Clean Cities Displaces 375 Million Gallons of Gas in 2006
WASHINGTON -- The Department of Energy's (DOE) Clean Cities coalitions across the nation displaced the equivalent of 375 million gallon of gas in 2006, according to a recent report from the DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
Made up of nearly 90 member coalitions, the Clean Cities program is a partnership among the government, private and industry sectors, with the goal of expanding the use of alternative fuel vehicles and developing a network of alternative fuel retail locations so vehicles running on the fuels can use them, the report stated. In addition, Clean Cities aims to reduce petroleum consumption.
The mid-term goal for the coalitions is to displace 3.2 billion gallons of gasoline by 2020. To date, the effort has exceeded its 2006 goal by 700 million gallons, with each year's results exceeding the target, the report stated.
"The significant progress Clean Cities made in 2006 shows impressive commitment by our coalition members," DOE Clean Cities director Dennis A. Smith said in a statement.
Of the total displacement last year, 71 percent was a result of alternative fuel use, 35 percent of which was with compressed natural gas, the report stated. In addition, the number of E85 fueling locations more than doubled from 436 to 995.
The department also estimated that in 2006 drivers displaced 10.4 million gallons of gasoline through reducing engine idling and driving more than necessary. In addition, the purchase of alternative fuel vehicles added 44,000 hybrid electric cars to the roadways, a 61 percent increase over the 17,000 hybrid cars bought in 2005.
Made up of nearly 90 member coalitions, the Clean Cities program is a partnership among the government, private and industry sectors, with the goal of expanding the use of alternative fuel vehicles and developing a network of alternative fuel retail locations so vehicles running on the fuels can use them, the report stated. In addition, Clean Cities aims to reduce petroleum consumption.
The mid-term goal for the coalitions is to displace 3.2 billion gallons of gasoline by 2020. To date, the effort has exceeded its 2006 goal by 700 million gallons, with each year's results exceeding the target, the report stated.
"The significant progress Clean Cities made in 2006 shows impressive commitment by our coalition members," DOE Clean Cities director Dennis A. Smith said in a statement.
Of the total displacement last year, 71 percent was a result of alternative fuel use, 35 percent of which was with compressed natural gas, the report stated. In addition, the number of E85 fueling locations more than doubled from 436 to 995.
The department also estimated that in 2006 drivers displaced 10.4 million gallons of gasoline through reducing engine idling and driving more than necessary. In addition, the purchase of alternative fuel vehicles added 44,000 hybrid electric cars to the roadways, a 61 percent increase over the 17,000 hybrid cars bought in 2005.