Lone Star Clean Fuels Alliance Celebrates 20 Years of Helping Clear Austin's Air

AUSTIN, Texas -- An Austin-based organization celebrates 20 years of being green, having started before being green was cool. The Lone Star Clean Fuels Alliance (LSCFA) precedes next week's Earth Day by hosting its 20th Anniversary Celebration today at the Palmer Events Center from 10 am-3 pm. The LSCFA, formerly known as Central Texas Clean Cities, is a U.S. Dept. Of Energy-recognized non-profit coalition dedicated to reducing petroleum consumption in the transportation sector. In addition to a ride-and-drive and exhibits with cleaner-burning alternative fuel vehicles and technologies from area companies, there is a luncheon (11:30), with an address by State Representative Drew Darby, honoring special guests including legislators and agency heads who have helped to grow this membership-based organization - one of 90 such in the nation. This coalition was the sixth in the U.S.

Austin's local Clean Cities coalition, LSCFA, has helped to clean up City of Austin fleet vehicles as well as other fleet and personal vehicles. In 2012 alone, its stakeholders reduced petroleum consumption by 1.6 million gallons, reducing GHG emissions by 10 tons. The largest fuels or vehicles Clean Cities helps to advance are propane, biofuels: ethanol/E85 and biodiesel, natural gas, electric and hydrogen.

"The decision to continue to expand the use of various alternative fuels for fleet vehicles is really a 'no-brainer,'" said Gerry Calk, City of Austin Fleet Director, and one LSCFA Leadership award winner. "Once you get past the hurdle of putting infrastructure in place - if needed - to handle the alternatives, everything else is a benefit. Alternatives have much less negative environmental impact than conventional fuels, are often lower cost fuels, and are domestically produced from renewable or more abundant resources. Maybe future generations will develop technologies to solve all our energy problems, but until then, alternative fuels are the way to go."

 "We are proud to have been involved with LSCFA since its inception 20 years ago," said Curtis Donaldson, managing director and founder of CleanFUEL USA, based in Georgetown. "As one of the first Clean Cities coalitions in the country, LSCFA has worked diligently to bring multiple alternative fuel solutions to fleets in our community while simultaneously helping to grow businesses like ours, who offer those solutions." CleanFUEL was the first company in the U.S. to develop liquid propane fuel injection systems and also offer propane autogas refueling solutions.

The LSCFA has assisted fleets like Ft. Hood, Cities of Austin and Temple, and R&R Bus and Limo to convert or switch to propane, natural gas, biofuels, hybrids and all-electric vehicles, as well as has grown an extensive Texas commercial propane mower presence. Stacy Neef, LSCFA Executive Director since 2001, said, "As a fuel-neutral promoter of alternative fuels, one of our greatest efforts continues to be to bring more alternative fuel infrastructure to the public, and this is finally taking off with lots of electric charging stations, as well as local stations for all these fuels. We strive to educate drivers and fleets of their alternative fuel options, some of which are already parked in their driveway."

The other Lifetime Achievement and Leadership award winners today are:

·         TX Education Commissioner/Fmr Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams

·         Former Mayor and Senator Kirk Watson

·         Former General Land Office Commissioner Garry Mauro

·         Railroad Commissioner David Porter

·         State Energy Conservation Office Director Dub Taylor

·         State Representative Tony Dale

·         State Representative Jason Isaac

·         State Representative Eddie Rodriguez

·         Former Program Manager of Austin Clean Cities Fred Blood

·         Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell (invited).

Vehicles available for the ride-and-drive today include personal and commercial, such as the Nissan Leaf and more, and run on electric, propane, natural gas, and E85.

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About the Clean Cities program: Clean Cities advances the nation's economic, environmental, and energy security by supporting local actions to reduce petroleum consumption in transportation. A national network of nearly 100 Clean Cities coalitions brings together stakeholders in the public and private sectors to deploy alternative and renewable fuels, idle-reduction measures, fuel economy improvements, and emerging transportation technologies.
About LSCFA: For 20 years, your Austin-area Clean Cities coalition has helped clear the air through various projects such as migrating City vehicles to alternative fuels, converting much of the booming landscaping industry in TX to propane mowers, incentivizing AE customers to ride electric bikes and scooters, and much more. In 1994, under the City of Austin, Austin Clean Cities was the 6th coalition to join the U.S. DOE Clean Cities Program and the first city to join that was in attainment for air quality. In 2000, the Coalition rebranded and expanded to Central Texas Clean Cities, covering Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis and Williamson counties. Later, as part of Austin Energy, Ft. Hood joined the coalition, followed by the City of Temple. In 2012, the coalition reorganized into a DOE-recognized, membership-based, non-profit coalition named Lone Star Clean Fuels Alliance (LSCFA). In 2012 alone, our stakeholders reduced petroleum consumption by 1.6 million gallons, reducing GHG emissions by 10 tons.