Oklahoma City -
Governor Mary Fallin and State Representative Gus Blackwell both favor compressed natural gas (CNG).
Fallin, along with Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper (D-Denver), began a process in November 2011 to ask American auto makers to produce CNG fleet cars for Oklahoma and Colorado state employees.
Thirteen states signed the original Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) stating their intention to purchase CNG vehicles for use in state fleets.
Oklahoma, Colorado, and 19 other states released a Request for Proposal (RFP) to the U.S. auto makers requesting the CNG cars on Wednesday.
Other participating states in the RFP are Connecticut, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
"Through the R-F-P process, we hope to solicit bids on the production of affordable and functional C-N-G-fueled vehicles for use in state automobile fleets," Fallin said. "By incorporating more C-N-G vehicles into our state fleets, we can save tax dollars by reducing the amount we spend on fuel."
"We can also support the use of American-made energy that will help create jobs and reduce our dependence on foreign oil," Fallin added.
Representative Blackwell (R-Laverne) on Thursday praised the opening of Guymon's first CNG fueling station.
"One way to ensure our economic prosperity in Oklahoma is to continue to exploit our natural gas reserves by promoting compressed natural gas vehicles," said Blackwell. "In order for consumers to increasingly use natural gas, we must have the infrastructure in place, and I am excited every time I see a new compressed natural gas station open."
The Guymon station was opened by Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores in partnership with Chesapeake Energy Corporation.
CNG will be priced at $1.79 per gallon equivalent.
In addition to the Guymon location, Love's plans to open CNG fueling stations in Altus, Chickasha, Guthrie, Lawton, Norman, Okemah, Oklahoma City, and Pauls Valley.
With these additional 10 stations, Oklahoma will have more than 70 public CNG fueling stations.
