A hybrid natural gas engine comes to the state’s waterways
PITTSBURGH—This summer, Allegheny County’s waterways will host the state’s first nonindustrial natural gas-fueled boat, belonging to Nicole Moga, owner and operator of Boat Pittsburgh. Moga is the winner of the Peoples Boat Ambassador contest, a joint promotion of Peoples Gas and Pittsburgh Magazine. As the winner, Boat Pittsburgh will have one of its rental pontoon boats fitted with a hybrid natural gas engine at Peoples’ expense.
It might seem like an unusual way to promote natural gas. And that’s just the point.
“We take a wide view when it comes to considering what is a natural gas vehicle,” Barry Kukovich, director of communications for Peoples Gas, told American Gas. “This contest was essentially an experiment to see if clean natural gas is a viable alternative for people on our freshwater rivers and lakes.”
About a dozen boat owners submitted contest entries in which they were asked to describe their boats and how they would make use of and promote a hybrid engine. “This boat will be rented nearly every day from Memorial Day through Labor Day, with exposure to both passengers and other boaters on the water throughout the season,” Moga wrote in her winning entry.
Kukovich believes Moga isn’t the only winner. “I think we’ll see less pollution on the river,” he said. “When we launch, we’re going to be running the boat alongside drones to help measure emissions. We believe natural gas is going to be 80 percent cleaner than traditional gasoline. But I think we may also see costs reduced by about 50 percent.”
It also sounds like Moga’s pontoon boat won’t be alone for long.
“If this is successful,” Kukovich added, “we’re going to do this again, in one form or another, next year.” —Bob Bittner