Propane Autogas Gains Traction, America's Vehicle Fleets Have New Resource to Learn About Leading Alternative Fuel

HARRISONBURG, Va., April 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program has launched a new website (www.usepropaneautogas.com) to increase awareness of the benefits of propane autogas and to provide fleets with information about how to get up and running on this clean alternative fuel. Autogas is domestically produced, clean-burning, and costs about a dollar less per gallon than gasoline.

"We are excited to launch this website, which not only highlights our fleet partners and successes, but also serves as a resource for fleet owners and managers who are looking for unbiased information about propane autogas vehicles and fueling," says Chelsea Jenkins, director of Virginia Clean Cities. "Autogas reduces greenhouse gas emissions and is domestically produced, so autogas fleets can feel good about their fuel choice while reducing their operating and fuel costs."

Funded by the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act and the U.S. Department of Energy's Clean Cities, the Program is bringing this internationally popular fuel technology to Southeastern U.S. fleets to reduce our dependence on imported oil, lower vehicle emissions and create American jobs. Propane autogas is the third most commonly used vehicle fuel globally – after gasoline and diesel - but less than 2 percent of the world's 15 million autogas vehicles are in the U.S.

The Program will deploy more than 1,000 propane autogas vehicles from public and private fleets, as well as implement more than 25 propane autogas fueling stations across the Southeast. The Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy and Virginia Clean Cities are administering the program.

"With gasoline prices on a steady rise, there has never been a better time for fleets to learn the bottom-line benefits of clean fuel alternatives like autogas," says Jenkins. "We encourage private businesses and government organizations with vehicle fleets to explore the new site and find out what autogas can do for their fleets."

Top website features include:

• Propane autogas for Fleets: Find out how to switch your fleet from gasoline to autogas
• Fuel Savings Calculator: Learn how much your fleet could save with autogas
• Fueling Station Information: Learn about putting an autogas station at your fleet base
• News & Media: Stay up to date with press releases, videos and news featuring Program fleets

About The Program

The Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program is comprised of public and private partnerships throughout nine states in the Southeast U.S. and Washington, DC. Over its four-year span, the program will put over 1,000 clean autogas vehicles on the road and implement more than 25 autogas fueling stations. The program is supported by funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the U.S. Department of Energy's Clean Cities Program. It is managed and administered by the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy and Virginia Clean Cities at James Madison University. To learn more, visit www.usepropaneautogas.com or contact [email protected].

SOURCE Virginia Clean Cities