WASHINGTON, DC— Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) met with Pittsburgh residents Murry and Cindy Gerber as they stopped in Washington as part of their coast-to-coast tour to highlight capabilities of natural gas vehicles. Senator Casey supports the development of new industries that can boost the Pennsylvania economy and reduce reliance on foreign oil. Senator Casey released the following statement:
“The Gerbers show that Pennsylvania ingenuity and advocacy can create new solutions to meet our challenges. Increased use of natural gas-powered vehicles can create jobs in Pennsylvania and decrease our dependence on foreign oil. Especially as oil and gasoline prices have risen, reducing the demand for foreign oil can be a win-win for the Pennsylvania economy and for consumers. Natural gas is cleaner burning than gasoline and is a Pennsylvania resource. Converting vehicles, especially commercial vehicles, to run on natural gas could create new industry and new jobs in Pennsylvania.
“The federal government should encourage public-private partnerships to spur growth in industries that use natural gas to create jobs and reduce the demand for foreign oil.
“At the same time, natural gas extraction must be done in a way that protects Pennsylvania drinking water and local communities.”
The Gerbers are driving a natural gas-fueled Hummer from coast-to-coast. The tour began in Santa Monica and traced a route from there to Palm Springs, California; Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona; Las Cruces, New Mexico; Midland and Fort Worth, Texas; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Kansas City and St. Louis, Missouri; Indianapolis, Indiana; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and, Washington, DC. The tour wraps up in New York City. Along the way, the Gerbers visited middle schools in cities across the country to give a short presentation on the subject of natural gas and Natural Gas Vehicles. To encourage American ingenuity in our effort to attain energy independence, the Gerbers will donate $2,500 to help each school’s science and engineering programs.
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