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Triangle J Council of Governments: Press Releases <br />:.,k <br />Press Release <br />November 27, 2000 <br />For immediate release <br />http://www.tjcog.dst.nc.us/pressrL <br />TRIANGLE COALITION JOINS CLEAN CITIES <br />The Triangle Clean Cities coalition is officially joining a constellation of 78 other regions <br />around the U.S. as part of the U.S. Department of Energy's Clean Cities Program. Clean Cities <br />is a program initiated by the DOE to encourage public/private partnerships in an effort to <br />develop markets for alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs). The primary objectives of the Clean <br />Cities program are to reduce our nation's dependence on foreign oil and clean up tail pipe <br />emissions. <br />Triangle Clean Cities is a coalition of over 40 stakeholders made up of consumers, fuel and <br />vehicle suppliers, state and local governments, utilities, federal agencies and environmental <br />groups encompassing Chatham, Durham, Franklin, Johnston, Orange and Wake Counties. The <br />coalition was formed in the Spring of 1999 and is being hosted by Triangle J Council of <br />Governments through funding provided by the State Energy Office and a Mobile Sources <br />Emission Reduction Grant provided by the Division of Air Quality. Becoming part of the <br />Clean Cities program involved organizing an effective coalition and developing a detailed <br />program. In a recent letter acknowledging the coalition's accomplishment, Shelley Launey, <br />Director of the National Clean Cities Program, stated that," The goals and objectives of your <br />plan are specific and the stakeholder responsibilities clear, indicating the coalition's <br />commitment to developing the AFV market." A survey of the area's AFVs and infrastructure <br />found that there are currently over 1,700 AFVs and 44 refueling/recharging stations in the <br />region. Most of the.AFV's, over 1,500, are flex-fuel - vehicles that can run on both gasoline <br />and ethanol. The region also boosts use of compressed natural gas, biodiesel, electric vehicles <br />and propane and intends to add over 700 AFVs and 16 refueling/recharging stations by 2004. <br />Triangle Clean Cities is the first coalition in NC to receive the distinction of joining the Clean <br />Cities Program and is now eligible to compete for up to $3.8 million dollars in federal funding <br />to meet its goals of increasing the use of alternative fuels. An official designation event is <br />planned for March 19th in Raleigh as part of an Alternative Fuel Vehicle conference. <br />For more information contact: <br />Anne Tazewell <br />558-9400 <br />annet@tjcog.org <br />Updated December 5, 2000