Puget Sound Clean Air Agency
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 26, 2009

Puget Sound Clean Cities Coalition receives $15 million for clean fuels, vehicles and infrastructure projects

August 26, 2009 –The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today awarded the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency’s Clean Cities Coalition program $15 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for alternative fuel and vehicle projects throughout the Puget Sound region. These projects will put more than 650 alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles on the road, and build new fueling stations and several hundred electric charging stations.

"This level of funding is unprecedented in the history of the Department of Energy's Clean Cities Program, and will allow our local Coalition partners to significantly reduce their vehicle emissions and use of foreign oil, while also increasing local green jobs,” said Stephanie Meyn, Puget Sound Clean Cities Coalition Coordinator. “This is really something to celebrate!"

"This was a very competitive grant,” continued Meyn. “Our proposal was one of only 25 selected from across the country. We congratulate our partners and commend their commitment to being on the leading edge of efforts to advance the use of cleaner fuels and technologies in our region."

U.S. Representative Jay Inslee (D-Wash.), a leading advocate in Congress for petroleum reduction programs that address the need for regional alternative fuel and advanced technology options, supports this project.

“Today’s announcement will put more Americans to work and signal the commencement of an educational program that will increase public awareness by outreach to an unprecedented 30 million people per year,” said Rep. Inslee. “I am also pleased that Washington State is once again a significant partner in the effort to make the transition to alternative energy sources.”

Projects to receive funding through this award include:

  1. Evergreen Fleets, a program which provides assistance to fleets to become “green” – and adopt sustainable practices and policies. Funding will assist 21 fleets acquire over 450 alternative fuel or hybrid-electric vehicles. It will also help build three alternative fueling stations, two solar demonstration sites, and at least 90 electric charging hubs.

  2. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Ground Support Equipment Electrification: Sea-Tac Airport aims to become the first airport in the U.S. to fully electrify its fleet of ground support equipment. This funding will help Sea-Tac acquire 200 pieces of equipment and install new electric charging hubs.

  3. Biogas for Buses: Through this innovative program, biomethane from a Whatcom County dairy farm will be harvested and converted into fuel to be used by commercial tour buses shuttling passengers to and from Seattle to Vancouver, B.C., during the 2010 Winter Olympic games and beyond.

  4. Advanced Technologies Education & Outreach. The DOE funding will help several local colleges and universities develop electric vehicle and clean energy programs.

The main objectives of these projects are to improve regional air quality, advance the use of cleaner fuels and technologies to help curb reliance on foreign oil, and preserve and create new jobs. Collectively these projects are expected to:

  • Cut petroleum fuel consumption by 3 million gallons per year
  • Reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 7,500 metric tons per year
  • Reduce air pollutants by 220 metric tons per year
  • Preserve and create at least 350 jobs nationwide

Project partners and participants include: Bellair Airporter Shuttle, Bravo Environmental, BYG Taxi Co-Op, City of Bellevue, City of Everett, City of Issaquah, City of Kirkland, City of Mercer Island, City of Olympia, City of Renton, City of Sammamish, City of Seattle, City of Tacoma, King County, MasterPark, Port of Seattle – Sea-Tac Airport, SeaTacPark.com, Shoreline Community College, Snohomish County, STITA Airport Taxi, Tacoma Public Utilities, Vander Haak Dairy, University of Washington, Washington State University, Wenatchee College, Western Washington University, and WorldCNG.

The Puget Sound Clean Cities Coalition is a program of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. The Clean Cities Coalition advances the region's environmental and public health, energy security and economic development by promoting policies and practices that reduce petroleum consumption in transportation. The Puget Sound Clean Cities coalition is part of a network of more than 80 communities within the U.S. Department of Energy’s national Clean Cities program.

 

For more information about the Puget Sound Clean Cities Coalition, visit: http://pugetsoundcleancities.org/

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The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is an air quality management agency serving King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties. Created as a result of the 1967 Washington Clean Air Act, the agency protects public health and improves air quality by adopting and enforcing air quality regulations, educating individuals and businesses about clean-air choices and sponsoring voluntary initiatives to improve air quality.