The nation's largest public access CNG and LNG truck fueling station in Port of Long Beach, a stop on the technical alternative fuel tour given the day before the conference. (image: actexpo.com)
This year’s Alternative Clean Transportation (ACT) Conference and Expo featured speakers from the Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program, an organization dedicated to eliminating harmful vehicle emissions and decreasing our dependence on imported fossil fuels by increasing autogas use. The event took place last week in Long Beach, CA, and offered attendees the latest information on regulatory policies, funding opportunities, and developing technology. The Expo showcases successful advancements in clean vehicle and alternative fuel technology, and propane autogas had a strong showing!
The Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program is a partnership of nine Southeastern states that seeks to put at least 1,000 autogas-fueled cars on the road and build over 25 more autogas fueling stations. It’s funded by grants from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and is managed by Virginia Clean Cities (VCC), an organization working “to improve Virginia’s air quality, increase U.S. national energy security and promote economic opportunity in Virginia by facilitating increased use of alternative fuels and vehicles.”
VCC Executive Director Chelsea Jenkins was among the industry leaders giving presentations on ways to expand autogas infrastructure. She pointed out the continued need for industry expansion to meet the growing needs of commercial fleets, which have been among the first to take advantage of cheap, clean burning autogas. She discussed symbiotic programs during the Clean Cities and Propane Industry Partnerships panel, and endorsed a new educational autogas website which could serve as a useful tool for fleets looking to convert.
Virginia Clean Cities executive director Chelsea Jenkins speaks frequently about autogas infrastructure expansion. (image: greenfleetconference.com)
While autogas has the most widespread fueling infrastructure of any alternative fuel, it’s not considered readily accessible to the average driver. Converting an engine to accept autogas instead of gasoline isn’t too difficult, but finding fueling stations can be challenging. And, autogas vehicles aren’t on the American market yet, as they are in parts of Europe.
“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 Jenkins. “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.”