The Environmental Industry Associations (EIA), Washington, has sent a letter to U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., chairman of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, to encourage funding by the U.S. Department of Energy for research and development of natural gas vehicles.

“Natural gas vehicles have a huge potential to displace the use of petroleum, especially in high-fuel use, commercial urban fleet vehicles such as those used to collect recyclables and solid waste,” said Bruce Parker, president and CEO of the EIA, in a press release. “However, the DOE has shifted its emphasis to long-term, high-risk vehicle activities stalling the increased use of natural gas vehicles. Without research and development programs, the use of natural gas cannot be fully realized.”