Okla., Colo. govs. report on 22-state CNG plan

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The governors of Oklahoma and Colorado say their effort to encourage manufacturers to produce compressed natural gas vehicles is gaining momentum.

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin and Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper are leading a group of 22 states that want to use CNG vehicles in their fleets.

Fallin says dealerships representing Ford, Chrysler, General Motors and Honda have submitted more than 100 bids. She says that in Oklahoma, awards given through the multistate request for proposals will result in a 16 percent reduction in the cost of a three-quarter-ton CNG pickup truck.

The cost of CNG compact sedans will be about 8 percent below current costs.

Both governors say they hope to eventually add awards for four-door sedans and half-ton pickup trucks, the two most popular models in the private sector.