Alternative-Fuel Program Starts in Nine Colorado Counties

Refuel Colorado Fleets, a pilot program designed to encourage and educate public and private fleets on the use of alternative fuels, has selected nine counties in Colorado that will receive funding to work with “energy coaches.” These energy coaches will determine the optimal alternative fuel for each fleet by analyzing vehicle type, vehicle use, age of vehicle, and miles driven.

“Each community will determine what makes sense for them, be that electric, natural gas, propane, or other vehicle types,” said Jeff Ackermann, director of the Colorado Energy Office, the recipient and distributor of the U.S. Department of Energy’s $225,000 grant.

The counties selected for the year-long pilot are Routt, Larimer, Boulder, Jefferson, Adams, Garfield, Mesa, Montezuma, and La Plata in Colorado.

Energy coaches include Northern Colorado Clean Cities, Denver Metro Clean Cities, Garfield Clean Energy and Four Corners Office for Resource Efficiency. The pilot project is being led by CLEER: Clean Energy Economy for the Region, a Carbondale nonprofit with expertise in alternative fuel vehicle technology, energy coaching and community engagement.