The natural gas vehicle (NGV) trade group NGVAmerica, with the support of 700 stakeholder organizations, is urging Congress to reinstate the alternative fuels tax credit (AFTC), which includes natural gas, propane and liquefied hydrogen.

In a letter to the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means committees, the groups asked for the credit worth 50 cents/gasoline-gallon-equivalent to be reinstated retroactively to last year and for 2019. The credit lapsed in 2017.

“The AFTC offers significant environmental benefits and improved air quality at a time when Congress seeks to press the issue front and center,” said NGVAmerica President Daniel Gage. “Support is broad with the understanding of the additional benefits that increase vital investments for economic prosperity…Renewal of the AFTC also promotes increased private sector investment in infrastructure and equipment, which leads to more jobs and economic output.”

The Renewable Fuels Association in a study concluded that greenhouse gas emissions were reduced by nearly 600 million metric tons from expanded renewable fuel standards, compared to the 422 metric tons that U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had estimated.

In other news, Phoenix-based waste hauling giant Republic Services Inc. has cut an expanded deal with Clean Energy Fuels Corp. to use renewable natural gas (RNG) to power its fleet in 21 states.

An increased number of Republic’s NGV-dominated fleet would use Clean Energy’s RNG fuel, Redeem, over the next five years. Republic also supplies RNG from its landfills.

“We continue to expand our fleet of clean collection vehicles, and RNG is a seamless complement with additional environmental benefits,” said Republic Vice President Pete Keller, who handles recycling and sustainability.

Meanwhile, the Natural Gas Vehicle Institute is offering NGV technician training next month for essential safety practices and compressed natural gas fuel system inspection. The training on March 26-28 in Houston also is being offered via the internet.