At the June meeting of the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB), the CTB approved expanding access to the Virginia Alternative Fuel Vehicles Program to local governments.

The programme provides funding to cover the incremental costs of converting public sector fleets to alternative fuel vehicles powered by fuels such as compressed natural gas, propane, or electricity. This incremental incentive is now available for use in Richmond, Northern Virginia, Fredericksburg, and Tidewater. The increased use of alternative fuels will have the added benefit of promoting public and private sector investment in fuelling infrastructure.

The move has been welcomed by Virginia Clean Cities, a nonprofit group involved in implementing the programme.

“I would like to thank the Governor and the Commonwealth Transportation Board for their leadership on converting public sector fleets to vehicles that utilize cleaner, more economical fuels,” said Alleyn Harned, executive director of Virginia Clean Cities. “The Governor is making good on an important part of his Virginia Energy Plan, to accelerate the use of alternative fuel vehicles in Virginia. These vehicles use fuel that is cleaner for our air and better for our economy, while meeting local and state agency energy goals.”