Alternative Fuel Projects on Display
By: Katrina Irwin
Updated: October 20, 2011
They look like regular buses and trucks. But, these vehicles are actually projects, working to test alternative fuels. "Genesee Region Clean Communities Inc. is affiliated with the U.S.Department of Energy. It's one of 85 coalitions in the U.S. that are set up to try and help implement programs and come up with strategies to reduce the use of foreign oil," says David Keefe the organizer of the event.
GRCC helped secure funding for these projects. In all, 21 new alternative fuel vehicles have been added to our area's roads. "By funding some of these projects we are able to put them out into the community, people are able to see them and test them and talk to others about their experiences," says David Keefe.
A number of different businesses, school districts and local governments got the vehicles iIncluding monroe county. "it's a propane fueled vehicle. We've been on it since the first of the year we have three of our vehicles converted over from gasoline to propane and we've had a great experience with it," says Dave Butters. He is the Monroe County Asset Manager.
Not only do these busses use less foreign oil. Many say the fuel they burn is cleaner, so it's better for the environment. "The hybrid electric school bus would probably use half of the diesel fuel that a regular bus would use," Keefe adds.
They are ideas that may one day be the norm.
