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Triangle J Council of Governments : Press Releases http : //www . tjcog . dst . nc . us/pressrls . htm � . 27 [let 9 Press Release November 27 , 2000 For immediate release TRIANGLE COALITION JOINS CLEAN CITIES The Triangle Clean Cities coalition is officially joining a constellation of 78 other regions around the U . S . as part of the U . S . Department of Energy ' s Clean Cities Program . Clean Cities is a program initiated by the DOE to encourage public/private partnerships in an effort to develop markets for alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs ) . The primary objectives of the Clean Cities program are to reduce our nation ' s dependence on foreign oil and clean up tail pipe emissions . Triangle Clean Cities is a coalition of over 40 stakeholders made up of consumers , fuel and vehicle suppliers , state and local governments , utilities , federal agencies and environmental groups encompassing Chatham , Durham , Franklin , Johnston , Orange and Wake Counties . The coalition was formed in the Spring of - 1999 and is being hosted by Triangle J Council of Governments through funding provided by the State Energy Office and a Mobile Sources Emission Reduction Grant provided by the Division of Air Quality . Becoming part of the Clean Cities program involved organizing an effective coalition and developing a detailed program . In a recent letter acknowledging the coalition ' s accomplishment , Shelley Launey , Director of the National Clean Cities Program , stated that , " The goals and objectives of your plan are specific and the stakeholder responsibilities clear, indicating the coalition ' s commitment to developing the AFV market . " A survey of the area' s AFVs and infrastructure found that there are currently over 1 , 700 AFVs and 44 refueling/recharging stations in the region . Most of the AFV ' s , over 1 , 500 , are flex -fuel - vehicles that can run on both gasoline and ethanol . The region also boosts use of compressed natural gas , biodiesel , electric vehicles and propane and intends to add over 700 AFVs and 16 refueling/recharging stations by 2004 . Triangle Clean Cities is the first coalition in NC to receive the distinction of joining the Clean Cities Program and is now eligible to compete for up to $ 3 . 8 million dollars in federal funding to meet its goals of increasing the use of alternative fuels . An official designation event is planned for March 19th in Raleigh as part of an Alternative Fuel Vehicle conference . For more information contact . Anne Tazewell 558 - 9400 annet@tjcog . org Updated December 5 , 2000 i _ rn . . ,.. .. .. I .+ . . . ter