• 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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Clean Energy Economy for the Region (CLEER) will manage the project and provide training for regional Clean Cities organizations such as Denver Metro Clean Cities, Garfield Clean Energy in Garfield County, Northern Colorado Clean Cities in Fort Collins and Southern Colorado Clean Cities in Colorado Springs. These local organizations will enlist fleets to participate in the Refuel Colorado Fleets project, which will encompass at least seven communities across Colorado. Once the communities are selected, the trained energy coaches from Clean Cities will work with local government and business fleets to help them with purchasing alternative fuel vehicles and improving fleet efficiency.

“Helping local communities make more widespread use of alternative vehicle fuel technologies also helps drive economic development,” said Alice Laird, executive director of CLEER. “This project will help Colorado speed up our transition to domestic vehicle fuels, building business and jobs.”

The $225,000 Refuel Colorado Fleets project is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and does not include funds for fueling stations, charging stations or alternative fuel vehicles.The Colorado Energy Office also plans to provide public information through web tools, support stakeholder initiatives to remove barriers to alternative fuel adoption, and incorporate alternative fuel vehicles in the state fleet.

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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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Each session will cover the details of converting to propane autogas for an array of industries, including law enforcement fleets, lawn and landscaping companies, public transportation fleets, taxis and limousines, HVAC companies and many more. Hear experts from Alliance AutoGas discuss the only complete program to switch fleets to autogas, while the skilled professionals at Force 911 share information about versatile bi-fuel propane autogas vehicle technology and conversions for your fleet.

The webinar will be held on the first Tuesday of every month at 2 p.m. EST, beginning March 5. Visit Force 911 online for more information, or link directly to the webinar registration page here.

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• Mentioned in our blog post about propane pricing earlier this week, a Wisconsin coffee roaster is switching fleet vehicles to propane autogas with the help of Charter Fuels. Charter provides the Alliance AutoGas complete program for fleets in Wisconsin, including vehicle conversions, fueling and staff training.

• An alternative fuel vehicle conversion facility is being funded in West Virginia. Alternative Fuel Solutions received financing from INNOVA Commercialization Group for a facility to convert vehicles to run on natural gas, propane autogas, and other alternative fuels.

• More alt fuels news from West Virginia, as Kanawha County continues converting its fleet vehicles to clean fuels.

• Ford, Mercedes and Nissan have apparently “signed a technology pact to produce a car that emits nothing but water by 2017.” The three automotive powerhouses will split development costs and share decades of research in order to deploy the hydrogen fuel cell vehicles within four years.

• A school district in Montana has renewed its contract with First Student Inc. for another five years and plans to switch to new propane autogas school buses to cut cost and reduce harmful emissions.

• Indianapolis Power & Light Company is installing 26 electric vehicle charging stations for non-emergency electric plug-in vehicles in the city’s fleet. The mayor signed an executive order last December requiring the city to replace approximately 500 non-police sedans with hybrid vehicles.

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• Fontaine Modification has joined the Alliance AutoGas network to provide propane autogas vehicle conversions for fleets in eight locations across six states. The autogas modification centers are located in Garland, Texas; Denton, Texas; Laredo, Texas; Charlotte, N.C.; Dublin, Va.; Gainesville, Ga.; Springfield, Ohio; and Williamstown, W.V.

• A school district in Roslyn, N.Y., has added three new propane autogas buses to cut fuel costs. This district is also adding a propane-powered van to its fleet.

• Power Solutions International, Inc., a clean tech engine supplier, has earned EPA and CARB certifications for its 2.0-Liter and 2.4-Liter spark-ignited industrial engines. The engines meet standards for off-road, large spark-ignited (LSI) engines for mobile applications running on propane autogas and natural gas.

• As it nears a milestone of awarding 500 $3,500 rebates for large-battery system plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and battery-electric vehicles, the Department of Environmental Protection in Pennsylvania has extended the alternative fuel vehicle rebate program. Rebates of $1,000 are offered for natural gas, propane autogas, hydrogen and fuel-cell vehicles.

• According to NGT News, Kwik Trip, Inc. has “aggressive” plans for CNG in 2013, with at least 10 state-of-the-art CNG fueling stations planned in addition to the nine it launched in the second half of 2012.

• A fleet in Southwest Virginia could save almost $47,000 annually by converting 10 buses from gasoline to propane autogas. The annual cost to operate a gasoline bus 21,500 miles per year is $9,379 versus $4,718 for an autogas-powered bus, according to figures from Alliance AutoGas.

• The City of Temple, Texas, is in the process of reviewing proposals for a CNG fueling station to serve their 14 new natural gas waste trucks. The vehicles will cost the city $3.3 million, while installing the fueling infrastructure will cost about $1.3 million.

• And finally, a fun one: automotive blog Jalopnik counts down the 10 strangest alternative fuel cars ever built.

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Also, just a heads up that this blog will take a brief hiatus over the holidays next week, but we’ll be back with all the alternative fuel and fleet industry news you’ve come to expect in the New Year. So, happy holidays, happy New Year, and we’ll see you again in 2013! Here’s what’s making headlines for the week of December 17:

• Student Transportation of America is set to purchase more than 400 propane autogas school buses from Blue Bird Corp. for Omaha Public Schools and Millard Public Schools in Nebraska.

• Alliance AutoGas welcomed new Nova Scotia-based partner Wilsons Fuel Company Ltd., which brings the Alliance complete program to vehicle fleets in Atlantic Canada.

• The National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium at West Virginia University has been awarded a new grant for nearly $1 million to train first responders how to handle accidents involving alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles.

• The president of Michigan Alliance AutoGas partner Crystal Flash spoke to MLive.com about the international clean fueling and conversion network.

• The Coles County Sheriff’s Office in Illinois has switched two fleet vehicles to propane autogas to save on fuel costs.

• The city of Avon Lake in Ohio is taking measures to open a regional propane autogas fuel station and possibly convert nine city vehicles to bi-fuel autogas systems.

• The new Ford Transit van will come equipped with a natural gas/liquid propane conversion kit.

• The Pound Ridge Police Department in New York state may convert cruisers to run on autogas.

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• Fleets in the Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program saved $1.62 per gallon on fuel costs last quarter.

• A Georgia school district is very pleased with its propane autogas school buses–so pleased, they’re already considering adding more.

• Alternative fuel vehicles are growing in popularity with Colorado fleets.

• GE has purchased 2,000 Ford C-Max Energi plug-in hybrids for their fleet and will partner with Ford and researchers from Georgia Institute of Technology to study  driver habits with plug-in vehicles.

• Municipal and government fleets in Arizona are looking for ways to save money, including switching to alternative fuel vehicles like propane autogas and natural gas and taking measures for fuel efficiency.

• The police department of La Crosse, Wis., bought five new patrol cars they’re planning to convert to run on propane autogas.

• Those surveyed in the transportation sector say they’re concerned with the impact fuel price volatility will have on their businesses.

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In the aftermath of a natural disaster, the agility of state and local emergency responders is more critical than ever. But events like this week’s storm can threaten the dependability of our fuel supply. That’s just one reason many law enforcement agencies have seen significant success with propane autogas.

Autogas is American-made and costs significantly less than gasoline, but it is also a highly portable fuel that can be readily relied upon in times of critical need. Autogas proved the best answer for Sheriff Stan Evans of Jackson County, who wanted a supplementary fuel supply for his deputies. After the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, Sheriff Evans came face-to-face with the threat fuel scarcity could pose, particularly for emergency responders in states directly impacted by such a catastrophic event.

Evans appreciated the reliability of propane autogas supply and the flexibility afforded by autogas vehicle technology. The Jackson County sheriff vehicles use the bi-fuel Prins system from Alliance AutoGas so deputies can switch readily between autogas and gasoline as needed. And with fuel cost savings of $1.50 per gallon with autogas, as well as a 30 percent reduction in harmful emissions, it’s no wonder the Sheriff’s office has transitioned well over half of its vehicle fleet to run on autogas.

This week has presented a solemn reminder of our vulnerabilities; but we are optimistic that as our nation’s energy portfolio diversifies to include more of clean and domestically produced transportation fuels like propane autogas, we will be better equipped for the road ahead.

The national kickoff event is hosted by the Greater Indiana Clean Cities Coalition in Indianapolis Thursday, where around a thousand expected attendees will have the opportunity to test drive alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles. Propane autogas experts from Alliance AutoGas will be on hand at the Indianapolis kickoff event to display propane-powered vehicles and speak about this affordable clean fuel for fleets.

More than 150 other Odyssey events will also take place across the country that day. Virginia Clean Cities is hosting two separate events: the Harrisonburg Clean Energy Day Odyssey and the Hampton Roads Clean Energy Day Odyssey, featuring the Virginia Propane Autogas Roadshow.

The Virginia Propane Autogas Roadshow will highlight fleets in the Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program and offer presentations from industry leaders Alliance AutoGas, ROUSH CleanTech, the Propane Education and Research Council, and VCC. Alliance AutoGas provides autogas fuel supply, fueling infrastructure and vehicle conversion equipment for Program fleets, and Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell recently signed an agreement with Alliance AutoGas extended partners to switch state fleet vehicles to autogas.

The Hampton Roads Odyssey Day event will also feature a variety of clean vehicle technology, including two Chesapeake CNG waste haulers, a 2013 Chevy Volt, a 2013 Nissan LEAF and a Hampton Roads Transit hybrid/electric bus. Click here for a full list of Odyssey Day events near you.

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