The huge increases expected in Ohio natural gas production have prompted businesses to consider vehicles that use natural gas. Now the state is bringing together engine, truck and auto manufacturers, after-market ompanies that modify engines and business already using natural gas in a public state-wide summit.
Smith Dairy Company, a regional, family-owned dairy in Orrville, Ohio, plans to slowly replace its fleet of diesel semi-tractor trailer trucks with trucks designed to burn compressed natural gas. The company is also hoping to have some of its diesels modified to burn up to 40 percent CNG with diesel fuel.
The Kasich administration has called a statewide summit of manufacturers, after-market companies and other businesses to discuss the use of vehicles powered by natural gas.
The all-day conference, open to the public, will be Oct. 9 at the Ohio State University student union. Todd Snitchler, chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, organized the summit, and America's Natural Gas Alliance is a sponsor.
Kasich's energy summit a year ago drew more than 1,000 people.
Snitchler said he expects this year's summit to assist the state in developing policies and, if necessary, legislation to help industry develop a natural gas delivery system and vehicles to use the gas.
"We want to understand whether or not industry needs any of this," he said. "We don't want to unfairly advantage or disadvantage any companies."
At current prices, natural gas costs about half as much as diesel fuel and gasoline, making the switch a reasonable business choice that quickly pays for itself.
Snitchler and top Kasich administration members have been working on the issue for about a year, meeting with several dozen companies.
"We have been to Detroit and met with Ford and Chrysler. We have gone to Indiana and met with the GM-certified" company that adds a natural gas fuel system to GM vans and trucks, Snitchler said.
"And we have met with a number of fueling station owners active in Ohio."