DALLAS — Natural-gas motor fuels, filling stations and vehicles are surging in Texas, said an official responsible for regulation of the oil and gas industry in the state.
In the first six months of fiscal year 2015, natural-gas tax collections have doubled to $2.2 million from $1.1 million, said David Porter, a member of the Texas Railroad Commission.
Porter spoke at a May 5 session of the 2015 ACT Expo here.
"This is despite the ups and downs of the oil market and bodes well for one of my key priorities, which is our future energy security," Porter said.
In the past two years, the number of natural-gas vehicles also has doubled in the state, reaching more than 7,900 vehicles, he added.
Likewise, the number of natural-gas filling stations has grown to 136 from 69 over the past two years, the commissioner said.
Porter said the amount of private investment in natural-gas vehicles the past two years has totaled $260 million.
He is hopeful that the state eventually will have natural-gas filling stations no more than 100 miles apart on all Texas interstates.
"I always tell people that using natural gas is a win, win, win," Porter said. "It's abundant, it's clean and it's affordable."
