Taxis

Transit

Parks

Delivery

Fleets

Airports

Shut

Bus

Truc

The Niche Market Princip

The Niche Market Princip
ear Clean Cities Stakeholders:

By the time you read this issue of Alternative Fuel News (AFN), we will be well into the new year. But I

think it is still appropriate to wish the proverbial "Happy New Year" to each of you, so I will. May 1999 be a

healthy and prosperous year for you and your family.

I also hope 1999 is a healthy and prosperous year for the alternative fuels industry. I’d like to take a

moment to share the good tidings this new year brings to the Clean Cities Program.

At long last, the much-anticipated support to Clean Cities coalitions—from training to new public outreach strategies—will be available through a number of innovative contracts to be let in the first quarter. We

also look forward to awarding more than $2.7 million in State Energy Program (SEP) grants to the best and

brightest projects in our nation’s Clean Cities. The announcement of awards should take place around the

Clean Cities National Conference. You can learn more about this year’s SEP on page 9 and more about the

1999 Clean Cities budget on page 5.

We expect this year’s SEP funding to be the springboard we need for the development of niche projects.

Find out more about niche markets in this issue of AFN. "Partying like it’s 1999" will only take place in the

Clean Cities Program if we each fully embrace the niche market concept and start to make an impact on

those high-mileage, high-use fleets.

Speaking of impacts, I am also looking forward to hearing more about the successes heralded in each of

the Clean Cities coalitions through our revised survey for coordinators. One of our Clean Cities resolutions

for 1999 is to more effectively spread the word about our program’s successes. The Report to Congress on the

Clean Cities Program, due later this fall, is one way we’ll do that. And I’d also like to encourage you to make

a similar goal for your coalition in 1999. Let your local leaders know what’s going on in their Clean City.

Take some time to inform them of the progress your coalition has made, as well as your goals for the future. 

I am also looking forward to some great "Advancing the AFV Choice" events, such as the one held in

Riverside, California. See page 13 for more details. Each Clean Cities coalition now has its Preferred Fleets

Database. Let’s make 1999 the "Year of the Private Fleet Manager" and reach out to those who have not yet

heard our message.

Yes, 1999 should be full of challenges, but may it also be full of many blessings.

Sincerely,

2

Printed with a renewable-source ink on paper containing 

at least 50% wastepaper, including 20% postconsumer waste 

BR-540-25912

March 1999

D

CONTENTS

Cover Story: The Niche Market Principle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Feature Story: Across the Nation AFV Transit Buses Multiply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Departments: From the Hill. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Federal News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

From the Automakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Funding Opportunities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

At the Pump . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Focus On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Clean Cities Roundup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Hot off the Press . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

On the Web . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Upcoming Conferences and Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Marcy A. Rood

Deputy Director

National Clean Cities Program

The Office of Energy Efficiency

and Renewable Energy

Cover Photos:

Trucks - Kevin Chandler - Battelle/PIX 04918

Light trucks - Warren Gretz -NREL/PIX 02203

Buses - Warren Gretz -NREL/PIX 00092

Taxis - Barwood Transportation /PIX 06214
Alternative fuels can sometimes be a tough sell. The

"usual suspects" — limited refueling infrastructure, cost,

and range — generally surface as reasons why fleets stick

with conventional fuels. Putting aside the obvious benefits

of alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) use, such as cleaner air

and energy security, when it comes down to fleet purchase

decisions, the bottom line is almost always economics. If

AFVs are to penetrate the market sooner rather than later,

Clean Cities must concentrate their efforts on the applications in which AFVs make sense, and cents. 

The places in which AFVs would best fit must in some

way overcome those "usual suspect" barriers, and make the

vehicles economically appealing to the fleet owner. There

are numerous niche markets—high-mileage, centrally fueled fleets are a good example. Highmileage fleets consume large quantities of fuel, so over time, fleet managers can enjoy the cost

savings associated with less expensive alternative fuels, such as compressed natural gas

(CNG) and propane. Predictable routes and centralized refueling facilitate scheduling and

allow for overnight or off-hour refueling, leaving more time for scheduled stops during the

workday. Considering these factors, taxis, city shuttles, transit bus fleets using CNG, and rural

propane pickup truck service fleets can most often make both sense and cents. 

Low-mileage, high-use vehicles are another niche market—vehicles that must wait in traffic, idling, or that must often start and stop, such as U.S. Postal Service vehicles, or airline

ground support vehicles, such as tugs or baggage carts. As zero-emission vehicles, electric

vehicles are ideal for these applications, and electricity is a relatively inexpensive alternative

fuel. This niche market also includes delivery fleets with limited routes in dense, urban

areas—vehicles that must stop frequently along their routes, which are often in nonattainment areas. In fact, using 

vehicles powered by alternative fuels, such as electricity, may be one way to circumvent possible usage regulations being

considered in many of the nation’s larger cities. Several cities are debating whether to enact traffic control measures,

such as restricting vehicle access to core portions of the city to nighttime use only. Functioning similarly to single-occupancy AFVs that use high-occupancy vehicle lanes, alternative fuel delivery vehicles may be one way these fleets can

escape the daytime delivery restrictions, should they be imposed.

Heavy-duty, long-haul trucks are another example of a niche market for alternative fuels, particularly in western

regions of the country where liquefied natural gas (LNG) is a cost-effective alternative fuel.

Considering all of the different niche markets in different communities across the country— e.g., taxis, delivery fleets,

shuttle service and transit provider fleets, airport ground fleets, school bus fleets, long-haul trucks—market penetration

for alternative fuels and vehicles can have a huge impact. 

Why target niche markets?

By targeting certain niche markets, Clean Cities coalitions are able to make the best "pitch" for each type of alternative

fuel. Niche market penetration will help build a stronger local market base. Other area fleets can then draw on this base

to make their purchase decisions and jump on the AFV bandwagon with greater confidence. "One size fits all does not

apply to fleet requirements or alternative fuel vehicle attributes," said David Rodgers, Director of the U.S. Department of

Energy’s (DOE's) Office of Technology Utilization. "By matching those needs and attributes in ‘niches,’ Clean Cities can

dramatically increase the attractiveness of AFVs." 

Niche market fleets that consume large amounts of fuel can also generate the refueling station throughput to justify

maintaining what’s already open, and encourage additional infrastructure development. Clean Cities coalitions can play

a key role in bringing niche market fleets together with local fuel providers and facilitating cooperative infrastructure

3

The

Niche 

Market

Principle

Niche.

\’nich\ n.

A place or activity

for which something is best fitted.

Warren Gretz -NREL /PIX 02203
4

development planning. Strategically building refueling stations along niche market

routes will also help ensure substantial

throughput and generate greater investment

confidence in the alternative fuel market.

Moreover, the convenience and availability

of refueling infrastructure will hopefully

entice other area fleets to make the AFV

choice. As more and more passengers hop

on the AFV bandwagon, the local market

will continue to grow. 

A challenge to all

To help jumpstart the Clean Cities 

niche market movement, DOE’s Assistant

Secretary for Energy Efficiency and

Renewable Energy, Dan Reicher, issued 

a "niche market challenge" to all attendees 

of 1998 National Clean Cities Conference

last June. He challenged Clean Cities stakeholders to select a particular niche market in

their areas that could reasonably be targeted

for 100% alternative fuel use during the next

5 years. Surveys were distributed to all 

conference attendees to help the national

program staff determine the feasible target

markets in different Clean Cities regions.

The feedback has been excellent; all of the

respondents suggested specific niche 

markets in their communities that could be 

targeted for 100% alternative fuel use, and

many coalitions are already working with

local niche market fleets.

Setting the trend in AFV

niche markets

You may recall our "focus on niche markets" feature stories in past issues of the

Alternative Fuel News (AFN). So far, we’ve

covered school buses and taxicab fleets. In

this issue, we turn our attention to transit

buses. We hope that by highlighting niche

market success stories from stakeholder

fleets throughout the Clean Cities network

and by providing helpful hints from project

leaders, others can duplicate the successful

efforts in their own Clean Cities.

Organizations such as the U.S. Postal

Service, whose El Paso, Texas, fleet of 397

delivery vehicles is 100% alternatively

fueled, are setting the trend. Taxicab companies such as L.A. Checker Cab in Long

Beach (140 CNG vehicles) and Checker Cab

in Atlanta (70 CNG vehicles) are well on

their way to similar success. Clean Cities

coalitions all over the country already focus

on niche markets in their communities;

some of these are listed below.

• Tulsa Public Schools in Oklahoma—179 

bi-fuel school buses

• Orange County Transit Authority,

California—75 LNG buses, 240 on order

• H.E. Butt Grocery Company, Houston,

Texas—61 dual-fuel heavy-duty delivery

trucks

• Philadelphia International Airport—18

dedicated CNG shuttle buses

• Portland, Maine, and the Northeast

Alternative Vehicle Consortium Electric

Bus Project—6 electric transit buses

And there are many more! Stay tuned 

to upcoming issues of the AFN for niche

market successes in delivery fleets, airport

ground fleets, and national parks (for this

month's AFN’s focus on transit buses, see

page 8).

Need help?

To emphasize the importance of niche 

market penetration during the next several

years, the National Clean Cities Program 

is doing what it can to help. A special niche

market category will be featured in the 1999

DOE State Energy Program (SEP) Special

Projects solicitation, which gives high priority

to projects placing AFVs in niches that have

the strong potential to achieve 100% alternative fuel use (for more information on the

1999 SEP Special Projects, see p. 9).

The Clean Cities network can also provide

helpful information. The Clean Cities Hotline

and Alternative Fuels Data Center have

numerous case studies on file, detailing the

steps that different school bus, delivery, and

transit fleets have taken to successfully maintain an alternative fuel program. Other Clean

Cities coalitions are another reference. Talk to

your DOE Regional Support Office Clean

Cities contact and other Clean Cities coordinators. They can put you in touch with coalition stakeholders who have already been

through the decision-making process and

have successfully introduced alternative fuels

into their fleets. 

"Niche marketing works," said Rodgers.

"Remember when only doctors and emergency personnel used pagers? By saturating

that niche market and others, paging companies built consumer confidence and

economies of scale. Now everybody needs a

pager and there’s a pager for every need.

"Someday, the same will be said for AFVs. By

answering the challenge and planting the

"niche market seeds" in Clean Cities communities across the country, local AFV markets

will grow into regional markets, which can

result in our ultimate goal: a sustainable

nationwide market for alternative fuels.

Niches that achieve 100% AFV

use do two things. One, they

cement the role of alternative

fuels in the community, leading to

predictable fuel and vehicle

sales; and two, they dispel the

erroneous perception that AFVs

can’t compete."

– DOE’s David Rodgers

Warren Gretz -NREL /PIX 02203
5

Investing in Our Future: Funding for

Technologies and Deployment

People around the world are bracing themselves

for the year 2000. Much anticipation and excitement

surround the coming of the next millennium. What

changes are on the horizon for the next century?

What will the hot issues be in the coming years?

With growing concerns over greenhouse gas emissions, global warming, and ongoing events in the

Persian Gulf, alternative energy technologies should

be at the top of the agenda. 

The federal government plays an important role

by investing in critical research, development, and

deployment of these alternative technologies. The

Omnibus Appropriations Bill (H.R. 4328), which

passed on October 19, 1998, sent a clear message

from the U.S. Congress that energy efficiency,

renewable energy, and alternative technologies will

play a major role in our energy future. The bill allocates funding in support of DOE’s Energy Efficiency

and Renewable Energy technologies for fiscal year

(FY) 1999, which includes funding for programs and

projects for DOE’s Office of Transportation

Technologies (OTT). 

We are already entering another budget cycle .

The President’s request for FY 2000 has been submitted to Congress and will be the subject of

numerous hearings in March, April, and May of

1999, yet we are less than halfway through our 

current fiscal year. 

A review of our FY 1999 plans shows that OTT

supports the development and commercialization of

technologies that have the potential to radically

alter current projections of the rising U.S. and world

demand for energy, particularly oil. As such, the

overall goal of the OTT program is to provide consumers with vehicle options that reduce oil use and

decrease emissions of criteria pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions. Specific strategic objectives are

improving the fuel economy of transportation vehicles and increasing the production and use of costeffective alternative fuels. Activities funded by the

FY 1999 budget for the transportation sector will

continue to build the foundation for substantial

changes in transportation vehicle fuel economy and

the use of alternative fuels—technologies critical to

our nation’s future. 

The adjusted appropriation for all of the OTT

programs for FY 1999 is $243.8 million. Of that,

$41.75 million comes from the Energy and Water

Development Subcommittee, and is used for OTT’s

Office of Fuels Development, which is responsible

for ethanol, biodiesel and feedstock production, and

regional biomass energy programs. The remaining

portion of the OTT budget, $202.07 million, is

appropriated by the Interior and Related Agencies

Subcommittee, and supports OTT’s Office of

Advanced Automotive Technologies, Office of

Heavy Vehicle Technologies, and Office of

Technology Utilization (OTU). Although the majority of this funding is used for research and development—programs including the Partnership for a

New Generation of Vehicles—a significant portion is

also devoted to technology utilization, which

includes the Clean Cities Program. 

The goal for technology utilization (also called

deployment) programs is to provide the required

stimulus to achieve significant penetration of alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies in

the U.S. transportation sector during the next two

decades. OTU seeks to deploy readily available

technologies and fuels, and set the stage for the

mass introduction and commercialization of

advanced vehicle technologies currently under

development, while at the same time chipping away

Clean Cities Voluntary Deployment Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2.96 M

Objective: forge partnerships with fleet owners, 

fuel providers, vehicle manufacturers, and state 

and local governments to expand the use of AFVs 

and the development of refueling infrastructure

Infrastructure, Systems, and Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2.47 M

Objective: work with industry and state partners to 

demonstrate and evaluate alternative fuel infrastructure, 

primarily through the State Energy Program

Energy Policy Act Replacement Fuels Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1.28 M

Objective: implement the requirements of the 

Energy Policy Act

Vehicle Field Test/Evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2.92 M

Objective: perform rigorous, structured programs 

to test and evaluate cars and trucks that use 

alternative fuels and advanced technologies

Technical Information Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2.47 M

Objective: provide current, accurate, reliable 

information on all types of alternative fuels 

and vehicles

Total 12.11 M

1999 FY Budget – Transportation Technologies, 

Technology Deployment

From the Hill
at our nation’s foreign oil dependency and environmental problems. Technology deployment initiatives

include Clean Cities; Infrastructure, Systems, and

Safety; the Energy Policy Act Replacement Fuels

Program; Vehicle Testing and Evaluation; and

Technical Information Development. As illustrated

in the chart on the previous page, the $12.11 million

appropriated for technology deployment activities 

is divided among each of these programs with 

0various objectives.

The appropriated funds include a $500,000

increase of the FY 1998 budget allocations for

technology deployment, and will expand upon

progress made during the last 4 years. ‘In 1999,

Clean Cities funding will help implement the

Clean Cities Game Plan 1999,’ said Clean Cities

Deputy Director Marcy Rood. "Specifically, $1.4

million will pay for the "Advancing the AFV

Choice" events and rebates for the incremental

cost of AFVs for private and municipal fleets. The

Clean Cities Program will also provide $2 million

to support AFV projects in Clean Cities through

the State Energy Program. Clean Cities also plans

to partner with the Department of Interior and

National Park Service to offer grants to AFV projects in national parks." She continued, "We are

very encouraged about this year’s budget and the

possibilities for implementing sound, effective

AFV projects." Among other tasks, the Clean

Cities budget supports the National Renewable

Energy Laboratory, which manages the Clean Cities

Hotline, Alternative Fuels Data Center, the

Alternative Fuel News publication, and the National

Clean Cities Conference.

The FY 2000 budget request for Energy Efficiency

and Renewable Energy includes significant increases

for clean, energy efficient technologies. You can obtain

a copy of either the FY 1999 or the FY 2000 budget at

the DOE Web site: www.ott.doe.gov/budget.html.

6

Buenos Aires Update—163 Nations

Agree to Emission Reduction Steps

The climate change talks of the Fourth Meeting 

of the Conference of Parties (COP-4) concluded in

the early

hours of

November 14,

1998, in

Buenos Aires,

Argentina,

with the drafting of the

Buenos Aires Plan of Action. U.S. representatives

were generally pleased with the plan, which 

outlines a schedule for global emission reductions

by the end of the year 2000.

DOE’s Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency

and Renewable Energy, Dan Reicher, was a member

of the U.S. delegation to COP-4 in Buenos Aires.

Reicher participated in a roundtable discussion 

concerning the role that clean energy technologies

can play in cost-effectively reducing greenhouse gas

emissions. Although worldwide energy demand is

projected to continue rising, the cost of clean energy

is projected to decrease, and technology performance and reliability are projected to increase. So 

a strong market is projected for advanced energy

technologies such as biomass, fuel cells, and fuelefficient vehicles. To help this happen, the Plan of

Action includes time lines for introducing marketbased mechanisms; funding the transfer of energyefficient and environmentally friendly technologies;

providing assistance for countries adversely affected

by climate change; and establishing a legal system

Federal News

Expanding the Clean Cities Program to include emphasis on

greenhouse gas reductions, and significantly increasing grants to

states and Clean Cities to demonstrate greenhouse-gas-reducing

technologies

Linking and solidifying Clean Cities infrastructure and corridor

investments launched in 1996 through 1998, creating continuous

corridors of alternative fuel infrastructure and linking 10 major

urban centers

Working closely with other federal agencies and industry to

encourage greater use of electric vehicles

Determining, through public comment and rulemaking, how to

modify Energy Policy Act of 1992 replacement fuel goals and

design a program to promote the maximum practicable use of

alternative fuels

Continuing EPAct fleet programs, adding 8,000 AFVs to the federal fleet and completing the rulemaking on private and local fleets

Improving the value of the Fuel Economy Guide and other information products as a means to encourage the use of fuel-efficient vehicles.

OTU Goals for FY 1999 include: 

"The agreement reached early today in Buenos Aires

ensures that the nations of the world will continue moving forward against the threat of global warming."

-Vice President Al Gore, November 14, 1998
7

to ensure that parties meet agreed-on emissions goals. The

participants also agreed to supplement their annual meetings with more frequent meetings of high-level ministers

to ensure that progress will continue before the May 1999

conference in Bonn, Germany.

U.S. representatives were quick to acknowledge that

there is still a long way to go. "Buenos Aires has not only

sustained, but advanced the momentum of Kyoto,"

remarked Stuart Eizenstat, Head of Delegation and Under

Secretary of State. "It's going to be a long process. It's a

marathon; it's not a sprint."

COP-4 marked a significant change of thinking on 

climate change issues, as many nations expressed a

renewed interest in the problem and in greenhouse gas

policy development around the world. Many large corporations in the United States, such as British Petroleum,

DuPont, IBM, and United Technologies, made independent strides during the year toward reducing emissions.

On Thursday, November 12, 1998, the United States

became the 60th and last industrial nation to sign the

Kyoto Protocol; however, the treaty must be ratified by 

the U.S. Senate before it becomes law.

Ford and DOE Find Similar Solutions to

Bridge Gap Between Welfare and Work

For some people in Detroit, Michigan, and Schenectady

County, New York, getting to work is getting easier. Ford

Motor Company and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

are launching separate but similar efforts to transport former

welfare recipients to work. Both initiatives are using naturalgas-powered vans to augment current mass transportation

systems already in place.

In Detroit, Ford Motor Company is partnering with a

community-based organization, EZ-Ride, to provide a flexible transportation solution to former welfare recipients. In

December, EZ-Ride’s "Green Rides" initiative began using 13

natural gas-powered Ford Econoline vans to

shuttle an estimated 35,000 people a year

from their homes to work and back. The 

initiative is designed to provide a more 

flexible transportation solution than those

offered by the current mass transit system.

"Let’s say you have a mother with two children who needs to get to work," remarked

John Slater, Executive Director of EZ-Ride.

"It may take two hours front-time to drop

the kids off at school and daycare, then get

to work. With Green Rides, we can pick the

family up, drop the kids off, then take the

mother to her bus line or workplace." 

Ford is also working with local and state governments to

develop a sustainable business plan to expand this program

within the state and nationwide. "We at Ford find this 

program to be a great way to marry welfare-to-work and an

environmentally responsible mode of transportation," said

Charlie Pryde of Ford Motor Company. 

In Schenectady County of eastern New York, DOE and

the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are funding a 

similar initiative. Last year the county received a DOE/EPA

sponsored grant for $28,000 from the International Council

for Local Environmental Initiatives for a dedicated natural

gas-powered van to shuttle former welfare recipients to and

from work. "There is not a lot of public transit [in this area],"

comments Ron Santag of the Schenectady County Job

Training Agency, "If you’re low income, your

chances of getting a car right away aren’t

very good." The Schenectady County Job

Training Agency coordinates this service,

which ensures that people are able to get to

job interviews, provides transportation to

crews that travel as a group to work, and

transports individuals during their first year

of employment.

From the Automakers

Ford Econoline Van 

Are you getting what you need in the Alternative Fuel News?

Did you know the AFN is posted online—in both pdf and text-only formats—before the hard copies are 

distributed? Check out "What's New" at www.ccities.doe.gov or www.afdc.doe.gov. Because public funds are

used to print and distribute the newsletter, this is your chance to reduce those costs by going paperless! If

you'd like to receive the Alternative Fuel News by e-mail notification, or change anything about your subscription, please e-mail the Clean Cities Hotline at ccities@nrel.gov, or call them at 800-CCITIES. We also welcome

your comments and suggestions!

Wieck Photo DataBase
8

Across the Nation 

AFV Transit Buses Multiply

Past issues of the Alternative Fuel News have

demonstrated how niche markets (e.g., school buses

and taxis) complement the alternative fuel vehicle

(AFV) industry. As we continue our coverage of niche

markets, it’s time for transit buses to pave the way!

Quickly growing alternative fueled bus fleets and success stories prove the viability of the AFV transit bus

industry. What is required for alternative fuel transit

bus programs to succeed? As you'll learn from the

examples below, it's a combination of innovative

thinking, technological advancements, and funding. 

In the East

As part of New Jersey’s "Cleaner Fuels Initiative,"

proposed by Governor Christine Todd Whitman, the

state has ordered 50 compressed natural gas (CNG)

buses. New Jersey Transit was awarded a $24.5 million contract for the custom-made, long-range cruiser

CNG buses to be delivered by March 1999. In addition, the governor announced that the state will install

a $4 million CNG refueling and maintenance facility

to service these buses. "The growth of public transportation is critical to our transportation vision for the

next century," stated Todd Whitman. "Public transportation moves more than 300,000 people each day,

takes pressure off our highway infrastructure, and is

essential to enhancing air quality." The New Jersey

Natural Gas Company, a stakeholder in the North

Jersey Clean Cities Program, will be a major partner

in this project.

In State College, Pennsylvania, the Centre Area

Transportation Authority (CATA) operates 34 CNG

transit coaches, and will be the only transit fleet on 

the East Coast operating entirely on CNG by the end

of 2000. Hugh Mose, CATA General Manager, stated,

"CATA made the decision in 1994 to replace its buses

with natural gas-powered vehicles. The decision was

based on the desire to use domestically produced fuels

to enhance air quality in the community and the

potential for cost savings." Mose went on to say, "The

community response has been phenomenal. In my 

22 years in the transit industry, I have never received

more positive comments from bus riders and nonriders alike." 

Down South

In San Antonio, Texas, VIA Metropolitan Transit, a

stakeholder in the Alamo Area Clean Cities Coalition,

purchased 66

new 30-foot

propane-powered

buses and 5 new propanepowered streetcars. These

new vehicles will lessen VIA’s

environmental impact and

demonstrate the agency’s commitment to alternative

fuels, specifically propane. VIA’s bus fleet was powered by propane in the 1950s and 1960s and started

using propane again 4 years ago in its service and

paratransit fleets. The new buses are equipped with

the Cummins B5.9 liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) 

low emissions vehicle (LEV) engines. By 1999, VIA

plans to convert all 20 downtown streetcars to run 

on the Cummins B5.9 LPG engine. The new LPG

buses will compliment the 209 propane powered vehicles already in the VIA fleet. According to Douglas

Peck, the VIA Metropolitan Transit’s Director of

Vehicle Maintenance, "We have had a very favorable

experience and have learned how to maintain and

refuel the current propane fleet. We are currently

pumping about 4,500 gallons of propane a night, and

will be pumping more than 9,000 gallons a night when

the propane buses and streetcars are placed into 

service this coming year." The Alamo Area Clean

Cities Coalition is currently working toward an official

Clean Cities designation.

Out West

West Coast transit bus programs have also been

successful. The Los Angeles Metropolitan

Transportation Authority (MTA) operates the largest

clean air fleet in the nation. The MTA has been awarded $4.3 million in funding from the Mobile Source

Emission Reduction Review Committee (MSRC) to

cover the incremental costs associated with MTA’s

purchase of 223 CNG transit buses. Julian Burke, MTA

chief executive officer (CEO), stated, "These funds will

help implement the MTA Board’s policy of purchasing

clean fuel and clean air buses." The CNG buses will be

manufactured at a cost of $319,789 each and delivery

began in February 1999. This brings the MTA CNG

bus fleet to 560, and MTA plans to add more than

2,000 buses, mostly CNG, to its fleet between now and

2004. According to Deputy CEO Sharon Landers,

"There are more and more opportunities for clean fuel

grants at the state and regional levels...we’ll continue

to be aggressive in seeking opportunities like this for

the MTA."

AFV

Transit

Spotlight on Niche Markets Buses 
1999 State Energy Program Grants Can

Help Get Your Project Off the Ground

Say the words, "funding," or "grant money" in a room

full of stakeholders in any industry and you’re guaranteed

to get attention. Everyone needs funding, and Clean Cities

coalitions are no exception.

In terms of direct funding, Clean Cities offers State

Energy Program (SEP) Special Projects Grants. So far, 

the Clean Cities Program has provided more than $7 million in funds to State Energy Offices for alternative fuel

vehicle (AFV) projects, which have not only helped coalitions foster local market development, but have strengthened the relationships between the federal, state, and

local government partners and private sector Clean

Cities stakeholders.

Designated Clean Cities and petitioning

coalitions with a program plan on file 

at the National Clean Cities Program

office are eligible for funding, and are

highly encouraged to work with their

DOE Regional Support Office Clean

Cities Contacts to develop a project

proposal. Dorothy Wormley, DOE

energy technology specialist and

"resident grant expert" for the

National Clean Cities Program, strongly urges newly designated programs, as

well as eligible coalitions seeking designation, to apply for SEP money.

SEP is also a good way to help coalitions

focus their efforts to reflect the national

program priorities. For example, "100%

niche market penetration" (a recent catch

phrase in and around the Clean Cities network) is a primary focus of the Clean Cities

Game Plan 1998/1999. Therefore, in the 1999

SEP grant solicitation, projects that build 100%

niche market penetration will be of particular interest. See

the chart at on the next page for more detailed information

on the project requests for FY 1999.

The 1999 SEP solicitation hit the streets on December 28,

1998. Project proposals must be submitted to DOE through

State Energy Offices by April 1, 1999. Due dates 

to Energy Offices may vary by state, so please contact 

your State Energy Office or your DOE Regional Support

Office Clean Cities contact for more information specific to

your coalition.

Projects Requested in FY 1999

• Projects that promote the acquisition of AFVs in fleets

that enable 100% niche market penetration.

Eligible "niche" market fleets include: shuttle applications, taxi fleets, law enforcement fleets, delivery fleets,

health care services, welfare-towork services, and other types

of fleets. Funding is available

for the incremental cost of

AFVs, with specific

emphasis on dedicated

vehicles that will maximize alternative fuel

usage.

• Projects that promote

the development of

refueling infrastructure for AFVs. 

Projects that reduce

greenhouse gas emissions,

such as infrastructure for

renewable fuels, will be of particular interest.

• Projects that deploy alternative fuels

technologies for school buses.

The focus of these projects is technology

deployment, rather than technology

development. Alternative fuel school buses

deployed as part of this project must use

emissions-certified engines from the original

equipment manufacturers, and preference will be given

to projects using technology that has proven reliable in

applications similar to the proposed project. A plan for 

collecting and reporting reliability and performance data

must be included in the proposal.

• Projects that implement electric vehicle advanced battery

technologies in existing electric transit buses. 

• Projects that develop Clean Cities coalitions, including

funding full-time coordinator positions or interns. Eligible

organization activities and projects include, but are not

limited to: workshops for stakeholders and fleet operators,

Funding Opportunities

"Funding through SEP is a great way to get a start on program

initiatives and projects, and this year’s project categories 

provide multiple opportunities to start a successful alternative

fuels program."

-Dorothy Wormley

DOE Energy Technology Specialist

9
"The State Energy Program (SEP)

Special Projects funding has

helped our coalition in a number

of ways. The cooperative process

has strengthened our coalition’s

relationship with the California

Energy Commission and has

helped establish a better working

relationship with other coalitions

n the state in an ongoing effort to

mprove and streamline the SEP

grant process. On a more internal

evel, the SEP process has helped

the coalition leadership better

dentify our stakeholders’ needs.

We held a proposal-writing seminar for our members that covered

how to make the right contacts,

how to identify and conceptualize

projects suitable for funding, and

how to organize and write a successful proposal. SEP has also

helped us recruit more dues-payng members. Our project in 1997

was an incentives/buy-down program for alternative fuel vehicle

and infrastructure purchases. It

was open only to San Diego Clean

Cities stakeholders, which helped

us draw new membership. We

brought on five new members

who wanted access to the incentives to assist with their vehicle

purchases. In a way, SEP has

been a ‘carrot’ for our coalition.

It’s helped us draw in other companies who are not only interested in the incentives program [supported by SEP funds], but who

also want to submit proposals for

projects that can help build our

ocal AFV market."

-Kim Cresencia, San Diego

Regional Clean Cities Coordinator

public education and

outreach, development

of legislative strategies, development 

of plans for specific

capital investments,

and training programs

on AFV maintenance.

• Projects that promote

the introduction of

energy-efficient technologies and energy

saving approaches

in heavy-duty vehicles. Technologies that

provide cab heating

and cooling, thereby

reducing the need for

idling of heavy trucks,

are of special interest. A plan for collecting

and reporting reliability and performance

data must be included in the proposal.

• Projects that promote the use of advanced

transportation technologies, such as hybrid or

fuel cell vehicles, that can provide reductions

in oil use and reductions in environmental

emissions. Technologies that have the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are 

of particular interest, as are technologies that

integrate advanced propulsion system and

vehicle concepts with alternative fuels (e.g.,

ethanol fuel cells, and natural gas hybrids).

Projects that have a substantial R&D element

are included in this category, but extra consideration will be given to proposals that

include a strategic deployment plan for the

subject technology

After Stakeholder Input, Final

CMAQ Guidance on the Way...

The Congestion Mitigation and Air

Quality Improvement (CMAQ) Program

was reauthorized by the enactment of 

the Transportation

Equity Act for the

21st Century (TEA21). Although the

primary purpose 

of the CMAQ

Program remains

intact—to reduce

transportationrelated emissions

in nonattainment

and maintenance

areas—the alternative fuel sections 

of the program

have been revised. An

"Interim Guidance" has

been released to

address these changes,

and a process was initiated to solicit stakeholder input on the

intended final, comprehensive guidance. 

The interim guidance covers issues

related to the reauthorized CMAQ program,

new provisions regarding eligible geographic

areas under TEA-21,

and guidance related

to projects now eligible

for CMAQ funds.

Among these issues are special provisions

for alternative fuel projects that are included

as part of a public/private partnership.

The interim guidance stakeholder process

included the publication of a federal register

notice requesting written comments on the

(interim) guidance to be submitted to the

U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) 

by November 30, 1998. Additionally, several

workshops were held in San Francisco,

California; Washington, D.C.; St. Louis,

Missouri; and Chicago, Illinois, to encourage

stakeholder comments and suggestions.

Attendees of the workshops represented

various organizations, including state DOTs,

state metropolitan planning organizations

(MPOs), state air agencies, Clean Cities,

environmental groups, industry representatives, and transportation groups. To characterize the workshops, Mike Savonis, CMAQ

Program Manager for DOT’s Federal

Highway Administration, said, "people 

felt excited about the public/private partnerships. However, they are aware of the

need for the program to be implemented

carefully in order 

to protect public

interest." After all

written comments

and workshop input

have been reviewed,

the final CMAQ

guidance will be

issued. 

In another effort

to educate state

MPOs about the use

of CMAQ funds,

Clean Cities Program

10

• CMAQ funds for purchasing privately owned

vehicles or fleets using alternative fuels limited

to the incremental cost of an AFV compared to

a conventionally fueled vehicle.

• If both governmental (federal) and CMAQ funds

are used for vehicle purchases, CMAQ funds

must be applied after government funding has

been applied to the incremental cost. 

• AFV purchases no longer need to be specifically identified or included in the State

Implementation Plan or maintenance plan in

order to be eligible for CMAQ funding.

Some Additional Changes to CMAQ

From the Field— 

The San Diego Regional

Clean Cities Coalition

What are the energy related benefits? Will

your project greatly increase the number of

AFVs on the road or the number of alternative refueling stations?

• What are the environmental benefits of

your project? Does your project result in

the reduction of criteria pollutants or

greenhouse gases?

• How does your project strengthen and

stimulate your Clean Cities Coalition?

• Does your project enhance awareness or

increase the visibility of the Clean Cities

effort in your community?

• Does your project involve cost sharing

from any nonfederal partners? 

• Are there any other Clean Cities coalitions

working as partners in this effort?

For more information, check out the Clean

Cities Web site: www.ccities.doe.gov

SEP Helpful Hints
11

Consultant Cliff Gladstein gave a presentation to U.S.

DOT’s Region 9 (California, Nevada, Hawaii, and

Arizona) transportation planners. Gladstein’s objective

was "to provide Clean Cities support by reaching out to

MPOs to help them think more creatively about using

CMAQ funds for AFV deployment projects." Gladstein

pointed out to the group that with CMAQ funding alone,

they could deploy 82,000 clean, alternative-fueled heavyduty vehicles, thereby reducing emissions by 100/tons per

day. "I tried to show how to use CMAQ funding to give

the gift of clean air," stated Gladstein. 

Stay tuned for additional information on the final guidance, or visit the Web site located at www.fhwa.dot.gov/

environment/interim.htm.

Raising Awareness and Use of E85

The auto manufacturers have produced hundreds of

thousands of E85 (85% ethanol/15% gasoline blend) flexiblefuel vehicles (FFVs). Ethanol producers are ready to supply

substantial quantities of ethanol for E85 use. If these huge

numbers of FFVs were running on E85, the increase in

demand for fuel would spur retail marketers to supply it at

their stations. So why aren’t we using the fuel? DOE has

worked with various stakeholders to produce the "E85

Action Plan" to generate support for E85 infrastructure

development and increase national public awareness of E85.

The E85 Action Plan’s

"Model Cities Program" has

identified new opportunities

to provide education and

money for E85 stations. The

goal is to establish "model

cities" by saturating specific

markets with E85. Planning

is underway for placement,

within the next 12 months,

of 30 E85 fueling stations in

each of the three model cities

(Chicago, Denver, and

Minneapolis) for use by public and private fleets, as well

as the general public, to

demonstrate E85’s profitability. To spur the use of E85 in

Minneapolis, Larry Johnson at the Minnesota Department of

Public Service mailed E85 fuel coupons to approximately

5,000 FFV owners, giving them four coupons each worth $5

off any E85 fuel purchase of 8 gallons or more. Now that’s

an incentive!

The National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition (NEVC), a partnership of the 22 member states of the Governors’ Ethanol

Coalition and the National Corn Growers Association, is an

active player in implementing the action plan. The NEVC is

currently developing a marketing effort to promote E85 and

has established 46 E85 public refueling stations to date. In

addition, NEVC is working with the U.S. Postal Service

(USPS) to strategically place 10,000 E85 FFVs purchased

from Ford Motor Company. According to Phil Lampert,

NEVC Project Coordinator, "NEVC, corn growers, and the

ethanol industry have been working closely with USPS to

place Ford E85 FFVs in areas that have E85 fueling facilities,

adequate E85 demand, and/or exist in one of the three

model cities. It is my opinion that the willingness for USPS

to order more E85 FFVs in the future will be based on the

experiences with this E85 program."

Both Ford Motor Company and DaimlerChrysler have

made efforts to educate E85 FFV dealers and consumers. As

E85 vehicles are being sold at dealerships across the country,

automobile salespeople are in a unique position to educate

their customers about the benefits of

using E85 versus conventional gasoline.

Ford has created a mirror, printed with

E85 benefits and availability, which is

put in every vehicle. According to

Gerry Roussel, Ford’s alternative fuels

regulatory planner, "Our goal is for 

the customer to take advantage of the

capability to use ethanol where it is

available, and as demand increases,

more infrastructure will be built." Ford

has increased its involvement in the

Clean Cities Program as a way to learn

about alternative fuels and to reach

potential customers. DaimlerChrysler

has also placed E85 brochures and

advertisements at dealerships. They

have been instrumental in the sale of E85 FFVs, having sold

over 138,000 E85 vehicles in the 1998 model year. Mike

Clement, DaimlerChrysler’s director of alternative fuel vehicles, stated, "We have the vehicles out there. Our next step is

for fuel providers to get more stations in place so the vehicles can run on the fuel.” General Motors has announced it

will produce E85 vehicles in the next model year.

For a list of E85 stations, call the National Alternative

Fuels Hotline at 800-423-1DOE and request a copy of the E85

Public Refueling Guide. You can also find a list of stations in

the Clean Cities Fleet Buyer’s Guide Web site at www.fleets.

doe.gov, or at the American Coalition for Ethanol Web site at

www.ethanol.org.

At the Pump

It’s clean burning.

It’s produced domestically.

It’s a renewable fuel.

It reduces greenhouse

gas emissions.

It strengthens local

economies.

It reduces dependence 

on foreign oil.

It provides energy security.

Why use E85?

E-85 station

Warren Gretz -NREL /PIX 07133
Focus On

12

West Virginia 

West Virginia’s commitment to

Clean Cities is statewide! West

Virginia is the largest natural gas

producer east of the Mississippi;

therefore, natural gas use as an

alternative fuel is a means of

economic development for

the state. In 1994, the state

was designated the 21st

Clean Cities Coalition. Since

its inception, West Virginia’s

alternative fuel programs

have grown dramatically. The

Clean State Program, coordinated

by the Energy Efficiency Program of

the West Virginia Development Office,

is now 50 members strong, and members

range from local government and utilities to oil and 

gas industries. 

One of the largest projects under way in West Virginia is

the Interstate 79 Clean Corridor, known as I-79. The Clean

State Program has received funding from the U.S.

Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) State Energy Program (SEP)

and the Gas Research Institute (GRI) for two new compressed natural gas (CNG) stations along the Clean Corridor,

which includes four major West Virginia cities— Charleston,

Clarksburg, Fairmont, and Morgantown. These stations will

be equipped with the new "O-Green" hydraulic compressor

technology, which is quieter and allows for a more complete

fill-up because it prevents the fuel from heating and expanding. In addition, GRI has funded research at West Virginia

University (WVU) to conduct analyses of the compressors,

and has contributed to the Federal Energy Technology

Center for marketing CNG fuel to fleet operators from

Pittsburgh to Charleston. The corridor, with the support of

Pittsburgh Clean Cities, links Charleston, West Virginia, with

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. According to Jeff Herholdt,

Manager of the West Virginia Development Office’s Energy

Efficiency Program, "There were many parties involved.

James Ferguson of the Philadelphia Clean Cities Regional

Support Office was a vital link to these projects happening in

West Virginia."

The state’s efforts don’t end there! West Virginia also provides credit against state income taxes to help defer the cost

of vehicles bought, converted, or retrofitted to operate on

alternative fuels. Credit is available for vehicles bought or

converted beginning with the 1998 tax year. However, this

credit is available only to those who are not required by 

federal or state law to purchase AFVs. AFV efforts at WVU

have also met with

great success. For the past

9 years, WVU engineering 

faculty and students have 

traveled across the country in two

transportable, heavy-duty vehicle emissions laboratories, taking readings and 

running emissions tests on CNG-fueled buses

and trucks. During that time, more than 1,000

vehicles have been tested at 34 transit agencies and

truck operators in 17 states and in Mexico City. The

research, funded by DOE, engine manufacturers,

fuel suppliers, and local governments, has shown that

exhaust emissions are significantly lower for modern CNG

city buses than diesel-fueled buses. In fact, CNG-fueled

buses typically emit 92% less particulate matter and 33%

fewer nitrogen oxides than their diesel counterparts. Donald

Lyons, Chairman of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

and Director of the National Center for Alternative Fuels at

WVU, points out, "...this information will demonstrate to

fleet owners the benefits of lower emissions that can be

achieved by using natural gas and other alternative fuels."

The WVU researchers are also engaged in advanced research

into the use of natural-gas-derived Fischer Tropsch fuels in

heavy-duty diesel engines, and have shown that these new

fuels offer substantial advantages over petroleum diesel.

For more information on the West Virginia Clean State

Program, call Jeff Herholdt at the West Virginia

Development Office, at 304-558-0350, or visit the Web site:

www.wvdo.org/community/energycsp.htm. For more 

information on West Virginia University, visit their Web site

at www.cemr.wvu.edu/~wwwatf/.

Maximum Credit Maximum Credit

(If Not Electric) (If Electric)

10,000 lbs.* or less $3,750.00 $4,125.00

10,001 lbs. $9,250.00 $10,175.00

To 26,000 lbs.*

Truck or Van of $50,000.00 $55,000.00

26,001 lbs.* or more

Bus seating at $50,000.00 $55,000.00

least 20 adults

*GVW – Gross Vehicle Weight

West Virginia State Income Tax 

Credit for AFVs
13

• Kansas City, Missouri. Clean Cities Reaches #67. The

Kansas City Regional Clean Cities Coalition was designated the 67th member of the program on November 18, 1998,

in a blowout ceremony at the downtown airport in Kansas

City. Brian Castelli, Chief of Staff for Energy Efficiency and

Renewable Energy, served as the presiding U.S.

Department of Energy official and joined Kansas and

Missouri representatives to sign the Clean Cities

Memorandum of Understanding. The coalition raised

almost $20,000 from local and national sponsors for 

the event, which was attended by several hundred people.

Vendor booths 

featured stakeholder

products, technologies, and vehicles,

and the MidAmerica Regional

Council showcased

its mobile emissions

testing unit, highlighting the air 

quality benefits of

alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs). The

affair was received

well by the media,

who featured the

event as headlines in local print and television news. The

Kansas City Regional Coalition serves the area along the

border of northeastern Missouri and northwestern Kansas.

Stakeholders currently operate approximately 250 AFVs,

most of which run on compressed natural gas, propane,

and ethanol. The coalition plans to eclipse the 900-vehicle

mark by the year 2002.

• Riverside, California. Heavy-Duty Vehicle

Summit/Riverside Clean Cities Anniversary. Heavy-duty

fleet vehicle operators, fuel suppliers, and state and local

government officials from California gathered in Riverside

on November 19, 1998, to share success stories, learn about

funding opportunities, and celebrate the first anniversary

of the Northwest Riverside County Clean Cities Coalition.

Riverside Mayor Ron Loveridge, a longtime Clean Cities

and alternative fuels supporter, kicked off the event and

welcomed more than 225 guests to his "quality city." Cliff

Gladstein, President of Gladstein & Associates and Director

of the Interstate Clean Transportation Corridor Project, 

followed Mayor Loveridge, providing an overview of the

day’s events and facilitating speaker panels. Spokespersons

from the Air Resources Board and the South Coast Air

Quality Management District then provided important

information on funding and incentive programs for

California AFV projects. A luncheon ceremony for

Northwest Riverside County Clean Cities featured the

recognition of new stakeholders (all but one of which are

private fleets), and several elementary school children 

presented their award-winning essays about clean air and

alternative fuels. The Heavy-Vehicle Summit continued as

managers and operators of heavy-duty truck and bus fleets

participated in panel discussions to describe their efforts to

convert their vehicles to alternative fuels, and offered

advice to those beginning the process. Opportunities for

guests to participate in one-on-one conversations with the

experienced AFV users in table-talk discussions concluded

the day’s activities.

• Detroit, Michigan. A Sccaaaary Night for AFVs. Ford 

Motor Company teamed with the Detroit Police

Department to hold the first ever "green" Halloween. This

"green," however, does not refer to the color of goblins or

the swamp thing, but to the environmentally friendly vans

used to transport 75 Detroit-area children participating in

the city’s Halloween Kid Crawl. The kids were shuttled in

natural-gas-powered Econoline vans to various police

precincts in the Detroit area, where they were greeted by

police officers with candy and other treats—all in an effort

to help local kids have a safe and fun Halloween. Ford also

donated Mattel Hot Wheels toy trucks modeled after the

natural gas F-Series pickup, as well as boxes of "car cookies" and recycled plastic trick-or-treat bags.

• Houston, Texas. Cooking with CNG. The Greater Houston

Clean Cities Coalition recently celebrated the opening of 

a CNG refueling station serving the Texas Department 

of Transportation, as well as local public and private area

fleets. Entex Fuels, Inc., will maintain and operate the new

refueling station, which is the company’s 14th facility in 

the Houston area. In an effort to draw attention to the benefits and safety of alternative fuels and garner community

support, the event’s

menu featured hamburgers cooked on a grill

using CNG from the 

new station’s mobile fuel

unit, while a local high

school band provided

entertainment. Entex’s

mobile refueling unit

both delivers fuel and

fills vehicle tanks on 

site, allowing area fleets

to run on CNG without 

a substantial infrastructure investment.

Clean Cities Roundup

Benjamin Watson, Clean Cities

Coordinator; Michael Boothe, 

Co-chair, Johnson County, Kansas

Environmental Department;

Jennifer Logan, Co-chair, Kansas

City, Missouri Air Quality

Robert Jefferis /PIX 07048
Hot off the Press

14

Looking for CNG or LPG in the 

Mid-Atlantic Region?

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Philadelphia

Regional Support Office, together with the Clean Air

Council, has compiled two new refueling and maintenance

directories that cover Delaware,

Maryland, New Jersey, New York,

Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and

West Virginia. The Mid-Atlantic compressed natural gas (CNG) directory

(# 3769) and Mid-Atlantic liquefied

petroleum gas Directory (#3770) offer

a comprehensive list of refueling sites

and include maps, directions, station

contacts, access, and payment type

accepted, as well as pressure and

connection type for the CNG 

stations. For copies, call the Clean

Cities Hotline at 800-CCITIES.

Dual-Fuel Truck Fleet 

in California

The National Renewable Energy

Laboratory has released a new report

entitled, Dual-Fuel Truck Fleet: Start-Up

Experience. The report describes the start-up experience of the Orange County Sanitation District

and Pima Gro Systems. The operation is using

White/GMC Class 8 tractors with Caterpillar electronically

controlled dual-fuel 3176B engines, with each truck

putting on 2,800 miles a week. The dual-fuel trucks have

two separate fuel systems; CNG is the primary fuel source

and the diesel is used for a pilot charge to ignite the CNG

and for emergency situations. The start-up report is available as document #3767 from the National Alternative

Fuels Hotline at 800-423-1DOE. 

Energy "Yellow Pages"

DOE’s Energy Information Administration (EIA) has

published its Energy Information Directory 1998. This directory reads like the "yellow pages" for the energy industry

with more than 400 contacts for federal agencies, state

offices, and trade associations. Most contacts are accompanied by an informational paragraph about the agency and

its role in the energy industry. The directory is distributed

by the National Energy Information Center at the EIA. For

information, call 202-586-8800.

Help for Hopeful Clean Cities!

The document outlining the Clean Cities application

and designation process has been revised. The new

Roadmap to Clean Cities simplifies and better describes 

program plan criteria, and further clarifies the designation

approval process. Any questions you may have about

becoming an official member of the Clean Cities

Network are answered in this guide!

The Roadmap also includes descriptions

of the two new coalition requirements

regarding EPAct compliance and 

private-fleet recruitment strategies. 

To obtain a copy, call your DOE

Regional Support Office Clean Cities

contact, the Clean Cities Hotline at 

800-CCITIES, or check it out on the

Web at: www.ccities.doe.gov.

Energy Outlook 1999

with Projections to 2020

The Annual Energy Outlook provides

forecasts of energy supply, demand,

and prices through 2020. The midterm

forecasts are prepared by the EIA, and

are based on results from EIA’s

National Energy Modeling System. A copy of the

report is available at www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/aeo99/

homepage.html.

3rd Edition of Guide to Incentives and

Laws Now Available

To view the most up-to-date information on AFV incentives and laws, check out the Clean Cities AFV Fleet

Buyer’s Guide Web site: www.fleets.doe.gov. At this site,

in the Incentives and Laws section, you can select your

state and run a query to view the incentives and laws

available to support alternative fuels in your state.If you

select "All States," you can view and print out all the information for 50 states.

If you do not have Web access, call the Clean Cities

Hotline at 800-CCITIES, and a copy of the information 

you need can be sent to you. A few hard copies of The

Guide to Alternative Fuel Vehicle Incentives and Laws may

also be available.
15

West Virginia University’s National

Alternative Fuels Training Program

naftp.nrcce.wvu.edu

If you are looking for information about training in the

technology of alternative fuel vehicles, this is the place to

start. The site contains a program overview, a listing of

classes held at the National Alternative Fuels Training

Program’s Sabraton Training Facility in West Virginia, a

comprehensive list of National Training Centers, and 

helpful links.

New Vehicle Evaluation Project

afdc3.nrel.gov/demoproj/ldv/nve/

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory is evaluating

the performance of light-duty AFVs compared to similar

gasoline vehicles in the areas of acceleration, braking, 

fuel economy, driveability and handling, emissions, and

cold-start tests. The data for the E85 Dodge Caravan are

available in a two-page, easy-to-read fact sheet. Future

testing will be conducted on the Ford F250 dedicated compressed natural gas (CNG) pickup, Ford Motor Company

F250 propane bi-fuel pickup, General Motors Corporation

CNG pickup, and the Honda dedicated CNG Civic. 

EPA’s Clean Fuel Fleet Program

www.epa.gov/orcdizux/cff.htm

Do you have questions about the Clean Air Act and the

Clean Fuel Fleet Program (CFFP)? Are you in Atlanta,

Georgia; Chicago-Gary-Lake County Illinois/Indiana;

Denver-Boulder, Colorado; or Milwaukee-Racine,

Wisconsin? Do you want to know what vehicles you can

use to comply with the mandate? If you answered yes to

any of these questions, visit this Web site for CFFP regulations and guidance and a list of all light, heavy, and alternative fuel vehicles that are low-emission-vehicle certified.

Fuel Economy Guide

www.doe.gov/ or www.epa.gov/OMSWWW/cert/feguide

DOE and EPA have made the 1999 Fuel Economy Guide

available on-line with a new section that highlights alternative fuel vehicles in addition to conventional gasoline

and diesel vehicles. The site allows you to sort the data by

manufacturer or car class. The guide lists estimates of

miles per gallon for each vehicle available for the new

model year and is intended to help consumers compare

the fuel economy of similarly sized vehicles.

On the Web
2nd Clean Airport Summit

April 12–14, 1999

Chicago, Illinois

Contact: Clean Airport Partnership at 303-499-2299

National Association of Fleet Administrators 

Fleet Workshop and Conference

May 2–5, 1999

New Orleans, Lousiana

Contact: Ruth Noviello at 732-494-8100

Windsor Workshop on Transportation Fuels

June 7-9, 1999

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Contact: Susan Metcalf, 905-822-4111, ext.515

7th Annual Environmental Vehicles and Alternative

Fuels Conference and Exposition (EnV99)

June 13-16, 1999

Ypsilanti, Michigan

Contact: Geraldine Robak, 248-355-2910, ext.117

Air and Waste Management Association 

92nd Annual Meeting and Exhibition

June 20-24, 1999

St. Louis, Missouri

Contact: Denise Loberto, 412-232-3444

Sunrayce 99

June 20-29, 1999

From Washington, D.C., to Ocala, Florida, ending at

the EPCOT Center in Orlando, Florida

Contact: Bryan Arnold, 800-606-8881

15th Annual International Fuel Ethanol Workshop

and Exposition

June 22-25, 1999

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Contact: Bryan and Bryan, Inc., 719-942-4353

16

National Alternative Fuels and 

Clean Cities Hotline

NREL

1617 Cole Blvd., MS/1633

Golden, CO 80401-3393

Upcoming

Conferences 

and Events

S F T W

3 4 5 6 7

14

21

28

13 12 11 10

20 19 18 17

27 26 25

DON’T MISS OUT!

The Fifth National Clean Cities 

Conference and Exposition 

is Right Around the Corner!

May 23-26, 1999

Louisville, Kentucky

The National Clean Cities Program has planned

another action-packed week! This fifth annual

conference brings together Clean Cities and 

alternative fuel industry stakeholders from across

the country to discuss the latest technological

advances, share their success stories, and develop

future market strategies. Don’t miss out on the

nation’s premier alternative fuels event!

This year you can network with colleagues at the 

Gardens of Louisville Exposition Hall, and experience

first-hand what it is like to drive the most advanced

alternative fuel vehicles on the roads today. Other

conference topics include EPAct and EPA air 

quality regulation updates, and a full day 

dedicated to "Racing to New Markets."

Louisville will be perfect in spring, offering big-city

convenience and small-town hospitality. 

We hope to see you there!