Texas Governor Signs Three Natural Gas Bills

Texas Gov. Rick Perry signed three bills supporting the development of natural gas initiatives in the state.

Senate Bill 20 establishes a natural gas transportation corridor in the rapidly expanding Texas Triangle, which encompasses Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio, by increasing the number of natural gas-refuelling stations.

Senate Bill 527 provides funds through the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan for 20 new air monitors in the 16-county Barnett Shale region.

House Bill 3328 requires hydraulic fracturing operators to disclose the chemical constituents of fluids used in the fracturing process on a well-by-well basis.

"The 82nd Legislature passed several bills that will help Texas continue to lead the nation in energy production and expand our use of alternative sources of power in an area in which we're already a national leader," said Perry during the press conference. "Senate Bill 20 will create a new 'clean transportation triangle' helping add the infrastructure necessary to allow natural gas-fueled trucks, such as the ones produced here, to expand their range across our state."

The governor signed the bills in a ceremony at Peterbilt's truck manufacturing plant in Denton, Texas, accompanied by Senator Jane Nelson, Commissioner Bryan Shaw and Representatives James Keffer and Tan Parker.

Peterbilt offers a full range of compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) power platforms. Equipped with the Cummins Westport ISL-G engine, Models 384, 365 and 320 can be spec'd with CNG or LNG offering 320 horsepower and 1,000 pounds-feet of torque. Peterbilt's Models 386 LNG and 367 LNG are powered by the 15-liter Westport GX engine and offer up to 475 horsepower and 1,750 pounds-feet of torque.