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Granite State Clean Cities CoalitionWelcome to the home of the Granite State Clean Cities Coalition...Promoting the use of alternative fuel vehicles in New Hampshire |
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STAKEHOLDERS
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DOE
grants $100,000 for natural gas vehicles
CONCORD-The Governor’s Office of Energy and Community Services (ECS) today announced a $100,000 grant from the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) for the Granite State Clean Cities Coalition to increase the number of clean-burning vehicles in New Hampshire. The grant will be used to pay the incremental cost of 10 new natural gas powered Ford Crown Victorias for the Executive Airport sedan fleet of Regal Limousine Service in North Hampton, N.H. "We must reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil and look for new solutions to meet our energy and transportation needs. With the Granite State Clean Cities Coalition we are doing just that -- giving consumers more options for environmentally friendly transportation and assisting our efforts to become more energy independent," Gov. Jeanne Shaheen said. "This is a great example of the state, the private sector, and the federal government working together on a project to save energy while addressing air-quality problems along the I-95 corridor," said ECS Director MaryAnn Manoogian. "We are very proud that the Granite State Clean Cities Coalition is off to an impressive start and look forward to continued collaboration with Regal on this project." The cars will be purchased and placed into service by Regal, which is one of 40 stakeholders in the GSCCC. Other stakeholders include cities and towns, state agencies, private transportation companies, fuel suppliers, auto manufacturers and transit agencies. GSCCC stakeholders have committed to help expand the use of alternative fuels, including natural gas, electricity, hydrogen, biodiesel, and propane, in lieu of gasoline and diesel, in motor vehicles in New Hampshire. Working to promote the use of alternative fuels in transportation, expand the network of refueling stations in New Hampshire, reduce air pollution and decrease United States reliance on imported oil, the GSCCC was officially designated May 31 as part of the nationwide Clean Cities program. ECS and the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES) jointly coordinate the GSCCC. " Airport limousines are among the most visible fleets on the road," said Derek Greenauer, GSCCC coordinator at ECS. "Each Regal Limousine Service airport sedan makes roughly 2,000 trips annually between the New Hampshire Seacoast and Boston’s Logan International Airport-part of an important air-quality ‘non-attainment area’ in New England," he said. "Their operation of clean, natural gas vehicles will help bring the area into compliance with the Clean Air Act."According to Greenauer, the high visibility of the Regal Limousine Service fleet is an important consideration in this project. "Replacing these vehicles with natural gas Crown Victorias will address three important aspects of the Clean Cities program," he added, "creating public awareness of the benefits of alternative fueled vehicles (AFVs); significantly improving air quality in the region; and fostering sustainable economic development in the emerging AFV industry." The project with Regal should also have a wider effect, said Rebecca Ohler, Clean Cities Coalition coordinator at the Air Resources Division at DES. "By demonstrating the cost savings and feasibility of using natural gas as a primary fuel, as well as the pollution reduction benefits, we hope this effort will encourage expansion of the natural gas refueling infrastructure in the region," Ohler said. "The refueling facility at Regal will be open to the public, thereby making natural gas available as an alternative fuel in that area of the state," she noted. "We hope this investment will encourage other fleets - including municipal vehicles - to incorporate natural gas vehicles into their fleets." For more information, contact: Derek Greenauer, Clean Cities coordinator, 271-0477
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