PUGET SOUND CLEAN CITIES RANKED AS TOP TEN COALITION
May 2003

The U.S. Department of Energy has ranked the Puget Sound Clean Cities Coalition among the top ten performing coalitions for 2002. 

This designation is based on the Coalition's overall progress towards the goals of the Clean Cities Program. Specific factors that were considered include the Coalition's ability to increase the number of alternative fuel vehicles, increase the number of alternative fuel refueling stations and the amount of alternative fuel used, increase the number of Coalition members, host stakeholder and outreach events, secure grant funding, obtain media coverage of Coalition efforts, and take steps towards self-sustainability. The Coalitions progress in all these areas placed it among the top ten out of 80 Clean Cities organizations around the country.

In 2002, the Coalition and its members undertook numerous alternative fuel vehicle efforts, including: 

Fort Lewis  Natural gas, biodiesel and neighborhood electric vehicles
Intercity Transit  Biodiesel use in transit buses
McChord Air Force Base  Ethanol and biodiesel
Port of Seattle  Natural gas vehicles and fuel station
Shuttle Express  Natural gas passenger vans

Significant alternative fuels activity was also generated by the work of Dan Freeman, owner of Dr. Dan's Alternative Fuel Werks. Dan has been instrumental in expanding the use of biodiesel in the region by selling biodiesel at his Ballard refueling facility and through distribution to several other public access biodiesel facilities. Dan has also been active in working with the media and providing public outreach and education.

Additional Coalition activities included: Collaborating with the Port of Seattle and Clean Energy Fuels on the grand opening of the new CNG fuel station near SeaTac Airport and a ride and drive event designed to introduce taxi and passenger shuttle service operators to natural gas vehicles; Participating in a biodiesel workshop hosted by EPA and the Washington State Department of Ecology; and hosting the Coalition's 2002 Annual Meeting attended by more than 75 stakeholders and featuring keynote speakers Congressman Adam Smith and State Representative Brian Sullivan.

These efforts resulted in more than 600 new alternative fuel vehicles on the road and the development of 6 new public-access and 4 new private-access alternative fuel refueling stations. This activity was facilitated in part by just under $600,000 in grant funds received from the Department of Energy and industry organizations. The largest growth was seen with natural gas and biodiesel. But this year also marked the first use of ethanol as E85 in Washington State, thanks to McChord AFB.

The "top ten" announcement was made at the 2003 National Clean Cities Conference in Palm Springs. The Department of Energy announced other Clean Cities Coalition and Coordinator Awards , as well as this year's National Partner Awards .