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American Honda Motor Co., which bills itself as the only automaker selling natural gas-powered passenger cars in the United States, wants to double its sales of its compressed natural gas (CNG) Civicmodel, which is built in Indiana. To boost sales it is going to establish CNG fueling stations in some of its dealerships, particularly in California. The automaker said it is negotiating with California regulators about developing more fueling stations in dealerships in a state that represents the nation’s biggest CNG vehicle market. The company said it is usually not Honda’s role to create infrastructure, but in this case a “chicken and egg” situation exists, “and we’re going to have to nurse the egg along.”

Natural gas prices are going to stay low “for quite a while,” and producers are just going to have to deal with it; after all, it’s their fault, Southwestern Energy CEO Steven Mueller told a Houston audience Wednesday.

Three experienced state energy officials were selected by Pennsylvania Gov.-elect Tom Corbett on Tuesday to helm the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and another was tapped as the state’s first Energy Executive.

Pennsylvania plans to invest $7.9 million in 21 alternative fuel projects, several to be powered by compressed natural gas (CNG), which could cut the state’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 14.5 million pounds, Gov. Ed Rendell said Tuesday.

As the natural gas and electric-powered vehicle revolution gets set to kick off over the next year, those who are producing the vehicles as well as for those who are developing the utility support infrastructure continue to make preparations.

At the dedication of its new auto plant in Greensburg, IN, Honda Motor Co. Ltd. said it will transfer exclusive production of the world’s only compressed natural gas powered passenger vehicle, the Civic GX, from a Honda plant in Ohio to Honda Manufacturing of Indiana LLC in 2009.

The federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Aug. 20 that government motor vehicle fleets need to be powered by clean energy sources, such as natural gas and alternative fuels. The rules apply to fleets of 15 vehicles or more, the appellate court said.

Large, utility-scale solar-powered generation developments as outlined for California will grow in national interest and eventually may lessen the need for natural gas-fired peaking and medium size traditional electric generation plants, according to a senior executive with Solel Solar Systems, a globally operating solar thermal project developer/operator. And the trend could take hold in less than the next 10 years.

Large, utility-scale solar-powered generation developments as outlined for California will grow in national interest and eventually can lessen the need for natural gas-fired peaking and medium size traditional electric generation plants, according to a senior executive with Solel Solar Systems, a globally operating solar thermal project developer/operator. And the trend could take hold in less than the next 10 years.