In recognition of their outstanding contributions tothe alternative fuels and vehicle industries, 10 organi-zations earned Clean Cities National Partner Awardsand induction into the Clean Cities Hall of Fame atthe 6th National Clean Cities Conference in May2000. The awards recognize companies, organiza-tions, cities, and states that strive to make wide-spread alternative fuel use a reality in communitiesthroughout the United States.

The Winners’ CircleCity of Dallas

Dallas, Texas, started its compressed natural gas(CNG) program in 1992 and has since promoted thegrowth of a public alternative fuels infrastructure

and encouraged other fleets to use natural gas.Setting an excellent example for communities acrossthe country struggling with air pollution problems,the city itself has purchased or converted more than500 vehicles that run on CNG, liquefied natural gas(LNG), and electricity. These AFVs fill up at the 28public refueling sites in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.Continuing to build on that record, the city recentlyplaced an order for 335 additional CNG vehicles.

Deere Power Systems Group

Public and private fleets across the United States arenow enjoying the many benefits of clean driving,thanks to Deere Power Systems Group (DPSG) inWaterloo, Iowa. A leader in its industry, DPSG offersadvanced technology, medium-duty CNG engines inapplications for school buses, shuttle buses, transitbuses, and Class 6 and 7 trucks. Instead of modifying

Clean Cities National Partner Awards

May 2000U . S . D E PA R T M E N T o f E N E R G Y ,

O F F I C E o f E N E R G Y E F F I C I E N C Y a n d R E N E WA B L E E N E R G Y

Multiple-use fuel linessurround an LNG DallasArea Rapid Transit (DART)bus at the fueling bay.Contributing to Dallas'strong commitment toalternative fuels, DARTowns 139 LNG buses andplans to purchase more.Ph

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diesel engines, DPSG designed and built the CNGengines from the ground up. With more than 800engines sold since 1996, this proven technology isdelivering low emissions, unsurpassed reliability, lowoperating costs, and significantly quieter operationthan diesel engines. The 6.8- and 8.1-liter CNGengines are certified to the EPA and California AirResources Board Optional Low NOx EmissionStandards.

East Ohio Gas Company

A key stakeholder in the Northeast Ohio Clean FuelsCoalition, the East Ohio Gas Company, a whollyowned subsidiary of Dominion, started using vehi-cles that run on CNG nearly two decades ago. Basedin Cleveland, it now has 614 CNG vehicles in north-east Ohio and expects to increase that number to 700by next year. In total, the Dominion companies oper-ate more than 1,300 alternative fuel vehicles in Ohio,Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. East OhioGas operates 12 fueling stations for its own fleet andsupports an additional 30 stations for external cus-tomers.

Harris Ranch

In the spirit of good environmental stewardship, oneof the largest agribusiness operations in Californialast year deployed 12 LNG Class 8 trucks and openeda public access LNG refueling station in Coalinga,

California. Harris Ranch’s new delivery trucks,which replaced diesel tractors, travel more than amillion miles and are expected to displace approxi-mately 10 tons of particulate matter and oxides ofnitrogen emissions each year. By switching to LNG,Harris Ranch reduced its fuel costs by about 3-5 centsper mile, which translates to an impressive savings of$45,000 a year considering the current price of dieselfuel. Its public refueling station helps facilitate thedeployment of additional clean fuel vehicles through-out the region.

Lower Merion School District

Thanks to the district’s 60 CNG buses, many studentsin the Lower Merion School District now enjoy aclean ride to school. Based in Ardmore,Pennsylvania, the district purchased its first CNGbus in 1996. It plans to add five more CNG buses toits fleet this year, bringing its natural gas total to animpressive 65%. An active stakeholder in the GreaterPhiladelphia Clean Cities Program, the LowerMerion School District recently surpassed two mil-lion miles of alternatively fueled travel. It plans toadd an additional 13 CNG buses by 2005.

Newspaper Agency Corporation

The Newspaper Agency Corporation in Salt LakeCity, Utah, delivers two daily newspapers with acombined circulation of nearly 200,000. A shiningexample of a successful alternative fuel niche market,the company’s fleet of 255 vehicles includes 232 nat-ural gas vans that log about six million miles a yearand save the company thousands of dollars in fuelcosts. This progressive organization is working

U. S. D E P A R T M E N T o f E N E R G Y

The Lower Merion School District uses 60 CNG buses and plans to addfive more to its fleet this year.

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Deere Power Systems Group builds advanced CNG engines for schoolbuses, shuttle buses, transit buses, and Class 6 and 7 trucks.

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toward running its entire fleet on natural gas. Inaddition to providing volunteer leadership in the SaltLake Clean Cities Coalition, the company partneredwith the coalition to produce three newspaper sec-tions dedicated to air quality, transportation, and theenvironmental effects of urban growth. The educa-tional sections were distributed to more than 450,000students across the state.

Questar Gas Company

A proven leader in the natural gas industry, theQuestar Gas Company in Utah operates 640 alterna-tive fuel vehicles and 22 public and 63 private refuel-ing sites. Thanks to Questar, the region boasts thefourth largest natural gas and propane infrastructurein the United States. The forward-thinking companywas instrumental in initiating a Clean Cities Program

in Salt Lake City. In an effort to spread the goodnews about the environmental and financial benefitsof natural gas, the company offers alternative fuelvehicle test drives to fleet managers and providesalternative fuel information to elected officials, fleetmanagers, business people, and schools. QuestarGas has delivered natural gas to residential, commer-cial and industrial customers throughout Utah,southwestern Wyoming and southeastern Idaho fornearly 70 years.

Regional Transportation Commission of ClarkCounty

The Regional Transportation Commission of ClarkCounty, based in Las Vegas, Nevada, runs its entirehandicapped-accessible 135-vehicle paratransit fleeton CNG. The commission plans to purchase morealternative fuel buses in the future. It owns six CNGrefueling stations, four of which are open to thepublic.

State of Arizona

The state of Arizona passed an incentive package foralternative fuel vehicles that surpasses that of anyother state. The package was passed with strong sup-port from Jeff Groscost, speaker of the Arizona Houseof Representatives; the State Energy Office; MaricopaAssociation of Governments Clean Cities Coalition;and Tucson Clean Cities Coalition. The financialincentives include: tax credits for alternative fuelvehicles (up to $10,000 for purchasing a new AFVand up to $5,000 for a conversion) and refueling sta-tions; 98% reduction in AFV license taxes; andexemption from state and local sales taxes for AFVpurchases.

Yellow-Checker-Star Transportation

Yellow-Checker-Star Transportation in Las Vegas,Nevada, operates 585 propane-powered taxis thattravel 50 million miles per year. As a long-timechampion of alternative fuels, the company first usedalternative fuel vehicles in 1981, and has since con-verted more than 2,000 vehicles to clean-burningfuels. Its 1,700 employees are knowledgeable aboutthe environmental benefits of alternative fuels.Committed to a cleaner environment, the companyestimates its use of alternative fuels displaced 800tons of particulate matter and carbon monoxide in1999.

U. S. D E P A R T M E N T o f E N E R G Y

Questar Gas Company CNG vehicles fill up at public and privaterefueling stations throughout Utah, southwestern Wyoming, andsoutheastern Idaho.

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Yellow-Checker-Star Transportation, the largest taxi business inNevada, operates its entire fleet on propane. Star-Limousine, anew limousine service started by Yellow-Checker-Star Transportation,will eventually convert all of its limousines to propane.

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About Clean Cities…The Clean Cities Program is a voluntary, locally based government and industry partnership. The program,now in its seventh year, seeks to expand the use of alternatives to gasoline and diesel fuel in order to reducedependence on imported oil, lessen air pollution, and increase public awareness about the benefits of usingalternative fuels over gasoline and diesel. Almost 80 coalitions and some 3,800 stakeholders have joined tosupport the Clean Cities Program.

Now in their fourth year, the Clean Cities Coalition Awards recognize outstanding achievements in buildingcoalitions, promoting and increasing alternative fuel vehicle use, developing AFV infrastructure, and support-ing alternative fuel and AFV legislation.

For more information, you can

• call the Clean Cities Hotline at 1-800-CCITIES• visit the Clean Cities Web site at

http://www.ccities.doe.govor

• e-mail the Clean Cities Hotline at ccities@nrel.gov

U. S. D E P A R T M E N T o f E N E R G Y

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of EnergyEnergy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office of Transportation Technologies

Prepared by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)NREL is a U.S. Department of Energy National LaboratoryOperated by Midwest Research Institute • Battelle • Bechtel

NREL/FS-540-28346May 2000

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