Lawmaker Pushing CNG

Oklahoma's Speaker of the House is launching a statewide effort to become less reliant on foreign oil.  Republican Representative Chris Benge says no state is better situated than ours to begin a movement to alternative energy sources.

He launched a statewide energy tour in Broken Arrow on Tuesday.  Benge says the first step is to encourage Oklahoma drivers to switch to vehicles that use compressed natural gas, instead of gasoline.

"The number one goal, it's not just a gas price issue, it's that we're going the wrong direction as far as being dependent on foreign energy sources," said Oklahoma Speaker of the House Chris Benge.

He's working on a plan to offer tax incentives and grants to do double to the number of CNG fueling stations within five years.

He hopes to present the plan to the legislature in the spring.