LONG BEACH, CA – Funded by the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act and the U.S. Department of Energy Clean Cities, the Virginia Clean Cities' grant program is helping fleets convert more than 1,000 vehicles from gasoline to propane autogas and implementing more than 25 propane autogas fueling stations across the Southeast.

“The ACT Expo was the perfect opportunity to share our story about the positive impact this Program is having and to boost awareness of this affordable clean fuel,” said Chelsea Jenkins, VCC Executive Director and a featured speaker at the expo. “Autogas is an alternative fuel that is readily available and can help our nation meet its critical environment and energy security goals while saving fleets money, too.”

This year’s Alternative Clean Transportation Conference and Expo featured presentations from the administrator of the Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program, Virginia Clean Cities (VCC).

Jenkins spoke during the Propane Engine Fuel Summit Wednesday, May 4, as part of the Clean Cities and Propane Industry Partnerships panel. She detailed Program logistics and development, highlighting the partnership with national clean vehicle network Alliance AutoGas and recent accomplishments, such as the newly launched educational propane autogas website.

Friday, May 6, Jenkins delivered a presentation titled “If You Build It: Expanding Propane Autogas Infrastructure in the Southeast” during the Infrastructure: Planning Models – Corridors panel.

In terms of larger numbers of vehicles converted, the organization said Greenville County converted 100 vehicles and Carroll County converted 30. Virginia Clean Cities listed the following public sector organizations as having converted a selection of vehicles to run on propane:

• Augusta County

• Carroll County Sheriff's Office

• Charlottesville Sheriff's Office

• City of Hopewell

• Cobb County

• Culpepper County Sheriff's Office

• Frederick County Sheriff's Office

• Greenville County

• James Madison University

• Kingsport

• Muscogee County Sheriff's Office

• Newport News

• Old Dominion University

• Pickens County

• Spotsylvania County

• Vestavia Hills

• Warren County

As part of the 1,000 vehicles converted, the program also worked with a number of companies.

• ABS Vans

• Blossman Gas

• Groome Transportation

• Lewis Pest Control

• Limousine Livery

• Peninsula Propane

• Red Top Cab

• Veolia Transportation