Date: 03/17/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB09-092

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE, VETERANS, & MILITARY AFFAIRS

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved to refer Senate Bill 09-092 to the CommitteePASS



02:03 PM

The committee was called to order. A quorum was present.


02:04 PM -- Senate Bill 09-092

Representative Marostica, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 09-092, concerning the requirement that state-owned motor vehicles operate on compressed natural gas. Representative Marostica explained the effect of the bill, and discussed the benefits of using natural gas in vehicles. Representative Marostica responded to questions regarding the ability of the state's automobile fuel storage facilities to be converted to natural gas. Representative Marostica responded to questions regarding the future use of hybrid vehicles by the state if the bill passes, and the potential for maintaining flexibility among state agencies to purchase various types of vehicles. Discussion ensued regarding the available supply of natural gas should the use of natural gas in vehicles become popular.


02:15 PM

Discussion continued regarding natural gas availability. Discussion returned to requiring state agencies to purchase vehicles that run on natural gas, as opposed to granting flexibility in vehicle purchasing. Representative Marostica responded to questions regarding the ability to make state vehicle purchasing technology-neutral, thus granting flexibility to agencies. Discussion ensued regarding the ability of state agencies to purchase vehicles fueled by compressed natural gas under current law, and the intent of Senate Bill 09-092. Discussion followed regarding the impact of increased natural gas vehicle purchasing by the state on the overall market for natural gas vehicles.


02:25 PM

The following persons testified regarding Senate Bill 09-092:


02:25 PM -- Mr. Curtis Reuter, representing Noble Energy, testified in favor of the bill. Mr. Reuter discussed the economic and environmental benefits of using vehicles powered by natural gas, versus using conventional vehicles. Mr. Reuter also discussed the benefits of switching to domestic sources of energy. Mr. Reuter responded to questions regarding the level of natural-gas-powered vehicle use in Colorado, and the impact of switching to natural gas vehicles nationwide on the availability of natural gas. Mr. Reuter responded to further questions regarding the number of compressed natural gas suppliers in Colorado. Discussion ensued regarding the ability of private compressed natural gas vehicle owners to install fueling infrastructure on their own property, and the carbon output of natural gas vehicles as compared to hybrid or electric vehicles.


02:34 PM -- Mr. Craig Wagstaff, representing Questar Gas, testified in favor of Senate Bill 09-092. Mr. Wagstaff discussed Questar's participation in the natural gas industry, and the company's efforts to expand the natural gas fueling infrastructure. Mr. Wagstaff also discussed the market penetration of natural gas vehicles in Utah, and the benefits of using natural gas-powered vehicles. Mr. Wagstaff then explained how users fill natural gas-powered vehicles. Mr. Wagstaff responded to questions regarding the types of vehicles that are powered by natural gas, and the life-cycle cost of natural gas vehicles compared to conventional vehicles. Mr. Wagstaff responded to further questions regarding the availability of natural gas.


02:45 PM

Mr. Wagstaff explained how Questar became involved in the natural gas-vehicle market, and the use of natural gas vehicles by the Utah state government.


02:46 PM -- Mr. Jim Cole, representing the Colorado Oil and Gas Association, testified in favor of the bill. Mr. Cole discussed the safety of natural gas, and the economic and environmental benefits of using natural gas in vehicles. Mr. Cole responded to questions regarding the long-term sustainability of using natural gas in vehicles on a wide scale. Mr. Cole responded to further questions regarding the adaptability of existing automobile inventories to natural gas use.


02:56 PM -- Mr. James Orsulak, representing Clean Energy, testified in favor of Senate Bill 09-092. Mr. Orsulak provided input on the long-term sustainability of natural gas as a fuel source, and discussed natural gas sources. Mr. Orsulak also discussed the market penetration of natural gas-powered vehicles, and the benefits of using natural gas in vehicles. Mr. Orsulak then provided input on the use of natural gas vehicles in Colorado. Mr. Orsulak responded to questions regarding underground sources of natural gas. Discussion ensued regarding current state law pertaining to the use of alternative fuel vehicles.


03:05 PM -- Mr. Cliff Smedley, representing himself, testified in favor of the bill. Mr. Smedley offered input on the use of natural gas-fueled vehicles from the perspective of an owner of such a vehicle. Mr. Smedley responded to questions regarding how natural gas vehicles are refueled.


03:10 PM

Discussion ensued regarding the potential for amending Senate Bill 09-092 to provide flexibility in purchasing natural gas-fueled vehicles.


BILL:SB09-092
TIME: 03:13:48 PM
MOVED:Court
MOTION:Moved to refer Senate Bill 09-092 to the Committee of the Whole with favorable recommendation. The motion passed on a 9-1-1 roll call vote.
SECONDED:Casso
VOTE
Casso
Yes
Court
Yes
Hullinghorst
Yes
Lambert
Yes
Massey
Yes
McCann
Yes
Miklosi
Yes
Murray
Excused
Nikkel
Yes
Labuda
No
Todd
Yes
Final YES: 9 NO: 1 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS