WELCOME TO THE CAPITAL DISTRICT CLEAN COMMUNITIES COALITION

What is Capital District Clean Communities?

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Clean Cities program is a voluntary, locally based government/industry partnership. It is designed to “advance the national, economic and energy security of the United States by supporting local decisions to reduce use of petroleum fuels in vehicles.” Clean Cities carries out this mission through a network of more than 80 volunteer coalitions, which develop public/private partnerships to promote alternative fuels and vehicles, fuel blends, fuel economy, hybrid vehicles, and idle reduction.

The Capital District Clean Communities (CDCC) coalition is one such volunteer coalition. The CDCC was formed in 1999 primarily to take advantage of the environmental, public health, energy, and economic benefits that the Clean Cities program offers. The Capital District Transportation Committee (CDTC), the Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Capital Region,  manages the coalition as part of their staff’s tasks. The Capital District provides substantial opportunities for the expansion of the alternative fuel marketplace, particularly with the large state vehicle fleet that operates in the area. Stakeholders in CDCC recognize the need to provide greater fuel choices in the Capital District and to reduce its dependence on imported oil.

Several of the CDCC stakeholders have moved forward in the alternative fuel arena. Some have received grant monies through the Clean Cities program to aid in the cost of converting vehicles, purchasing new alternative fuel vehicles or installing fueling infrastructure. Many area stations offer E-85 fuel to the public.  Several offer bio-diesel at the pump and bio-heat for residential heating oil. The Albany International Airport has installed a CNG fueling station (using airport funds) and with the aid of grant money, purchased six CNG parking lot shuttle vehicles and several CNG pick-up trucks that are used in airport maintenance activities. The Capital District Transportation Authority operates over 50 hybrid-electric buses and has ordered more. National Grid uses bio-diesel in all of their diesel trucks.

A recent (2009) USDOE Clean Cities solicitation attracted new “players” to the Alternative Fuel Vehicle arena: Coca Cola, the City of Albany, the State University at Albany, NYS Department of State, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, National Grid, Verizon and five area school districts. These entities will receive a total of 59 AFV’s:

Albany International Airport: 1 Fourteen Passenger CNG Shuttle Vehicle
Ballston Spa CSD: 6 LPG School Buses, 1 LPG Fueling Station
Coca Cola: 2 Hybrid Electric Tractor Trailer Trucks
Charlotte Valley CSD: 4 LPG (Propane) School Buses
City of Albany: 1 Heavy Duty Hybrid Electric Vehicle, 1 Heavy Duty Hydraulic Hybrid Vehicle, 10 Light Duty Hybrid Electric Vehicles
East Greenbush CSD: 1 Plug-in Hybrid Electric (PHEV) School Bus
Gilboa-Conesville CSD: 3 LPG School Buses
Hoosic Valley CSD: 6 LPG School Buses, 1 LPG Fueling Station
National Grid: 2 Heavy Duty Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Vehicles, 14 Medium-Duty CNG Vans, 1 CNG fueling station
NYSDEC: 2 Hybrid Electric Buses
NYSDHSES: E85 Firefighter Training Program
UAlbany:  5 Hybrid Electric Buses
Verizon: 12 Medium Duty CNG Vans
 

It's easy to join the CDCC.  Membership is free.  Members must read and sign the Memorandum of Understanding.  There are several Clean Cities Coalitions in NYS. Please join the coalition that suits your geographic location. The CDCC meets in Albany and serves Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Fulton, Montgomery, Schoharie, Otsego, Greene, Columbia, Warren and Washington Counties. For a list of NYS coalitions, click here.