• The Alternative Clean Transportation conference and exhibition is being held June 24-27 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and Embassy Suites in Washington D.C. The Expo Hall is free and open to the public June 26-27. Alliance AutoGas president and CEO Stuart Weidie will speak as part of a panel on alternative fuel infrastructure Wednesday afternoon. His presentation, “The Cost-Effectiveness of Propane Autogas Refueling Infrastructure, Present and Future,” will offer expert insight on how fleets can switch to clean fuel at little to no upfront cost.

• A Lead The Way propane autogas event is scheduled for the afternoon of Monday, June 24 by the Propane Education & Research Council, an ACT Expo presenting sponsor. Mike Barrett, regional maintenance director of Veolia Transportation, will share his firsthand hand experience with switching a nationwide taxi fleet to autogas through Alliance AutoGas, as part of the Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program. The Clean Cities Annual Stakeholders Event is also being held that day.

• As we’ve mentioned previously, the Georgia Alternative Fuel Vehicle Roadshow is traveling around this month, with stops this week in Savannah, Augusta, Valdosta and Columbus. Fleets interested in learning more about a variety of domestic clean fuel options should attend a roadshow to learn from the experts and test drive a vehicle.

• The 2013 National Sheriff’s Association Annual Conference is being held June 20-26 at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, N.C. Law enforcement officers from across the country will gather to learn the latest trends and technologies available, including clean fuel vehicles powered by propane autogas.

• June 20 also marks the kicks off the Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program’s Propane Autogas Roadshow series. The first roadshow is being held in Montgomery, Ala., and is free and open to the public, with registration. Hosted by the Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition, participants include Alliance AutoGas, the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, PERC, as well as propane-powered fleets such as Lewis Pest Control, Lee County and Community Counseling Services. Industry experts will discuss operating both vehicle fleets and lawn and landscape equipment on clean, affordable propane autogas.

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The Polk County Sheriff’s Office will reduce its fuel costs by more than $20,000 annually with the new propane-powered patrol cars. Conversions and fueling are provided through Alliance AutoGas, with West Coast flagship fuel provider Blue Star Gas at the helm. Converted vehicles include seven Ford Crown Victorias, two Chevy Tahoes and one Ford F-350 pickup truck.

Sergeant Mark Garton of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said they were looking for a way to save money on the fuel costs since patrol cars average almost 25,000 miles each year. Now, not only will officers save money on fuel costs at the pump, there’s also a 50-cent-per-gallon federal alternative fuel tax credit that will go back into the pocket of the county–and back to services that benefit taxpayers.

Deputies haven’t detected any loss in vehicle performance with the propane-powered cruisers, and they’re also enjoying the versatility offered by the bi-fuel Prins VSI autogas system Alliance AutoGas uses for vehicle conversions.

“The ability to switch back to gasoline is a tremendous option for our fleet because in an emergency situation, we not only have a full tank of propane but also a backup full tank of gasoline,” said Sergeant Garton.

For more first-hand fleet testimonials from other propane autogas fleets, visit the Alliance AutoGas website.

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Sheriff Van Duncan accepted the Clean Air Excellence award during a WNCRAQA board meeting May 14 at the agency’s office in Asheville. The sheriff’s fleet is saving more than $13k annually and displacing 20 tons of greenhouse gas emissions running 10 cruisers on propane autogas since February 2012.

Buncombe County Sheriff Van Duncan accepts the Clean Air Excellence Award, along with Steve Whaley from Alliance AutoGas.

Buncombe County considered the reduction in the fleet’s overall carbon footprint as well as fuel cost savings and vehicle performance when it came to choosing an alternative fuel. Switching to propane autogas was an ideal choice to support the sheriff office’s mission to clean up the community and create a better environment for future generations. Autogas is significantly cleaner than gasoline or diesel, and U.S. fleets currently save upwards of $2 per gallon filling up with autogas versus gasoline.

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“By using American-made clean fuels for transportation, we can reduce the supply disruption and price volatility that come with reliance on foreign oil,” says Stuart Weidie, founder of Autogas for America and president of Alliance AutoGas. “Improving national security and stabilizing the cost of transportation is a critical next step for America’s growth. Propane autogas is a proven fuel that can help to meet our country’s transportation needs. It’s American made, cost $1.50 less per gallon than gasoline, and it’s immensely practical for America’s transportation sector–all while reducing harmful emissions by 30 percent compared to gasoline.”

Check out the full video below, and be sure to visit the Alliance AutoGas YouTube channel to learn more about propane autogas for fleets.

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Sun Ray was the first business in the Columbus area to invest in more eco-friendly dry cleaning methods, and now it’s the first dry cleaners locally to operate autogas vehicles. The new autogas vans will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions and harmful pollutants, they will help reduce the fleet’s fuel costs as well.

Alliance AutoGas provides fleets everything they need to launch and maintain a successful propane autogas program, from vehicle conversions and on-site fuel station installation, to staff safety training, ongoing technical support and a reliable year-round fuel supply. Sun Ray Dry Cleaners joins many other fleets in Georgia that have switched to autogas through the Alliance program, such as the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office, which has converted more than 30 patrol cruisers to propane autogas.

Propane autogas is the most widely used alternative fuel in the world, powering 18 million vehicles globally. Autogas is more affordable than gasoline, produces significantly fewer greenhouse gas emissions and 98 percent of the U.S. autogas supply is made in America. Fleets operating on propane autogas are currently saving upwards of $2 per gallon on fuel versus gasoline.

Sun Ray Dry Cleaners is a full-service dry cleaners and laundry with eight locations across the Columbus area. In addition to dry cleaning and hand-cleaning services, Sun Ray offers leather and suede cleaning, rain proofing, shirt laundering, wash/dry/fold services, and wedding gown and memorabilia preservation. Visit www.sunraycleaners.com for more information.

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• Alliance AutoGas welcomed Ohio-based Arrick’s Propane, which will provide clean propane autogas fueling and conversions to fleets in three states.

• A dry cleaners in Georgia is the first in the Columbus area to go green with propane-powered service vehicles.

• Mississippi’s governor signed several energy bills this week, some of which are related to alternative fuel vehicles.

• The UPS fleet’s shift to more natural gas vehicles will impact regional automotive and clean fuel businesses as well.

• Metro magazine has an update on a Kansas government fleet’s conversion to autogas.

• Rutgers held an alternative fuel conference this week for industry experts to discuss the use of clean fuels to help reduce pollution and save energy.

• Colorado vehicle fleets are now required to purchase alternative fuel vehicles as part of their usual vehicle replacement programs.

• The federal government plans to double its hybrid vehicle fleet.

• The Appling County Board of Education in Georgia announced it has obtained two Blue Bird propane autogas-fueled school buses, which should save the school district around $51,000 in fuel costs over the lifetime of the vehicles.

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JHA co-owner Ben Jackson says they discussed the “autogas option” for about five years and, after extensive research, recently decided to convert Chevrolet Express vans, Silverado trucks and GMC Sierra trucks in their fleet to autogas. Blossman Gas provides year-round fuel supply, while certified Alliance conversion center Force 911 performed the vehicle conversions at local automotive repair service center Stanford Automotive.

“Making the switch to autogas was a smart decision for our fleet,” says Dale Jackson, co-owner. “Not only is autogas better for the environment than gasoline, it will ultimately save the company thousands of dollars on reduced fuel and maintenance costs, a savings which in turn will be passed on to our customers.”

As part of their 40-year anniversary celebration, JHA featured their clean fleet at an event in LaGrange last Friday. Check out the video below for first-hand testimonials from owners Dale and Ben Jackson about how they’ve benefited from operating fleet vehicles on autogas.

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• The Polk County Police Department converted 10 cruisers to propane autogas through Alliance AutoGas, saving the fleet $47,000 in fuel costs annually.

• The general manager of Olympic Pool Plastering in Georgia discusses how running his fleet vehicles on autogas helps his company promote clean air and save on fuel costs.

• Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in northern Michigan is deploying two propane autogas pick-up trucks and three Chevrolet Volt plug-in electric vehicles, and will also install on-site charging and fueling stations for the vehicles.

• A city in Ohio is converting 12 vehicles to propane autogas. The city fleet has more than 300 vehicles in its fleet; and if the process of converting vehicles to autogas is successful, they plan to add more kits to other vehicles in the future.

• ROUSH CleanTech will begin production on the new multipurpose Ford F-650 propane autogas fuel system this October.

• LP Gas Magazine offers highlights from last weekend’s Southeastern Convention & International Propane Expo.

• The Propane Education and Research Council discussed clean propane autogas technology at the convention and expo in Atlanta.

• Auto dealers in the U.S. have “issues” with a proposed alternative fuel vehicle tax credit.

• The Motley Fool takes a look at which states are the most “alternative fuel-friendly.”

• Tax credits for alternative fuel vehicles head to the Colorado Senate.

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The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office converted 10 Ford Crown Victorias to run on autogas with funding through the Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program, which administered by Virginia Clean Cities. The new clean vehicles will not only displace 20 tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year, they will also save the county more than $13,000 annually on fuel costs. Each year, the sheriff’s cruisers travel an average of almost 25,000 miles and will use around 17,000 gallons of propane autogas.

From the article:

“We were looking at two main things when it came to switching to alternative fuel vehicles,” said Buncombe County Sheriff Van Duncan. “We wanted to boost our bottom line in terms of fuel cost savings and also have cleaner-burning cars on the road.”

Propane autogas was the practical fuel choice, he added, because it supports these goals and utilizes an American-made fuel. Plus, there isn’t a noticeable difference in vehicle performance other than the “motor runs a little quieter” on autogas.

Alliance AutoGas provides vehicle conversions and fueling for fleets in the Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program. Sheriff Duncan is particularly pleased with the bi-fuel Prins VSI (Vapor Sequential Injection) autogas conversion systems, distributed by Alliance in the U.S.

“The ability to switch back to gasoline is a tremendous option for law enforcement fleets,” said Sheriff Duncan. “It’s just one button on the center of the dash and you’re back to running on gasoline.”

The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office will be recognized with a Clean Air Excellence Award from the Western North Carolina Regional Air Quality Agency May 14 in Asheville, N.C.

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Until then, here’s your weekly collection of the top alternative fuel news headlines:

• The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has issued its annual alternative fuel vehicle data set…for 2011. Better late than never? Natural gas, ethanol and propane autogas were the top three most-consumed alternative fuels.

• Williamson County, Texas, is saving $73,000 annually operating 36 fleet vehicles on autogas. Their story is part of the Fueling Texas campaign from the Propane Council of Texas to educate fleets across the state about the benefits of operating on autogas.

• A New York school district is considering adding Blue Bird propane-powered buses to its fleet.

• The Chicago Tribune offers a few simple fuel economy tips for drivers.

• Is turning cow manure into natural gas the future of clean energy?

• A local FedEx Ground delivery fleet in South Carolina is running on autogas.

• Affordable electric vehicles are still not a reality.

• The Monticello Police Department in Iowa is considering the switch to propane autogas.

• TransEnergy Solutions and the Propane Education & Research Council are hosting a Green Transportation Conference in Denver April 30.

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