CNG: Cheap Alternative Energy That's Hard to Find

President Obama is urging Americans to shift to alternative energy sources. Many people think Compressed Natural Gas should be the fuel of choice for cars and trucks, and it's a cheap alternative fuel, but it's hard to find.

Wednesday, June 16th 2010, 4:46 pm

By: News 9


By Gan Matthews, NEWS 9

NORMAN, Oklahoma -- President Obama is urging Americans to shift to alternative energy sources. Many people think Compressed Natural Gas should be the fuel of choice for cars and trucks, and it's a cheap alternative fuel, but it's hard to find.

Ann Jacobs bought her CNG Honda 18 months ago. It was an offer she couldn't refuse.

"Well, I got a $5,000 credit from the federal government for buying it, so I thought that was a plus. It was a direct credit on my income taxes. And I own a few oil wells and gas wells, and I figured I better be using this product," said Jacobs.

She had already figured out she could fill up her new car at an Oklahoma Natural Gas station in Norman.

Find a full list of CNG and other alternative fuel stations open to the public by zip code.

The U.S. Department of Energy lists 48 CNG stations in Oklahoma. Most are open to the public and about half are owned by ONG. Very few, such as the Total Express station in northwest Oklahoma, are privately owned.

A bill, signed by Governor Henry last month, establishes the goal of placing a CNG station every 100 miles of interstate highway by 2015 and every 50 miles by 2025.

Ann Jacobs said she gets great gas mileage on CNG, and the price is much cheaper than gasoline. She has no trouble filling up in Oklahoma, but if she goes out of state, it's tough.

"You can't go down to Texas very conveniently," said Jacobs. "Here in Oklahoma it's very convenient, and if you go out to Utah, it's very convenient. But how are you going to get from here to Utah?"

But for short hauls around town and around the state, CNG is a gas.

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