General Electric has announced that it will close one of its massive natural gas power plants in California by the end of the year. The decision was made despite the fact that the plant has roughly 20 years of remaining useful life and could conceivably operate safely during that time. Deeming the plant too "uneconomical to support further," GE has stated that it would like to … [Read more...] about GE Natural Gas Plant to Close 20 Years Early
Compressed Natural Gas
CNG Trucks are Hauling Without Emissions
Almost a half trillion dollars worth of goods are imported in the US through the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach every year. Almost all the containers that arrive at those ports are hauled relatively short distances to freight distribution facilities located inland by special purpose drayage trucks designed specifically for such short-haul work. At those freight terminals, … [Read more...] about CNG Trucks are Hauling Without Emissions
Piaggio Launches Alt-fuel Ape for India
They're small, cramped, loud, stinky, smoky, and weird. They've probably caused as much black lung as a Kentucky coal mine, too, if we're being honest. Nevertheless, my love for the Piaggio Ape trikes seems to grow stronger every day that I'm not allowed to buy one. It's hard to justify that kind of irrational love for something, but Piaggio is making it a little bit easier by … [Read more...] about Piaggio Launches Alt-fuel Ape for India
GM Shoots Chevy Impala CNG Fuel Tank To Prove Point
Since a majority of Americans already drive around with a tank full of volatile and flammable gasoline, one would think people wouldn’t worry about exploding natural gas vehicles. Apparently GM thinks there’s enough concern that they decided to shoot the fuel tank on the Chevy Impala CNG with armor-piercing bullets and shove it into a bonfire just to prove how tough it really is … [Read more...] about GM Shoots Chevy Impala CNG Fuel Tank To Prove Point
Colorado Republican Wants to Punish Towns With Fracking Bans
Colorado Republican Frank McNulty (and his ever-smiling sidekick, Rep. Jerry "come on, that has to be Botox" Sonnenberg) are kneeling before their corporate masters once again, and have moved to prevent towns in Colorado that have enacted fracking bans from getting severance tax revenues or grants- potentually punishing taxpayers within those fracking-free cities to the tune of … [Read more...] about Colorado Republican Wants to Punish Towns With Fracking Bans
Texas is Fracked Update: Barnhart is Out of Water
Beverly McGuire has lived in Barnhart, TX for more than thirty years. Like many Texans, she probably didn't give fracking much thought before her town ran out of water. "The day that we ran out of water I turned on my faucet and nothing was there and at that moment I knew the whole of Barnhart was down the tubes," she said in a Guardian interview last month, blinking back … [Read more...] about Texas is Fracked Update: Barnhart is Out of Water
CNG Taxi Van Maker Suspends Operations, Will Be Sold
Call 2013 the Year of Reckoning for alternative fuel vehicles. There has been a seemingly endless parade of green car companies shutting down, and it isn’t over yet. The latest victim is natural gas taxi builder VPG, which has suspended operations and will soon be sold to the highest bidder. But VPG has the best chance of rising from the ashes as a bigger, better a … [Read more...] about CNG Taxi Van Maker Suspends Operations, Will Be Sold
Review: 2012 Ram 2500 Heavy Duty CNG
While I prefer to write about my guilty pleasure, hot hatchbacks, I’m a truck guy. I popped my truck cherry with a ’97 GMC Sierra short bed. I added exhaust, tires, and completed numerous doughnuts. I once got lost in the Rocky Mountains, missed my turn, and drifted my way through a gravel parking lot in that truck. I miss her. I moved from the Sierra to an ’04 Jeep Wrangle … [Read more...] about Review: 2012 Ram 2500 Heavy Duty CNG
Eaton Developing $500 Home CNG Station
Natural gas could be an important stepping stone in America’s quest to develop domestic energy. The problem right now is that natural gas filling stations are expensive and the home models can take 12 hours to fill your car. But major auto parts maker Eaton could bring a much cheaper, and faster filling unit to consumers homes in the next few years. Affordable Domestic Fuel F … [Read more...] about Eaton Developing $500 Home CNG Station
Kia to Focus on CNG Future
If Kia's chief powertrain engineer gets his way, the Korean automaker will continue its push to reduce harmful carbon emissions by building its future models (like the Rio-based Trackster, above) to run on compressed natural gas (CNG). Dr. Joachim Hahn, speaking to the automotive press at the Geneva auto show last week, voiced his strong support for CNG as a means to a … [Read more...] about Kia to Focus on CNG Future