DeLauro Applauds $13.1M Grant for Greater New Haven Clean Cities Coalition

Cutting Edge Project Puts CT In Vanguard Of Efforts To Reduce Dependence On Foreign Oil And Develop Next Generation Alternative Fuels

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT) lauded the recent announcement by the Department of Energy that $13.1 million in Recovery Act funds have been made available to the Greater New Haven Clean Cities Coalition Inc. to fund development of a wide range of energy-efficient and advanced vehicle technologies.

"This DOE grant accomplishes many of the goals we had in mind when we passed the Recovery Act into law," said Congresswoman DeLauro. "Not only will this infrastructure investment help to stimulate the Connecticut economy, it will fund important avenues of research into alternative fuel technologies and lay the foundation for a greener, cleaner transportation network here in Connecticut."

The $13.1 million Department of Energy grant, one of twenty five awarded across the country, will be used to deploy 163 CNG vehicles, 18 heavy duty LNG refuse trucks, and 2 hybrid sedans throughout the state of Connecticut. The project will also provide fueling capability for 21 alternative fuel vehicles purchased through other sources. Infrastructure to be deployed includes five CNG stations, one combined B20/CNG/Electric station, one L/CNG station, one hydrogen station and ten electric chargers. The project will support a total of ten different projects and include 29 municipalities and companies.

"We are very excited about this opportunity to partner with so many companies and entities with the common goals of moving Connecticut forward in Future Fuels and providing a cleaner, more energy independent state," said Lee Grannis, Coordinator of the Greater New Haven Clean Cities Coalition and grant recipient. "This is a tremendous opportunity for the four Clean Cities Coalitions in our state to work jointly to measurably increase the amount of alternative fuels available in our state."

Participating awardees for the Greater New Haven Clean Cities Coalition Inc. Connecticut Clean Cities Future Fuels Project include 29 companies and municipalities. Among them, Capital Clean Cities; Norwich Clean Cities; Southwestern Connecticut Clean Cities; Connecticut Department of Transportation (CONNDOT); Connecticut Transportation (CTTRANSIT); City of Bridgeport; Town of Glastonbury; Town of Fairfield; City of Meriden; Enviro Express; Metro Taxi; Nana Corporation; Yellow Cab; Executive Valet Parking; R&G Services; Norwich Public Utilities (NPU); Connecticut Municipal Electrical Energy Cooperative (CMEEC); Clean Energy (CE); Air & Gas Technologies (AGT); Avalence; Southern Connecticut Gas Company; Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation; Bonner Electric, Inc.; Manchester Honda; Matthews Bus; Innovation Drive, Inc.; Sabre Engineering, Inc.; Big Fish Advertising and Public Relations; and the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC).

Additionally, the project will be supported by the State of Connecticut Department of Economic & Community Development and the State of Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection. Work on the Connecticut Clean Cities Future Fuels Project is expected to last for four years.