• AOL’s Autobloggreen wrote about how Alliance AutoGas is helping to expand the network of propane autogas stations in the U.S.

• The lawn and landscaping team for the national mall in Washington D.C. just gained six new clean propane autogas mowers.

• DIRECTV plans to expand its propane autogas vehicle fleet over the next year.

• U.S. Sen. Bob Casey outlined legislation Monday that would add more alternative fuel stations along U.S. highways.

• Legislation sponsored by New Jersey Senators Bob Smith and Linda R. Greenstein was approved in the Senate to help the state’s transition to low- and zero-emission vehicles.

• A Wisconsin Alliance AutoGas partner and fleet customer has increased its clean fleet to 10 propane service vans, with fuel supply and support from Charter Fuels.

• Finally, listen to Autogas for America founder and Alliance AutoGas President Stuart Weidie discuss why propane autogas is an ideal fuel for fleets.

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Propane autogas is an ideal fuel for sheriff’s fleets because it’s dependable, cost-effective and won’t affect vehicle performance. With the bi-fuel Prins VSI autogas system, used by Alliance AutoGas when converting gasoline vehicles to run on autogas, officers have increased vehicle range because the system automatically reverts to gasoline if the autogas tank runs out. Also, this versatile system is attractive for sheriff’s fleets because it can be switched from retiring vehicles to newer models with very little cost or vehicle downtime.

Running on autogas also saves fleets significantly on fuel costs–right now upwards of $1.80 per gallon versus gasoline–a savings that counties can put back into the pockets of taxpayers or other programs. And since propane autogas is a cleaner-burning fuel than gasoline, autogas vehicles require less maintenance and the engines last longer.

Alliance AutoGas has helped many sheriff’s fleets across the U.S. switch to propane autogas. Fleets such as the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office save thousands on fuel costs and reduce emissions with clean autogas cruisers. Deputies say they love the performance, reliability and ease of operating propane autogas vehicles.

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• Big news this morning from Alliance AutoGas, which announced it has built a network of 600 propane autogas fuel stations–and growing–to make clean fuel available to more U.S. fleets. These autogas refueling sites extend from the Southern U.S., Pacific Northwest and Midwest, all the way to Canada, and many places in between.

• The Alabama Propane Autogas Roadshow is today, and Mark Bentley of the Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition writes about the benefits of this cost-effective clean fuel in the Montgomery Advertiser.

• Meanwhile, the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Roadshow is still making its way around the state of Georgia.

• The California Energy Commission approved more than $5 million in funding for buy-down incentives for propane autogas and natural gas vehicles.

• The city of Livonia, Mich., is launching its own propane autogas refueling station.

• A Pennsylvania school district is gaining 22 new propane-powered school buses.

• Propane autogas and natural gas fleets just got a huge boost in the state of Florida.

• Torrington Public Schools in Connecticut unveiled their propane bus fleet this week.

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Fleet owners, government officials and community members are welcome to test-drive clean propane autogas vehicles and learn from industry experts. The event is free with registration, and a complimentary lunch will be provided. Speakers include representatives from leading industry organizations like Alliance AutoGas, ROUSH CleanTech, the Propane Education and Research Council, ALLGAS/Lampton-Love and the Alabama Propane Gas Association.

The vehicle ride and drive begins at 2pm, after the informative presentations have wrapped up. Attendees will get hands-on experience with autogas vehicles during the ride and drive, and local fleets such as Lewis Pest Control, Lee County and Community Counseling Services will discuss their experience converting to autogas.

Propane autogas fleets save on fuel and maintenance costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, all while operating on an American-made fuel. Propane autogas is the most widely used alternative fuel, with 21 million autogas vehicles around the world. U.S. autogas fleets save an average of $1.50 per gallon on fuel versus gasoline.

Representatives from Virginia Clean Cities say the Program will complete the targeted total of 1,200 propane autogas vehicle conversions by December 2013.

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• Carolina Cat, a heavy equipment provider based in Charlotte, N.C., has joined Alliance AutoGas to provide clean autogas conversions for fleets in Western North Carolina. Carolina Cat will perform vehicle conversions using the bi-fuel Prins VSI autogas system, which can automatically revert to gasoline and easily be switched from a retiring vehicles to a new one.

• Virginia Clean Cities announced it has launched 1,000 propane autogas vehicles across the U.S. through its DOE-funded project, the Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program. Propane-fleets that switched to autogas through this Program include law enforcement flees, small business fleets, public transportation fleets, private medical transit fleets and even the Veolia Transportation nationwide taxi fleet.

• Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal signed into law a rewrite of the state’s alternative fuel vehicle tax credit program to limit the potential for ballooning costs.

• The city council in Livonia, Mich., is reviewing a proposal for an alternative fuel station for natural gas and electric vehicles.

• Penske Truck Leasing will handle vehicle maintenance for Alpha Baking Co. Inc., which has about two dozen Ford E-450 propane-powered delivery trucks.

• Two new Illinois school bus fleets will soon be running on clean, American-made propane autogas.

• The cost of an electric car can outweigh the benefits of cheap fuel.

• Natural gas may be making headlines as a transportation fuel, but there’s unfortunately not many places for fleets to fill up.

• Thanks to a landmark low-carbon fuel rule in California, there are more clean vehicles on the road throughout the state than ever before. According to the article, “California drivers saved more than two billion gallons of gasoline in the two years since the launch of the rule—about as much gas as the state uses in two months. The carbon emissions reduction is equal to taking half a million vehicles off the road.”

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• 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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• An Oregon sheriff fleet expects to save thousands with 10 new propane cruisers.

• The Alternative Fuel Vehicle Roadshow is making its way through Georgia over the next couple of weeks, featuring vehicles that run on propane autogas, natural gas, biofuels and electricity.

• The Flint Mass Transportation Authority is working with Crystal Flash, which is part of Alliance AutoGas, to switch 57 buses to run on autogas. They hope to have 92 clean buses by the fall.

• States are increasingly hitting owners of alternative fuel vehicles with extra taxes to offset decreasing gasoline tax revenues.

• A conference in Houston, Texas, this week focused on alternative fuel fleets.

• The largest school district in Arizona will have nearly 90 propane-powered buses in its fleet soon. According to School Transportation News: “The district said it is saving more than $0.37 per mile in operating costs and with the new buses expects to save $4.43 million in total operating costs over a five-year period.”

• The price for used Nissan Leafs is expected to fall.

• This Forbes article poses the question: should we be turning natural gas into gasoline?

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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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• Experts from Alliance AutoGas and ROUSH CleanTech recently spoke with a couple Georgia city and county governments about the benefits of running vehicles on propane autogas.

• The Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition is teaming up once again with the team from the Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program to present a propane autogas roadshow June 20 in Montgomery.

• How is FedEx reducing its fuel use and emissions?

• A GE Capital Fleet Services survey finds that driver safety is a number one concern among fleet managers.

• Propane autogas vehicle technology was in the spotlight at last week’s Police Fleet Expo in Fort Worth, Texas. Operating on autogas can save law enforcement fleets thousands on fuel costs annually, in addition to the increased vehicle range offered with bi-fuel autogas systems.

• A California transit fleet has introduced new hybrid diesel electric buses to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.

• A city in Alabama is switching to biodiesel fuel to power heavy equipment, and expects to save $10k per year in tax credits for using alternative fuel.

• Meanwhile, the Wilmington International Airport has saved about 8 percent on energy costs by greening its operations, including running mowers on clean propane.

• An alternative fuel roadshow is headed to Georgia from 9 a.m.-noon June 13 at Savannah Technical College.

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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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