The effort is part of a New England wide effort coordinated by the Maine Clean Communities Coalition to bring together Clean Cities coalitions in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, forming the New England Regional Clean Cities Coalition (NECCC). NECCC will work to diversify the availability of transportation fuels across the region under a grant from the US Department of Energy, "Removing Barriers, Implementing Policies, and Advancing Alternative Fuel Markets in New England." The total grant award is 750,000.
VTCCC coordinator Tom McGrath noted that "the work generated from this funding will help broaden the scope of the Clean Cities mission throughout Vermont and New England, identify and overcome barriers for alternative fuel distribution and use, as well as help promote projects that implement sustainable transportation practices."
Vermont Clean Cities Coalition (VTCCC) is initiating the formation of the New England Clean Fleet Certification Program, a project that will recognize public and private fleets across New England for their efforts in reducing petroleum fuel consumption such as use of alternative fuels and idle reduction. VTCCC has been active since 2008 from its base at the University of Vermont Transportation Research Center in working with Vermont fleets to improve efficiency and switch to alternative fuels. These successes will now be scaled up and tracked across the region.
In addition to the Clean Fleet Program, project activities New England wide include:
* Working with Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) to better understand alternative fuels and technologies
* Drafting model language for statutes, regulations and ordinances that promote the use of alternative fuels and alternative fuel vehicles
* Carrying out a survey of fleets to determine the barriers to adopting alternative fuels and alternative fuel vehicles
* Researching the barriers to the transport of alternative fuels
* Holding numerous trainings and workshops on propane, compressed natural gas, and biodiesel for first responders, fleets and fleet technicians
* Creating a Biodiesel Regional Workgroup to expand the use of biodiesel as a motor fuel in New England
The grant is one of 20 new projects announced by the Department of Energy to help states and local governments meet the demand for alternative fuel cars and trucks. For more information click here.
Credit: [Tom McGrath, Coordinator, Vermont Clean Cities Coalition]
Source: [www.uvm.edu]
