Clean Transportation: Projects
The N.C. Solar Center’s Clean Transportation program propels the development, awareness, and use of alternative fuels and advanced transportation technologies. In addition to our own projects, we have also been successful at securing funding to pass on to other organizations in the state to purchase clean transportation vehicles, build alternative fuel infrastructure, and utilize mobile emissions reduction technologies. We also organize and conduct workshops, meetings and conferences on ethanol, biodiesel, natural gas, propane, fuel economy, idle reduction and related clean transportation topics. Learn more about our current and completed projects.
• Clean Fuel Advanced Technology Project (CFAT): is funded by the N.C. Department of Transportation, is focused on reducing transportation related emissions in NC counties that do not meet national air quality standards. It covers education/outreach, project funding, and recognition of exemplary activities.
• Carolina Blue Skies: is a bi-state effort led by Triangle J Council of Governments (TJCOG). The overall goal is to reduce depending on imported petroleum, increase fleet fuel economy, reduce emissions, improve air quality and create and retain jobs.
• Alternative Fuel Implementation Team (AFIT): is a two year initiative sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy to enhance implementation of alternative fuel in North Carolina and neighboring states.
• Petroleum Displacement Plan & Related Clean Transportation Initiatives: is a report that covers the progress on the state fleet Petroleum Displacement Plan provision. The Clean Transportation team also works on other initiatives as funding allows.
Completed Projects:
Plug In Electric Vehicle Planning Project
This project was a one-year project that resulted in a Plug In Electric Vehicle ( PEV) roadmap to facilitate electric vehicle adoption in North Carolina.
Clean Transportation Education project (CTEP)
The Clean Transportation Education ( CTEP) project was a 2-year initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Energy to provide 36 alternative-fuel and advanced-transportation workshops across the United States. The N.C. Solar Center partnered with Wake Technical Community College, Clean Cities Coalitions and industry partners to conduct l ½ day workshops in the following 4 subject areas: Biodiesel, Ethanol, Compressed Natural Gas / Propane, Fuel Economy / Idle Reduction
Alternative Fuel Incentives Project
This program provided ten awards totaling $98,000 between the fall of 2004 and the spring of 2005 to Universities and Community Colleges, government fleets, public service stations, etc. for projects that included biomass, electric vehicles and charging stations, and compressed natural gas
Mobile Idle Reduction Technology
The N.C. Solar Center was awarded funding by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to work with a Volvo Trucks, NA to develop and test the effectiveness of Truck OEM designed mobile idle reduction technology (MIRT) prep kits and auxiliary power units. Soy Biodiesel Marketing and Research project with the N.C. Soybean Producers Association promoted the use of biodiesel and bioheat as renewable and cleaner fuels for our vehicles and homes, and evaluated the most effective marketing strategies for these products including billboards and brochures.
NCSU B20 sign