and Texas’s vast reserves help maintain its energy independence.  At 15 cents per gallon equivalent, $2,938,291 of motor fuel tax equates to the sale of 19.6 million gallon equivalents of natural gas in the past six months,” Isaac said. “Because municipal and transit fleets are tax-exempt, natural gas motor fuel use is nearly 33 percent higher, which equates to about 25 million gallons of Texas natural gas being utilized to benefit our economy, and providing funds to our economic stabilization fund, roads, and schools.”

A “gallon equivalent” is the amount of CNG or LNG with the same energy content as a gallon of gasoline or diesel fuel.

Fleet managers interested in transitioning to natural gas, or expanding their current use, should visit the TXNG website, www.txng.org, for information on the latest incentives and regulatory changes.  The Foundation will host workshops this summer to give fleet managers the opportunity to share information about transitioning to natural gas.

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The Texas Natural Gas Foundation was founded  to increase public awareness, support, and knowledge of the benefits of using Texas’ natural gas and its vital role in energy security, economic growth and benefits to the environment.  For more information, visit www.txng.org.

Texas Natural Gas Motor Fuel Tax Revenues chart.png

Figure 1 Source: Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts