WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-Pa.) introduced the STATE Natural Gas Act to help Pennsylvania develop its natural gas industry. The act would create a grant program that would offer states funding to develop initiatives that encourage the use of natural gas as a transportation fuel and public and private investment in natural gas vehicles and transportation infrastructure.

“Despite the industry’s growth in recent years natural gas is still a largely untapped resource, so I’m working to give states the resources and flexibility to develop this plentiful domestic energy source and create jobs and economic opportunity in Pennsylvania,” said Senator Casey. “My bill will encourage the use of natural gas as a transportation fuel and encourage private investment in natural gas vehicles and transportation infrastructure, building a base for increased job creation and energy independence.”

According to Casey, states would apply for grants through the Department of Energy and would be awarded funding based on several criteria, including:

• The amount of public and private funds State plans are likely to leverage;

• The degree that initiatives will support a need that won’t likely be met by the private sector without grant program funding;

• The degree that initiatives will act as a bridge to private investment and sustainable market conditions; and,

• Each State’s public and private investment in natural gas transportation and infrastructure.

Casey also introduced another act called NGEAR that is designed to speed up the transition of natural gas vehicles. This act would create a rebate for the purchase of natural gas buses and extending tax credits for natural gas filling stations.