Press release from State Rep. Randy Frye

U.S. Senator Dan Coats (left) and State Representative Randy Frye (right) in Senator Coats’ office in Washington D.C. following their meeting. provided

(Undated) - On Thursday, State Representative Randy Frye (R-Greensburg) traveled to Washington D.C. to meet with U. S. Senator Dan Coats (R-Indiana) to discuss a compressed natural gas (CNG) initiative that Rep. Frye intends to push this session. 

“I am honored to have the opportunity to meet with a great leader like Senator Coats,” said Rep. Frye. “The utilization of compressed natural gas in Indiana is an issue that I am extremely passionate about. As we look to not only find cleaner and more efficient fuels and reduce our dependence on foreign oil, compressed natural gas provides an opportunity for more jobs to be created and cheaper fuel costs at the pump, a win-win for Hoosiers."

In terms of cost savings, natural gas can save Hoosiers $1.50 or more per gallon compared to oil-based fuels. Natural-gas powered trucks also have lower maintenance costs compared to diesel-fueled vehicles by up to $.02 per mile.

Currently, the United States is leading the world in natural gas production. The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that there are 2,203 trillion cubic feet of technically recoverable natural gas in our country. At the present usage levels, our domestic supply of natural gas is projected to last between 90 and 100 years. The New Albany Shale

deposit alone is estimated to hold between 86 and 160 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves. 

In addition to the potential savings and independence associated with using alternative fuels, light-duty vehicles fueled by natural gas decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent compared to vehicles that run on gasoline. If just one refuse truck, such as a garbage truck, converted from diesel to compressed natural gas, it would have an emissions reduction impact equivalent to removing 325 petroleum-fueled passenger cars from the streets.

“I strongly believe that CNG is a viable alternative to our traditional fuel sources,” said Rep. Frye. “Given the new technologic advancements in extracting natural gas, it has become more economically feasible and environmentally-friendly to be used as an everyday motor fuel. We have large, plentiful reserves in the U.S., specifically Indiana that can provide an alternative to gasoline without compromising convenience or efficiency.”