CHEYENNE, WY – The State of Wyoming has channeled $200,000 from the general fund to convert vehicles in the State’s Department of Transportation and Department of Administration and Information to run on natural gas. The State legislature passed House Bill 235, which directs State agency directors to change their fleets to run on natural gas, or a combination of natural gas and another form of fuel, either via retrofit or through purchasing new vehicles by July 1, 2012.

NGVAmerica commented on this development in a press release. "Over the past few years, we’ve seen a steady growth in interest in natural gas vehicles from government and private fleets," said Richard Kolodziej, president of NGVAmerica. "But with the recent spike in gasoline and diesel prices, we’re seeing an even bigger spike in fleet calls. Saving over $1 per gallon in fuel cost has gotten everyone’s attention. The fact that natural gas is primarily a domestic fuel and that NGVs produce less urban pollution and greenhouse gases is just an added bonus.”

The state expects to switch 20 vehicles to natural gas according to NGVAmerica.