Seattle's 'green jobs' program a bust

that is an excellent question! the US has the resources to convert our vehicular traffic to CNG, the net result would be an end to petroleum imports from the Persian gulf. While we might still need to import some petroleum from our neighbors in Canada and Mexico, we could be free from the instability of the Middle East.

 

Honda already has a CNG Civic. It's not that hard for Detroit to start producing flex vehicles that will run on both, plus it would revitalize the auto industry by creating a new demand. Obviously we won't be able to convert the whole country, but who would want to? It would just drive up the price of CNG instead of lowering the gasoline prices by reduced demand. Even if only 1/3 of the vehicles ran on CNG, it would keep 1/3rd of $500 Billion we send to foreign countries buying oil right here to stimulate our economy, not theirs.

 

good point, and conversion is simple, once a distribution system is in place. the Texas state government over two decades ago began converting its vehicular fleet to CNG. the key is getting service stations which purvey only gasoline and diesel to install some CNG dispensers. once that is in place, large scale conversion and retrofitting will go forward all across the economy. a gasoline or diesel powered engine can easily be converted to CNG. on my grandad's farm in Texas back in the 1960's, he powered most of his farm equipment with NG, and the conversion was easy to accomplish and there never were problems with the tractors or the combines.

 

I don't know about Texas, but the distribution system is already in place in California and other states where natural gas is used for home heating. There isn't a street, except remote locations where there isn't a gas main in the street. Once more CNG cars start appearing on the street, it will create construction jobs connecting the gas mains in the street to new CNG fueling pumps in existing gasoline stations.

http://www.cleancarmaps.com/

There was even a company making compressors for your home so you can fuel your car from your homes gas lines. There wasn't enough business for them to stay in business.

 

a pipeline system is in place, but that is just for home heating. NG burning in vehicles requires a different type of processing than in home usage. we won't be able to use the present neighborhood pipeline system for double duty. however, a new pipeline system will be great shovel ready jobs, real shovel ready jobs that will actually help the country!

 

A million four?

 

Yea and we all know that the is the best cheese there is! Yet one can go down to Lowes and take a 15 minute 'free" instructions and weatherproof their own (*)(*)(*)(*) home for likely under a $1,000 quite easily. As usual the Government under any governence fails in these adventures, should of just given the contract to Lowes and Home Depot an more then likely it would be going like gangbusters but no we can not do that!