Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition

Programs: Alternative fuel and vehicle usage and infrastructure projects (85%) the organization continued its participation in the u. S. Department of energy's (doe) clean cities program as a designated clean cities coalition. The program promotes the use of alternative fuels and advanced technology vehicles (afv) to expand the market for alternative fuels, create job opportunities, improve air quality, and to reduce dependence on foreign sources of energy. During 2017, acfc and its members worked primarily with state and local governments to provide them with information on the benefits of afvs and to identify and implement afv uses and alternative fuel infrastructure projects. The use of alternative fuels increased significantly in alabama in 2017 and provided a reduction in the use of petroleum of almost 6. 2 million gallons of gasoline gallon equivalent (gge) and 14,168 tons of greenhouse gas emissions. This effort was lead primarily by state and local governments with assistance from the acfc. During 2017, alternative fuels (e85 ethanol, b20 biodiesel, and propane) continued to be included on the state fuel contract. In addition to being available to state agencies, these alternative fuels can be purchased by local governments on the state contract from approved vendors in all 67 counties in alabama. Use of alternative fuels in the fleets of government agencies in alabama continued to expand in 2017: the alabama department of transportation used 88,798 gallons of b20 biodiesel and 167,307 gallons of e85 ethanol; the alabama department of corrections used 60,215 gallons of propane; the alabama state docks used 2,840 gallons of propane; the alabama state motor pool used 30,727 gallons of e85 ethanol; the marshall space flight center used 37,379 gallons of e85 ethanol; the city of birmingham used 200,320 gallons of e85 ethanol and 148 gallons of propane; the birmingham-jefferson county transit authority (bjcta) used 974,715 gge of cng; the acfc developed public access cng station at the bjcta facility dispensed 265,305 gge of cng to the general public; the city of mobile used 1,201 gallons of propane and the mobile county schools used 178,350 gallons of propane; the lee county sheriff's office used 37,896 gallons of propane; the town of gordo used 6,711 gge of cng; the city of athens used 78,242 gge of cng; the city of gadsden used 105,000 gallons of b20 biodiesel and 9,500 gallons of e85 ethanol; the city of tuscaloosa used 12,325 gallons of propane; tuscaloosa city schools used 253,770 gallons of propane; lawson state community college used 2,930 gge of cng; the university of alabama, auburn university, and the city of montgomery operated electric vehicles in their fleet which reduced 59,760 gge of petroleum; and waste vegetable oil to biodiesel initiatives continued at the city of alabaster, the alabama institute for the deaf and blind and alabama a&m university, where these programs produced more than 2,275 gallons of b100 biodiesel. Acfc programs and activities laid the foundation for additional alternative fuel infrastructure projects increased the availability of cleaner burning fuels to the public in alabama during calendar year 2017 and beyond. Increasing availability of these fuels will improve air quality. In addition, other potential projects were identified for future funding and/or technical assistance. These acfc programs and activities serve to lessen the burdens of government. These acfc activities also further a charitable purpose by improving the environment, which promotes social welfare

education: dissemination of information (15%) during 2017 acfc conducted a transportation energy efficiency & smart city roadmap workshop in birmingham, an odyssey day workshop in birmingham, and a national electric drive week event in birmingham. Other outreach and educational efforts by acfc during 2017 included numerous stakeholder meetings, staffing an alternative fuel informational booth at the alabama league of municipalities annual meeting and responding to numerous media and consumer inquires on alternative fuels. Many of these meetings and events generated media coverage which enabled the messaging reach to be expanded significantly. These outreach and educational activities reached more than 239,000 people. Acfc operates a hotline through its website to provide information on the benefits of afv's and alternative fuels. During 2017 acfc responded to numerous requests for information. Examples of typical requests are from individuals interested in clean fuel/afv information and clean fuel station locations and requests from teachers for curriculum related information on afv's and air quality. Acfc also helped to generate print and online newspaper articles across the state on various alternative fuel projects and activities. These acfc activities further an educational purpose by disseminating information regarding risks posed by air pollution as well as information concerning clean fuel alternatives to fossil-burning vehicles.