Washington (Platts)--26Nov2012/441 pm EST/2141 GMT
It is unlikely US federal agencies will make any substantial changes in vehicle emission policies in the next two years that would make it easier for natural gas to penetrate the transportation market, a think tank said in a white paper released Monday. The combination of US Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board rules "presents original equipment manufacturers and manufacturers of natural gas engine and vehicle technology with a confusing and daunting set of obstacles," the Ben Franklin Shale Gas Innovation and Commercialization Center said in the paper. Federal and state rules involving auto emissions include detailed specifications such as engine size, pistons, engine systems, number of vehicles in service and vehicle age, creating a complicated -- and sometimes contradictory -- framework that sets a high bar for any company attempting to enter the natural gas vehicle market. The center said "it is unlikely" the EPA and other government agencies "will embark on any substantial changes in air quality policies" regarding the use of natural gas powered vehicles in 2013 or 2014. Even with a president and Congress that may be more sympathetic to natural gas vehicle use, "there will still undoubtedly be other issues of higher priority to address in 2013," the paper said. Depending on "political directions," there even is the risk "that regulations could become more stringent." "The EPA could expand the number of compounds it currently regulates for vehicle emissions," the paper said. "Of particular interest to companies manufacturing or contemplating using NGVs is unburned methane." Natural gas fuel system and engine makers "may have to certify that they do not emit significant amounts of methane." The center is funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development through the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority.--Rodney White, rodney_white@platts.com --Edited by Lisa Miller, lisa_miller@platts.com