NY taxicabs, Texas fuel

Some of the cleanest-running taxicabs in the United States can be found in New York City, and they're running on Texas natural gas.

In October of this year, Ford Motor Company delivered its first dedicated compressed natural gas (CNG) Crown Victoria taxis to the Big Apple. They joined about 140 New York taxis that were already equipped to operate on either CNG or gasoline.

Commissioner Garry Mauro of the Texas General Land Office called the taxis' delivery "an important milestone in the air quality and energy history of this country."

The General Land Office and the New York City Department of Transportation entered into an agreement in 1996 to convert taxis, limousines and buses to CNG, and to guarantee a supply of natural gas at reasonable prices in the project's early stages.

A typical New York taxi travels about 65,000 miles per year, and taxis account for almost 25 percent of the total pollution in New York City. The new Crown Victorias, certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to produce 55 to 85 percent fewer smog-producing pollutant emissions even than a brand new gasoline taxi, can help make a substantial difference in air quality and the health of the people who have to breathe that air.

In addition to producing less pollution, the New York CNG taxis represent a step toward expanding the market for Texas natural gas. Success in a large taxicab market such as New York can "trickle down" to other markets.

Natural gas produced on Texas state lands also yields revenue for the Permanent School Fund, which helps finance public education in Texas. Land Office Special Counsel Tom Henderson says that each year the state takes part of the gas produced on those lands in lieu of cash royalties and sells the gas on the open market.

In the future, even the ferry boats that carry traffic in New York City may convert to natural gas.