Clean Cities
What is Clean Cities?
Clean Cities is a U.S. Department of Energy (U.S.DOE) program that promotes the deployment of alternative fuel vehicles and fuel economy programs nation-wide and internationally. The U.S.DOE Clean Cities Program has designated more than 88 volunteer coalitions in the United States to help with this task. The Los Angeles Clean Cities Coalition is one of these volunteer coalitions. For more information on the U.S.DOE Clean Cities Program, go to the logo links below. For more information on the Los Angeles Clean Cities Coalition, please continue reading.
CA State Links
California's Legislature established the Air Resources Board (ARB) in 1967 to:
- Attain and maintain healthy air quality.
- Conduct research into the causes of and solutions to air pollution.
- Systematically attack the serious problems caused by motor vehicles, which are a major cause of air pollution in the State.
For more information about ARB visit their the ARB webpage
(Return to City’s Alternative Fuel Page)
Click on the Los Angeles Clean Cities Coalition logo for more information about coalition achievements and progress made towards a cleaner Los Angeles. The flyer contains information about emission reductions, conservation efforts, numbers of alternative fuel vehicles found in the City’s fleet, and how vehicle miles traveled have been eliminated.
Los Angeles Clean Cities Induction Ceremony, 1996
COALITION BACKGROUND:
In February 1996, the City of Los Angeles joined the United States Department of Energy (DOE) Clean Cities Program by forming the City of Los Angeles Clean Cities Coalition. The Coalition supports the voluntary deployment of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) and construction of infrastructure to support AFVs and includes 18 Principal Stakeholders and 10 General Stakeholders, who may participate on a project per project basis. The Principal Stakeholders consist of key City departments. The General Stakeholders consist of government agencies, utilities, and non-profit organizations committed to improving air quality in the Los Angeles area.
GOALS:
The goals of the City of Los Angeles Clean Cities Coalition are to:
- Work to increase the City’s overall AFV fleet inventory by 15%, as a target goal, each fiscal year
- Identify opportunities to maximize the deployment of AFVs in City fleets
- Encourage the adoption of policies that promote the use of AFVs
- Enhance the support for AFV use by facilitating the expansion and increased utilization of AFV refueling/recharging infrastructure in the City
- Support local job creation and economic development opportunities related to the AFV industry through efforts to deploy AFVs in City fleets and enhance AFV use in the City
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Since establishing a Clean Fuel Policy (CF 00-0157) in 2000, the City’s alternative fuel fleet has grown by an average of 21 percent per year. The City’s active fleet now includes over 3,823 alternative fuel vehicles, with supporting alternative fueling stations and maintenance facilities. AFV use and fuel economy programs resulted in the conservation of over 8 million gallons of conventional fuel during the last reporting year (2008). The City’s AFV fleet and other emission reduction programs eliminated 8.3 million pounds of criteria air pollutants from vehicles in fiscal year 2008 at an average cost of 33 cents per pound of pollutant reduced. City employees participating in trip reduction programs eliminated almost 50 million vehicle miles this year by sharing rides, using public transit or riding or walking to work.
The City has 19 alternative fuel filling stations and there are approximately 175 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations throughout the Los Angeles area. In addition, the City is required by the Fleet Rules, adopted by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), to acquire alternative fuel vehicles in most City operations when adding or replacing vehicles in the fleet. Thus, AFVs will have a continued and increasing role in the City’s fleet. For more information visit the Alternative Fuel Vehicles brochure.
GRANTS AND AWARDS:
Participation in the Clean Cities Program provides the City with grant opportunities only available to Clean Cities Coalitions and also provides national recognition for the innovative alternative fuel projects spearheaded by the City. In 2008, the City’s Clean Cities Coordinator was nominated as “Coordinator of the Year” for the western region of the US and received the City’s Quality and Productivity Award for partnership in the “Fight Climate Change with Clean Fuel Fleet Project”. In 2004, an Excellence in Advancing Propane award was received. In 2001 the Clean Cities Legal Eagle Award was received for Advancing AFV Legislation.
Since the year 2000, Los Angeles Clean Cities staff have been responsible for bringing in more than $26 million in awarded grants to support the City’s deployment of alternative fuel vehicles. The DOE awarded the City of Los Angeles as one of the Top Ten Clean Cities in 2000. In addition, the Los Angeles Coalition has been presented with several Clean Cities awards, including the Rainmaker Award for securing the most funding from grants and other sources (1999) and the Gold Star Award for adding the most AFV fueling stations (1999, 2000).
CONTACTS:
Los Angeles Clean Cities Program, please contact the Climate and Air Program staff at heloise.froelich@lacity.org or wayne.king@lacity.org.
A complete listing of all U.S. Clean Cities coalitions is available here.
National Clean Cities Program contacts please call the Clean Cities Hotline at (800) 224-8437or (703) 934-3068 or via e-mail at ccities@nrel.gov. Michael A. Bednarz, Project Manager for the Western Region Clean Cities Program michael.bednarz@NETL.DOE.GOV.
MORE INFORMATION
Television News Story - (Use Quick Time Player for News Story)
The Los Angeles Clean Cities Coalition and other regional coalitions celebrated the fact that more than a billion gallons of gasoline have been saved due to the use of alternative fuels in vehicles, nation-wide. See links above for further information.
Cool Cars and Reflective Glazing
In 2006, California adopted the California Global Warming Solutions Act, also known as AB 32. This law created a comprehensive, long term plan for California to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Cool Paints was identified as an Early Action strategy, to be in place no later than January 1, 2010. This strategy is based on measures to reduce the solar heat gain in a vehicle parked in the sun. A cooler interior would make drivers less likely to activate the air conditioner, which increases carbon dioxide emissions.
For more information about the Cool Cars Program visit the ARB webpage.
Where to Buy a Clean Car
Driveclean.ca.gov is a web site of the California Air Resources Board developed as a resource for car buyers to find clean technology vehicles. For more information about DriveClean.ca.gov visit the ARB webpage.
The Truck Stop
The California Environmental Protection Agency / Air Resources Board has established a webpage to assist operators of trucks with their search for funding and assist their navigation of the rules, regulations, and requirements of operation within California. Please find information about clean air requirements for: diesel vehicles; trailers; diesel-fueled transport refrigeration units (TRU or REEFER units) and TRU generator sets that operate within California. All diesel fueled trucks, buses, trailers and transportation refrigeration units operating in California, including those based out of state, are required by regulations to take steps to reduce air pollution. A truck owner can answer a few basic questions about his or her fleet and get a personalized list of regulatory requirements and potential funding options, from that list they can access more specific information about only the regulationsand funding programs that apply to their unique situation. The site is designed primarily for the fleet owner but the information is also useful for the truck dealer, lender, air districts and others in the trucking community. Please call the California Air Resources Board Diesel Hotline at 866-6DIESEL (866-634-3735) for more information click here.
A collection of tool and resources for fleets wanting to evaluate using natural gas as a vehicle fuel
EVENTS:
AltCar Expo, City of Santa Monica, Friday & Saturday, October 2, and 3, 2009, 10 AM – 5 PM at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.
The City of Los Angeles believes that today's youth are our biggest allies in the fight against climate change and global warming. The Environmental Youth Conference engages young Angelenos to play a critical role in not only participating in greening initiatives, but educating others as well. The conference will be held this year on Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, South Hall. This conference, the largest of its kind anywhere in the world, is for the youth and by the youth. Youngsters run it, conduct workshops, publicize it, experience it and enjoy it.
Alternative Fuels & Vehicles National Conference + Expo 2010,
May 9-12, 2010 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada
