However, what Washington could do would be to offer tax credits for switching to these natural gas vehicles. If you could depreciate the cost of buying these in a much shorter period than normal(say two or three years)then you would see all sorts of delivery companies install CNG systems.
For example, about 15 years back the Federal government changed the law to allow a business to depreciate the cost of new trucks over 6000 pounds 50% in the first year. All my lumber yard customers went out and bought new flatbed delivery trucks. As an unintended consequence: H2 Hummers, Cadillac SUV, Lincoln Navigators and Chevy Suburbans also weigh over 6000 lbs. So, people that owned other business went out and bought these SUVs. A buddy of mine owns a hair salon. He bought a new Hummer and wrote it off as a company car. My dentist did the same with a Lincoln. The SUV dealers couldn’t keep these trucks on their lots. They were selling at full sticker.
The point is the government can do something to incentivize the switch to natural gas and away from diesel if it wants to.
Problem right now in Omaha is infrastructure. They have a couple around town or if you have NG at home you can put in a charging station for a couple grand but moisture is an issue.