Linn-Benton Community College (LBCC), based in Oregon, will begin offering a new curriculum designed to train students and transportation professionals to service propane autogas and other alt-fuel vehicles.
The college recently received a $170,000 grant from the Pacific Propane Gas Association (PPGA) to support the purchase of new equipment that will be used at LBCC's Advanced Transportation Technology Center (ATTC). Automotive and heavy-equipment students will receive training using advanced propane autogas systems on late-model vehicles, which will also be used as demonstration vehicles to show local fleets the benefits of using propane as a transportation fuel.
In addition to propane, the new center will offer training related to natural gas vehicles, electric vehicles and other advanced transportation technologies. To date, LBCC has raised about $6.2 million to support the ATTC, which will host a 10,000 square-foot ‘innovation center,’ compressed natural gas and propane fueling stations, and electric vehicle charging stations. That part of the project will break ground during winter 2014. An additional 20,000 square-foot building is also planned.
Partners in the ATTC include Snap On, Pacific Power, John and Phil's Toyota and CoEnergy Propane.
