[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 62 (Wednesday, May 18, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 18, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
 LOUISVILLE GAS & ELECTRIC CO. RECEIVES AWARD FROM U.S. DEPARTMENT OF 
                                 ENERGY

                                 ______


                         HON. ROMANO L. MAZZOLI

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 18, 1994

  Mr. MAZZOLI. Mr. Speaker, the Louisville Gas and Electric Co. [LG&E] 
of Louisville and Jefferson County, KY, was recently cited by the U.S. 
Department of Energy in connection with the Department's 1994 National 
Awards Program for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
  The Department of Energy honored 50 projects around the Nation which 
utilized initiatives to increase the use of renewable energy, to reduce 
overall energy consumption, to enhance the environment, and to increase 
productivity. Among those 50 awardees was LG&E's Natural Gas Vehicle 
Fuels Program.
  LG&E is the first electric utility in Kentucky and one of the first 
in the Nation to open and maintain a commercial natural gas refueling 
station. The station is accessible to LG&E employees and to those 
people in the public who drive vehicles powered by natural gas. A 
magnetic card is issued which allows the customer to access the station 
24-hours a day, 7 days a week. Statistics, as of September 1993, show 
that 80 LG&E vehicles and 25 customer vehicles use the station on a 
regular basis.
  The refueling station is unique because it is controlled by a state-
of-the-art mechanism which allows the station to be operated in a self-
service manner. The magnetic fuel card not only gives access to the 
natural gas fuel, but also records the purchases.
  The station itself is designed to look like a normal gas station with 
dispensers programmed to show gallons, unit price, and total quantity 
and cost of fuel. The Micro-Mini Dispensers are unique because they 
calculate the volume of compressed natural gas that is dispensed to an 
accuracy of 0.5 percent.
  The decision to invest in natural gas vehicles and the necessary 
support structure was prompted by LG&E's desire to reduce air 
pollution. The technologies employed by the utility can lower 
hydrocarbon emissions by 70 percent, carbon monoxide emissions by 50 
percent and carbon dioxide emissions by 30 percent. Natural gas, unlike 
liquid fuels, dissipates quickly when released into the atmosphere. If 
liquid fuel is leaked, it will be soaked up by the ground causing 
groundwater pollution. With natural gas, fuel groundwater pollution is 
eliminated.
  There are financial benefits as well. Natural gas costs roughly 40 
cents less per gallon then gasoline which adds up to savings for the 
consumer. Prices, and, therefore, the savings, may vary, depending on 
current prices of gasoline and natural gas, however, it is estimated 
that approximately 122,000 gallons of gasoline a year are saved due to 
this one natural gas refueling station.
  I extend congratulations to Louisville Gas and Electric Company for 
its pioneering work in providing our community with greener forms of 
energy and transportation.

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