Tennessee Clean Fuels (TCF) has announced and recognized six new fleets in its “Tennessee Green Fleets” Certification Program during the 3rd Annual Sustainable Transportation Awards & Forum.
Afterward, TCF assembled a large gathering to showcase 40 alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs), including electric and hybrid, propane autogas, compressed and liquefied natural gas (CNG and LNG), the biofuels ethanol and biodiesel, hydrogen, and even a few bicycles, near the Bridge Building at Nissan Stadium.
This is the second year of the Tennessee Green Fleets Certification Program, which was sponsored by ICOM North America, Lightning Systems and Waste Management. Tennessee State Representative Charles Sargent was in attendance to help present the new fleets
with their Tennessee Green Fleets certification awards.
The Tennessee Green Fleets Certification Program was developed by the East and MiddleWest Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalitions to utilize performance-based metrics to analyze fleets’ vehicle and fuel-use data and to compare reductions achieved in gasoline-use and carbon emissions and increases in the number of AFVs or advanced technology vehicles in the fleet to previous years.
As reported, fleets are awarded points based on their achievement in these categories and are awarded certifications based on the number of points at a one-, two- or three-star level. The program encompasses all fuel and technology options, including biodiesel, natural gas, propane, electric, ethanol, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, idle-reduction and fuel economy strategies. Certified fleets can promote their greening efforts and include the certification and accolade in their sustainability portfolio information.
The 2017 inductees into the program are as follows:
One-Star fleets:
• Piedmont Natural Gas – Tennessee Fleet
• City of Sevierville
• Knoxville Utilities Board
• Middle Tennessee Natural Gas
Two-Star fleets:
• Sevier County Utilities District
• Franklin Transit Authority – TMA Group
In 2016, these six fleets combined reduced the equivalent use of 140,000 gallons of petroleum and prevented over 300 tons of carbon-dioxide emissions through their use of alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies.
Companies including UPS, FedEx Express, Knoxville Utilities Board, Waste Management, Lightning Systems, Icom North America, Piedmont Natural Gas, Gibson County Utility District, Franklin Transit Authority, Alliance Autogas, and the City of Nashville all displayed their AFVs at the event.
In addition, attendees rode a dedicated propane-powered school bus from Clarksville Montgomery County School System and then toured all of the vehicles with fuel and technology introductions along the way.
