Tennessee Clean Fuels Inducts Natural Gas Fleets into Tennessee Green Fleets Program

Tennessee Clean Fuels recently inducted two new fleets into the “Tennessee Green Fleets” Certification Program for their use of natural gas vehicles. The fleets were recognized at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville during the fourth annual Sustainable Transportation Forum & Expo, which is managed by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) and TNCleanFuels. TNCleanFuels also assisted in setting up a 35-vehicle alternative fuel vehicle showcase that incorporated CNG and other advanced vehicle technologies.

The Tennessee Green Fleets Certification Program was developed jointly by Middle-West and East Tennessee Clean Fuels. It uses performance-based metrics to analyze any fleet’s vehicle and fuel-use data and compare new actions they have taken to what their footprint would have looked like without those actions. A points-based, three-star system allows for certification at three levels. The Program encompasses all fuel and technology options, and the applicant fleets that receive certification can promote their fleet’s greening efforts and include the certification status in their sustainability portfolio information.

Inductees featuring natural gas fleets include:

Greater Dickson Gas Authority – Twenty-four perecnt of their fleet (16 vehicles) run on either CNG or propane autogas. GDGA also operates a public CNG station in Dickson. They have collaborated with and contributed to numerous events and educational opportunities, including NGVAmerica’s 2017 NGV Road Rally, for which they were a stop. They are estimated to reduce CO₂ emissions by 19.4 tons/year.

Athens Utilities Board (AUB) | Natural Gas Division – Nine of AUB’s 21 vehicles in the gas division are powered by natural gas (43 percent of the division). AUB also maintains one of the longest-serving public CNG stations in the East Tennessee area, located along I-75. They are also eager to assist in outreach and alternative fuels education efforts throughout Tennessee and have done so multiple times. They are estimated to reduce CO₂ emissions by 8.9 tons/year.