When the National Conference of Weights & Measures (NCWM) met earlier this month, it failed to recommend the continued use of gallon-equivalent measurements to use liquefied natural gas (LNG), as a transport fuel, prompting concern by the American Gas Association (AGA), congressional members and other stakeholders.

AGA said Tuesday NCWM continues to require that compressed natural gas be sold as a transportation fuel in gasoline gallon-equivalent (GGE) units, but there is no standard in effect for LNG. Last Wednesday, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) at its summer meetings passed a resolution supporting state regulatory efforts to expand the use of natural gas vehicles (NGV) by supporting the GGE standards as the official measurement (see Daily GPI, July 21).

According to AGA statistics, LNG transportation fueling has grown 153% since 2009 because the fuel for heavy-duty transportation is more affordable and “cleaner” than diesel, a spokeswoman said. “On an energy-equivalent basis, LNG is 26% cheaper than diesel and produces 20% fewer tailpipe emissions.”

Along with NARUC, 32 U.S. senators and 50 members of the House signed letters to Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker to encourage the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which is advising the NCWM, to work with the natural gas industry.

“At a time when the interest in an industry that uses clean American vehicle fuel is increasing, we believe that enabling greater consumer adoption should be a primary consideration in this process,” the letter said. “We strongly oppose efforts by NCWM to require that natural gas be sold in kilograms.”

AGA Vice President for Policy Strategy Kathryn Clay said, “Measuring LNG in kilograms would lead to unnecessary infrastructure costs, consumer confusion, and most alarmingly, would stall the momentum of the growing NGV industry and the associated economic/environmental benefits.”