From: Todd Weiler
To: Sen. Weiler, T.,
Subject: Re: S.B. 139 - Vote NO!
Date: 2014-02-17T22:55:44Z
Body:
Thanks, Dan. I appreciate you contacting me and sharing your views. I plan to vote no on SB 139. 

Todd Weiler
801-599-9823

On Feb 17, 2014, at 3:54 PM, "dan@sommerbunch.net" <dan@sommerbunch.net> wrote:

Dear Senator Weiler,

My family and I live right around the corner from you in Bountiful.  There has been a lot of talk about the "bad air" this winter in Weber, Davis, Salt Lake, and Utah Counties. I believe that we all should do our part in keeping the air clean for generations to come.

I currently own two vehicles that run on clean burning natural gas. I believe that natural gas vehicles have a cleaner "carbon footprint" than any other alternative fueled vehicle when the entire spectrum is considered. Yes electric vehicles provide zero emissions out the tail pipe, but the emissions to create the electricity could use some improvement. Natural gas is pulled from right here in Utah and Wyoming.

My concern with SB 139 is that the State of Utah will be sending a bad message to the alternative fuel vehicle industry. What is the purpose of SB 139 in the first place?

Is it to offset HB 74? If the goal of SB 139 is to recoup the money given as tax credits in HB 74, then SB 139 is just bad legislation. You don't "rob Peter to pay Paul".

Is it to compensate for a state road tax? Electric vehicles get the luxury of recharging at home or another location. While recharging at home, the owner never has to go to a gas station again. At the gas pump, there is a state road tax on the fuel which helps cover road construction and repair and other transportation needs. An electric vehicle owner never pays a road tax because he/she uses the same electricity that powers his/her home. A natural gas vehicle owner is not "in the same boat" as an electric vehicle owner. Thanks to Questar Gas, Utah has one of the best natural gas refueling infrastructures in the country. Currently, the state is collecting a road tax of 8.5 cents/gallon at the pump for natural gas and a federal tax of 18 cents/gallon


I am asking you to consider these issues on SB 139 and if natural gas vehicles are included in the bill, then vote NO. Thank you for serving.

Dan Sommer

"How you vote will determine how I vote."