ARRA-Funded Program to Promote Clean Propane Autogas at Virginia Odyssey Day Events

HARRISONBURG, Va., Oct. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program will have displays at two Odyssey Day events in Virginia on October 15 to share information about the Program and the benefits of propane Autogas vehicles. Odyssey Day is held every two years and is the nation's largest alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicle event. This year, Odyssey Day will be celebrated on October 15 at more than 100 locations across the United States.

The Program will have information booths at the events at Tidewater Community College in Chesapeake, Va. and James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. Event attendees can learn about the positive impacts of the Program, including how propane Autogas vehicles are reducing harmful emissions and lessening U.S. dependence on foreign oil. The Program, which is converting 1,200 vehicles to propane Autogas and implementing more than 20 propane Autogas fueling stations, will displace an estimated 3.9 million gallons of gasoline and eliminate more than 3.75 tons of airborne pollutants each year of the project.

Virginia Clean Cities, the Program administrator, is hosting the TCC and JMU events. VCC Executive Director Chelsea Jenkins says, "Odyssey Day events are a great way for fleets to learn how easy it is to make the switch from gasoline to alternative energies, like emissions-cutting, domestically produced propane Autogas. We encourage people to take advantage of programs like this in order to explore the alternative fuel and advanced technology landscape – the more people know, the faster our nation will move toward energy independence."

Alliance AutoGas, a Program partner that will provide all the conversion equipment, fuel supply and vehicle conversion support to the Program's fleets, will display an Autogas bi-fuel Crown Victoria at the TCC Odyssey Day event.

"Autogas is an ideal solution for fleet vehicles, allowing fleets to save on maintenance and fuel costs while reducing emissions and U.S. reliance on foreign oil," says Steve McCoy, an Alliance AutoGas representative who will attend the TCC event and provide the vehicle. "It's great to show people at events like Odyssey Day how great Autogas vehicles drive and just how easy it is to fuel them up, on top of all their other benefits."

The Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, which also administers the Program, is sponsoring both the Tidewater Community College Odyssey Day and James Madison University events. The TCC event will take place Friday, October 15 from 10-2 p.m., and the JMU event will be held Friday, October 15 from 2-5 p.m.

The Program

The Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program is supported by funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the U.S. Department of Energy's Clean Cities Program. The program is managed and administered by the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy and Virginia Clean Cities at James Madison University. The project includes partnerships throughout the Southeast – from Maryland to Florida to Louisiana – including public and private fleet organizations, non-profits, government stakeholders, and several major alternative energy and manufacturing companies in the alternative fuel market. To learn more visit www.usepropaneautogas.com or contact Lauren Scott at [email protected] or (512) 524-5456.

SOURCE Virginia Clean Cities