Atlanta is one step closer to reducing its dependence on foreign oil and improving fuel economy and air quality thanks to the Clean Cities Atlanta Petroleum Reduction Program, which is currently underway.
Project managers have been finalizing partner agreements and program elements since the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory announced the award of a $14.9 grant last fall as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The total $39.5 million program includes the DOE grant and an additional $24.5 million in local cost share funding provided by program partners.
“Clean Cities Atlanta received one of the largest grants issued by the Department of Energy for this program,” said Don Francis, Clean Cities Atlanta Coordinator. “It represents a significant commitment by our members to reduce their consumption of petroleum and improve air quality in the metro Atlanta region.”
The program, now in the implementation phase, will boost the supply of alternative fuels by constructing a Landfill Gas-to-Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion facility at a DeKalb County landfill and adding five CNG refueling stations and increased capacity at a sixth station in the metro Atlanta region. The project will further help to reduce the demand for petroleum-based fuels by deploying 200 alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles. Facility implementations and vehicle deployments will continue over the next two years. CNG stations implemented as part of this Clean Cities Atlanta program will be accessible to the public.
“DeKalb County is proud of our partnership with Clean Cities Atlanta and the guidance that Billy Malone, DeKalb's Director of Sanitation, gave to the process,” said Kathie Gannon, DeKalb County Commissioner, District 6. “The conversion of our landfill gas to clean transportation fuel is a huge economic and environmental win/win for our region.”
The public/private partnership, managed by Clean Cities Atlanta includes DeKalb County, City of Atlanta/Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Center for Transportation and the Environment, City of College Park, Coca-Cola Refreshments (CCR) - a division of The Coca-Cola Company, The Parking Spot, PS Energy Group, Inc., Sustainable Atlanta and United Parcel Service (UPS).
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Atlanta will benefit greatly from the emissions reduction from a public health perspective. This program also will provide a template for the expanded use of locally produced renewable transportation fuel and advanced technology vehicles in a variety of applications.
“We are pleased to be a part of this important sustainability program. Moving toward an all-CNG-fueled Airport shuttle bus fleet is an important step in reducing the city’s overall carbon footprint. And it brings us closer to the overall goal of having 12 percent of the city fleet operate on alternative fuels,” said Louis Miller, Aviation General Manager at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Under ARRA, the Clean Cities program funds a range of energy efficient and advanced vehicle technologies, such as diesel hybrids, hydraulic hybrids and compressed natural gas vehicles, helping reduce petroleum consumption across the U.S. In addition, funding will support refueling infrastructure for various alternative fuels, including natural gas. Other efforts under the Clean Cities program include public education and training initiatives to further the program's goal of reducing the national demand for petroleum.
“This Clean Cities grant provides us with a unique opportunity to reduce transportation-related emissions in the metro Atlanta region,” added Steve Clermont, Director of Evergreen Sustainability Solutions for Center for Transportation & the Environment. “It is a critical step forward to improve our choices for alternative fuels and vehicles and reduce our dependence on petroleum.”
A public education campaign focused on alternative fuel technologies and vehicles will be driven by Clean Cities Atlanta and sub-recipient partners to demonstrate the financial viability of the LFG – CNG business model as well as the economic and environmental effectiveness of CNG and hybrid vehicles in delivery, passenger shuttle and municipal fleet operations. For more information, please visit http://www.cleancitiesatlanta.net/.
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