News
Archived stories here.
24 Connecticut School Districts Prioritized for EPA’s Clean School Bus Program
With funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA’s Clean School Bus Program provides $5 billion over the next five years to replace existing school buses with zero-emission and low-emission models. EPA is offering $500 million through the 2022 Clean School Bus...
Clean Cities Celebrates New Haven, CT Program to Increase E-Bike Affordability
Greater New Haven Clean Cities celebrated and spoke at a 5/4/22 Bike Month event announcing a new financing program for e-bikes to supplement a new state subsidy through the CHEAPR board, on which we sit. GNHCCC was on the New Haven, CT historic green as a validator...
CT Signs Multi-State Medium- and Heavy-Duty Zero Emission Vehicle MOU
On July 14, 2020, Connecticut took another significant step forward in its effort to address the climate crisis and the health impacts of air pollution as it joined 14 other states and the District of Columbia in signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to work...
Public Comment Period Announced for CT’s CHEAPR Program
Comment Period Closes August 12, 2020 The Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Automobile Purchase Rebate (CHEAPR ) program, which began as a pilot program in mid-2015, was created to help achieve price parity between internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and...
House Infrastructure Bill Includes Major Investment in Clean Transportation
Last week, House leadership unveiled H.R. 2, the Moving America Forward Act. This legislation proposes over $1.5 trillion in what members hope will be a “transformational investment in American infrastructure.” The House passed the bill Jul 1st, and probably won’t be...
Cleaner, Cost-Effective Propane School Buses for Connecticut Students
School districts across the state and the nation are achieving reductions in air pollution through cleaner, cost-efficient propane autogas school buses. Connecticut is one of the top six states in the county operating propane autogas school buses. For the 2020-21...
About Us
The GNHCCC brings together stakeholders in the public and private sectors to deploy alternative and renewable fuels, idle-reduction measures, fuel economy improvements, and emerging transportation technologies. Our goal is to improve air quality, support economic development, increase energy security, and reduce dependence on petroleum. We do this by providing education and training, technical expertise, networking opportunities, and funding assistance to our stakeholders.
Nationally, there are nearly 100 Clean Cities coalitions that advance the nation’s economic, environmental, and energy security by supporting local actions to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and cut petroleum use in transportation.
Learn how the national network of Clean Cities coalitions works today to create the transportation system of tomorrow.
Why Clean Cities?
The United States consumes approximately 20 million barrels of petroleum per day, about three-fourths of which is used for transportation.
Support U.S. Economy and Energy Security
(second only to housing). Improving efficiency and reducing costs in this sector can make a notable impact on our economy.Reduce emissions impacting air quality and public health
GNHCCC Leadership
Paul Wessel
Paul worked his way up from Clean Cities stakeholder to board member to co-coordinator.
Paul's Bio
Dan Ciarcia
Dan cut his clean fuels teeth as the Lead Product Manager for the General Electric’s electrical vehicle charger product line.
Dan's Bio
Clean-Energy Knowledge Areas: LEED Green Associate ● Parksmart Advisor ● Eco-Districts AP ● GPRO Certification ● Renewable Energy ● PhotoVoltaics (PV) ● Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure (EVSE) ● Smart Grid ● Advanced Meter Infrastructure (AMI) ● Vehicle Idle Reduction ● Sustainability Management ● Energy Efficiency ● Building Management Systems (BMS) ● Hydro-Electric Generation ● Wind Power Generation ● Green Transportation, Building and Infrastructure
Technology Knowledge Areas: IT Network Infrastructure ● Software Development ● Agile/SCRUM Methodology ● Cloud-Based Computing
GNHCCC Stakeholders
Technology
We work with fleets of all vehicle sizes, vehicle numbers, and vocations to find ways to reduce petroleum consumption through the use of alternative and renewable fuels, advanced vehicles, and other fuel-saving measures.
Alternative and Renewable Fuels
Many different fuel options exist which can help displace petroleum consumption and reduce emissions. These fuels are defined in the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct) including biodiesel, electricity, ethanol, hydrogen, natural gas, propane. Alternative fuels may include both renewable and non-renewable fuels, and interest in their use is expanding among the general public as well as large fleets. Although availability of different fuels has sometimes been a challenge in the past, refueling infrastructure is expanding throughout the country and specifically Connecticut to meet the growing demand.
Biodiesel is a domestically produced, renewable fuel that can be manufactured from vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled restaurant grease for use in diesel vehicles. Biodiesel’s physical properties are similar to those of petroleum diesel, but it is a cleaner-burning alternative. Using biodiesel in place of petroleum diesel, especially in older vehicles, can reduce emissions. To find out more about biodiesel, visit the US Department of Energy’s biodiesel website or you can download a PDF fact sheet to print out.
Electricity can be used to power all-electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). These vehicles can draw electricity directly from the grid and other off-board electrical power sources and store it in batteries. Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) use electricity to boost fuel efficiency. Using electricity to power vehicles can have significant energy security and emissions benefits. To find out more about powering cars with electricity, visit the US Department of Energy’s electricity website or you can download a PDF fact sheet to print out.
You can download a list of available EVs, PHEVs, and fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) with data including make, model, year, range, MPGe, MSRP, federal tax credit, and the Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Automobile Purchase Rebate (CHEAPR) incentive amounts.
Ethanol is a renewable fuel made from corn and other plant materials. The use of ethanol is widespread—almost all gasoline in the U.S. contains some ethanol. Ethanol is available as E85—a high-level ethanol blend containing 51%-83% ethanol depending on season and geography—for use in flexible fuel vehicles. E15 is defined by the Environmental Protection Agency as a blend of 10%-15% ethanol with gasoline. It is an approved ethanol blend for model year vehicles 2001 and newer. To find out more about ethanol, visit the US Department of Energy’s ethanol website or you can download a PDF fact sheet to print out.
Hydrogen, when used in a fuel cell, is an emissions-free alternative fuel that can be produced from diverse domestic energy sources. Research and commercial efforts are under way to build the hydrogen fueling infrastructure and produce hydrogen fuel cell vehicles that are practical for widespread use. To find out more about hydrogen, visit the US Department of Energy’s hydrogen website.
You can download a list of available EVs, PHEVs, and fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) with data including make, model, year, range, MPGe, MSRP, federal tax credit, and the Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Automobile Purchase Rebate (CHEAPR) incentive amounts.
Natural gas is a domestically produced gaseous fuel, readily available through the utility infrastructure. This clean-burning alternative fuel can be used in vehicles as either compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), renewable natural gas (RNG), or biogas. To find out more about natural gas, visit the US Department of Energy’s natural gas website or you can download a PDF fact sheet to print out.
Propane, also known as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or propane autogas, has been used worldwide as a vehicle fuel for decades. It is stored as a liquid, and propane fueling infrastructure is widespread. To find out more about propane autogas, visit the US Department of Energy’s propane website or you can download a PDF fact sheet to print out.
Alternative Fuel Prices
Vehicle Search
Fuel Station Locator
Gallons of gasoline equivalent saved in 2017
Alternative Fuel Vehicles
As vehicle technology continues to advance, the variety of vehicle types available is increasing rapidly. Consumers and fleets can now choose to purchase vehicles that use an alternative fuel, an advanced hybrid powertrain, all-electric vehicles, energy-efficient diesel, or simply a highly efficient conventional gasoline engine. More choices, such as fuel-cell vehicles are on the horizon. The Department of Energy provides a list of energy-efficient technologies that are offered on many vehicles available today. AFVs are available either as conversions or as original manufacturer equipment, and come in both light-duty passenger vehicles and heavy-duty vehicles and equipment. Alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs), as defined by the EPAct, include any dedicated, flexible-fuel, bi-fuel, or dual-fuel vehicle designed to operate on at least one alternative fuel. To the right are the definitions of each type.
Dedicated
Flexible-fuel
Bi-fuel
Dual-fuel
Success Stories & Case Studies
Alternative Fuel and Advanced Vehicle Search
Clean Cities Guide to Alternative Fuel & Advanced Medium- & Heavy-Duty Vehicles
Model Year 2018: Alternative Fuel and Advanced Technology Vehicles
Fuel-Saving Measures
Save money, reduce climate change, reduce oil dependence costs and increase energy sustainability
Find out how to reduce fuel costs, engine wear, emissions, and noise. Connecticut anti-idling regulations prohibit vehicles of all kinds from unnecessary idling for more than 3 minutes. You can find out about more Connecticut anti-idling efforts.Projects
GNHCCC and its stakeholders have received several grants throughout the past few years! Click on the tabs below to find out what projects are being funded thanks to these awards.
- Advancing PEV Adoption in New England
- EV Smart Fleets
- CT Clean Cities Future Fuels Project
- BioWatz
- New Haven Trolley Line
The Greater New Haven Clean Cites Coalition, Inc. (GNHCCC) partnered with Plug in America to promote and demonstrate plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) use by establishing local Connecticut showcases that provide a hands-on consumer experience and in-depth education in a variety of venues. The project will help promote the use of PEVs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on petroleum in transportation. The project also covers the Northeastern states Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Vermont. Visit www.FairfieldEVshowcase.org to see our first event of the project.
Public fleets are seeing huge benefits from the deployment of electric vehicles (EVs). By eliminating fuel consumption, EVs reduce costs to fleets, promote energy independence and help protect the environment. Although EVs are increasingly becoming a successful application for fleets, higher incremental costs, procurement processes, and insufficient charging infrastructure remain as critical barriers to adoption.
EV Smart Fleets seeks to address these barriers by aggregating state and local fleet purchases for EVs and charging stations through a multi-state aggregated EV solicitation and procurement agreement. EV Smart Fleets will leverage the purchasing volume of public fleets across the country in order to reduce vehicle and infrastructure costs, improve contract terms, provide access to a wider range of EV models, and expand access to charging infrastructure. This multi-state procurement will be issued and managed by the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) through its ValuePoint Program.
The Greater New Haven Clean Cities Coalition, Inc. (GNHCCC), together with over 30 partner organizations will develop and implement a state-wide, fuel-neutral effort that will deploy 269 alternative fuel vehicles (AFV) through incremental funding and provide fueling capability for 21 additional fleet vehicles and infrastructure necessary to directly support the vehicle deployments as part of the Connecticut Clean Cities Future Fuels Project. The project will increase the utilization of alternative fuels; strengthen the availability of alternative fuels for fleets and commercial consumers along major corridors in the state; raise awareness and foster greater understanding of alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies through a targeted outreach and education effort; create and retain jobs; reduce dependence on foreign oil; reduce harmful emissions; and contribute to a sustainable alternative fuels market. 
Funded in FY2008, the BioWatz Project allowed the GNHCCC to work with Chris Glynos at BioPur, Inc., located in Bethlehem, CT, to build on the biodiesel production facility operated by Glynos. The project engaged an integrated team to design, develop and deploy a Power Generation System at the BioPur facility which would enable the production of electricity with biodiesel. The project proved to be very successful, allowing Glynos to sell his renewable power to the local power company — after he uses some of it to provide power for the biodiesel production facility. The project collected data through a system designed and installed by Sabre Engineering of Colorado and Innovation Drive, the project management firm provided support to the growth of this operation. The federal project officially ended in late 2010.
The City of New Haven in conjunction with the GNHCCC deployed an electric trolley system in downtown New Haven during the early 2000’s. E-Bus of Downey, California built four 22 foot dedicated electric trolley replicas that had the capability of both standard battery charging and fast charging. The batteries were charged with “Green Electric Power” derived from waterpower, wind and solar. The project provided a clean alternative fuel for public transportation. Everywhere the electric trolleys were put into service, mass transportation ridership increased dramatically because people appreciated the electric power train’s smooth, quiet, non-polluting ride. By going with the electric trolley technology, a reduction in dangerous soot particles associated with standard diesel powered buses was realized, as well as reducing the number of fuel trucks carrying foreign fuel to the vehicle refueling locations. Fleets in New Haven county using alternative fuels
Tons of greenhouse gas emissions avoided in 2017
Resources
Click on the icons below for more information and resources on Clean Cities and Alternative Fuel Vehicles.
Get Involved
Click on the tabs below for more information on how you and your organization can get involved.
NAFA’s Sustainable Fleet Accreditation Program is the distinctive accreditation program that provides the tools that help automotive fleets measure and track improvements in their environmental impact. Watch NAFA’s Sustainable Fleet Accreditation Program video
Upcoming Events
Videos
Click on the tabs below to watch our videos. You can find all of our videos and more on our YouTube Channel at GNHavenCleanCities.
- Connecticut Takes Pride in Alternative Fuels
- Metro Taxi debuts natural gas fueling station
- Propane school buses
- 2017 Fairfield EV Showcase
- Natural gas powers CT cabs
- Cities make the clean switch to natural gas
- Liquefied natural gas powers trucks in CT
- National Drive Electric Week 2016, Cheshire, CT
Find more videos from the event in our Zero Emission Vehicle playlist on YouTube. Experience test drives in different electric vehicles, find out about charging availability, why people love their electric vehicles, and more.
Electric Car Week from bruce lomasky on Vimeo.
Contact Us
P.O. Box 26, New Haven, CT 06510
The Connecticut Clean Cities Collaborative
Three Clean Cities Coalitions cover the entire state, according to your county.
Greater New Haven Clean Cities
Serving New Haven, Middlesex and New London Counties
Paul Wessel
203-200-0246
