To the editor:

The promoters of the coal-powered power plant missed an opportunity to combine their program with one that could mitigate the air pollution and global warming effects of the power plant. The companion program would be one that promoted the growth of use of natural gas-powered vehicles (NGVs).

Such vehicles have lowest possible counts for bad exhaust particles and gases for internal combustion engines. Regulatory issues and lack of state promotion of NGV use and the necessary infrastructure have put Kansas behind most other states. Oklahoma, Utah, California and Michigan are out in front in promoting the use of NGVs. In these states, the natural gas refueling stations are being built by companies and NGVs are being sold and existing vehicles converted to bi-fuel. Fleet operations are being converted from gasoline to natural gas.

Use of private NGVs is increasing. One automobile company has a new passenger car NGV on the market. Several suppliers have kits available to convert gasoline power to bi-fuel. A Kansas program to: (1) promote growth of NGVs and their necessary infrastructure, (2) change the regulatory structure and (3) change the tax structure should be implemented at the earliest opportunity. The program for NGVs can stand on its own justification and benefit the citizens of Kansas and the nation. Fuel savings of the order of 60 percent can be achieved as demonstrated in Utah and California. Whether this would help revive the power plant program is beside the point.

Glenn Woodmancy,

Lawrence