The California Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition (CNGVC) has hired Tim Carmichael, former executive director of the Coalition for Clean Air, to lead the CNGVC's efforts to promote natural gas vehicles (NGVs) as an important tool for reaching California's clean air, oil independence and greenhouse gas reduction goals.

   According to CNGVC board chairman Mitchell Pratt, rising awareness of the country's vast natural gas supply and the growth of NGVs globally to over 10 million vehicles on the road make this the ideal time for a major push to expand NGV use in California.

   "We are at a historic point in the development of the U.S. NGV marketplace," said Pratt, senior vice president of engineering, operations and public affairs at Clean Energy. "The growth of the industry provides a clear opportunity to stimulate the economy by creating new jobs, deliver environmental benefits and help break our oil addiction, which will not only solve a national security problem, but will also lead to reinvestment in our country through use of a domestic fuel.

   "Tim Carmichael has long promoted the benefits of NGVs," Pratt said, "and his experience working with legislators and regulators, as well as having worked with the environmental community for more than 15 years, positions him to be very effective as a strong advocate for implementing natural gas vehicles."

   Carmichael said he sees tremendous potential for natural gas as a transportation fuel, both in its own right and as a leader in developing a robust alternative fuels marketplace, and is excited about the growing focus on renewable natural gas (biomethane).

   "I believe that changing our transportation system and the fuels we use is one of the key issues for the future of our society," said Carmichael. "This is a great opportunity to continue working toward that change with a focus on the for-profit sector. I think the CNGVC's efforts to promote the development, sale, and use of a cleaner alternative fuel are a really important part of the solution to our environmental and energy security challenges."

More information in www.usgasvehicles.com