Perhaps most important of all, CNG uses zero foreign or domestic petroleum. Managers of public and private fleets can apply for rebates to purchase new CNG vehicles or to convert existing vehicles under a current state program. State agencies, higher-education institutions, cities, counties, school districts and other fleets are already taking advantage of the program.

For this gradual transition to work, however, Arkansas must have the infrastructure required to support these vehicles. To this end, nearly a half-million dollars has been devoted to the construction of two new CNG fueling stations. The Energy Office has announced that those stations will be located in Conway and Little Rock, along Interstates 40 and 30, respectively. Upon their completion, Arkansas will have seven CNG fueling stations statewide.

While other parts of the country have had time to fully develop an adequate natural-gas fueling infrastructure, Arkansas’s is still young. But, with the completion of these two new stations, it will be more practical for fleets to use natural gas. That’s because it’s common for these vehicles to be centrally maintained and fueled. Also, they tend to travel more miles per day than personal vehicles. Therefore, they can take better advantage of the lower price per gallon of natural gas. Eventually, it will be feasible for more and more Arkansans to use CNG fuels if they wish to do so.

The cost of CNG at the pump averages one-third less than traditional gasoline, and natural gas is in abundant domestic supply, but economic advantages are only one part of the potential benefits. CNG also contains the least amount of carbon of any fossil fuel, making it less harmful to the environment. And in the event of a fuel-tank rupture, natural gas dissipates into the air and has a narrow range of flammability, lowering the risk of fire danger at the scene of an accident.

The United States is working toward ending our reliance on oil from the Middle East, and Arkansas can play an important part in that effort. I’ve spoken at length many times about the economic-development opportunities that are possible in Arkansas with technological advances in biomass, wind and solar-based energies. Natural gas is another field with strong potential to move us toward domestic-based, cleaner fuels. The new CNG stations to be built in Central Arkansas will give more Arkansans a cleaner, cheaper choice in fueling their vehicles.

Moore replaces Dr. Jeremy Thompson.

Her appointment will expire August 15, 2014.

More than ever before, Arkansans are accessing government services online, and the recent updates provide an even more user-friendly experience on your computer or smart phone. To see the new Web portal, go to arkansas.gov. It’s designed to keep you informed about our state, and it provides links that can take you to our online services, to people who can help you, and to recent news stories.

Arkansas has become a national leader in using technology to make government more responsive. In 2010, the state’s Web site was again named one of the best state government sites in the nation, receiving a second-place ranking by the Center for Digital Government. This research institute has ranked arkansas.gov in the top 10 state Web sites for each of the past five years. The State offers more than 1,000 online services, giving you convenient and efficient access to state government from home or from your mobile device.

The redesign for 2011 builds on changes that have worked well in the past to give Arkansans more precise and direct access to the government services they need. A new search tool analyzes text as you type it and instantly responds, providing an immediate and detailed guide to relevant topics. The Web site also utilizes area maps and geo-location services to rapidly connect citizens to available jobs, services, and government offices near them.

City-and-county governments and community organizations can now include popular government services on their own Web sites, where local residents may already spend their time while online. The portal also helps Arkansans connect with many of our state agencies through social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Flickr.

Last year, Arkansas also became the first state to offer payment for eGoverment services from mobile devices. Smart phones and other mobile Internet devices are becoming the primary form of communication for an increasing number of people. We want to provide our citizens with every available channel to access state government. Our Web site is now designed to display its full content on a variety of mobile devices.

In addition to the arkansas.gov Web portal, other state agencies have mobile applications that can be downloaded directly to mobile devices. I am impressed by the fact that the Universal Financial Aid Scholarship Application can now be completed entirely on a mobile device, and the State provides real-time assistance to citizens via text messaging. This is a move that was unimaginable even ten years ago.

As technology continues its rapid development, Arkansas will strive to continue leading the nation in serving our citizens with these new technologies. The state’s Department Of Information Services and our state agencies have created the most efficient and innovative Web portal to meet the needs of Arkansans, and we will continue to provide everyone a more accessible and user-friendly state government.

I have emphasized for years that the best way to restore the faith of our people in their government is through candor, access, and citizen involvement. This is why I was especially glad this week to take part in an announcement by the Arkansas Supreme Court, which is taking those very tenets to heart.

For the first time ever, the Court has installed cameras in their courtroom, and oral arguments heard there will now be streamed onto the Internet to be watched as they happen by anyone with a computer. There will also be an archive of previous arguments publicly accessible online.

Arkansas becomes the 15th state to offer both video Webcasting and online archives of proceedings held before its highest court. During the announcement of this new service, Justice Robert Brown said he hoped that the U.S. Supreme Court would soon take similar measures itself. With 35 states now offering some form of audio or video feed from their highest courts, it is a discussion I hope will continue on the federal level. 

Beyond the Webcasting being good government on principle, I believe it will prove to be a valuable educational tool as well. With my own background in law, I have a special appreciation for the benefits this access will have for law students studying to someday argue before the Arkansas Supreme Court, or perhaps, sit in that courtroom as a Justice. Students of all ages learning about the functions and duties of our State government will also benefit, having a more directly interactive view of the workings of the Court.

Chief Justice Jim Hannah said at the announcement that, by its nature, the judiciary is slow to embrace change. The courts in our country rely on the precedent of past cases to guide their decisions, and rarely focus on the future. However, this step by the Arkansas Supreme Court recognizes the potential of technology to give our people a richer understanding of our courts while establishing a fuller record of their proceedings. Last year, Arkansas’s Supreme Court became the first in the country to make its electronic record its official record, saving significant funds and resources.

I applaud the greater access this Webcasting will bring, and encourage Arkansans to take advantage of this important resource. Whether it is for high-profile cases or routine proceedings, greater knowledge and a better understanding of our judiciary can only benefit our state and our citizens.