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History and Accomplishments

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1999

The Ann Arbor Area Clean Cities Coalition received its official designation from the Department of Energy.
A slow fill natural gas station was installed in the parking lot at City Hall.
Plans were finalized for 3 additional, fast-fill, natural gas stations.

2000

A very successful Advancing the Choice event was held in March.

2001

Earth Day Vehicle Exhibition took place at the EPA Office of Transportation Technologies. Over 16 vehicles were on display including ride and drive with some electric vehicles. Over 1,000 people attended.
Green Fair - June 23, 2001. Held on Main Street in Ann Arbor on a Friday night. It featured a Clean Cities exhibit with 18 alternate fuel vehicles including 12 electric vehicles available for ride and drive. Thousands of people visited the Green Fair and over 200 took advantage of the ride and drive before the batteries were depleted on the electric vehicles.
ICLEI Rio + 10 Preparatory Meeting - June 21-23. Hosted by the City of Ann Arbor. Auto manufacturers donated a hybrid bus, seven Ford Thinks, five Daimler/Chrysler GEMS, and a Dynasty Motorcar IT for use to transport attendees to and from meetings and events.
Grand Opening of our first electric car dealership in town.
Grand opening of a new CNG public fueling station (actually opened in 2000 but the ceremony wasn't until 2001).

2002

The City of Ann Arbor purchased a natural gas powered dump truck.
Held a successful AFV Odyssey Event - April 11th in partnership with Lansing Community College AFV Training Center.
Partnered with the Ann Arbor Public Library to do an AFV Roll-Out at the Main branch of the public library on a Saturday downtown in Ann Arbor. Over 200 people got to ride and drive low-speed electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles. The Mayor of Ann Arbor presented rebate checks to LSV purchasers.
Held a grand opening ceremony for a public natural gas fueling station at the Municipal Garage.
The Mayor presented rebate checks to 3 dedicated natural gas vehicle purchasers at three separate City Council meetings.

2003

Expanded biodiesel use into two school districts with the aid of state grants.
Put first CNG heavy-duty dump truck on the road. Ordered a second heavy-duty CNG truck. Both included very special paint jobs.
Opened a hydrogen fueling station at the EPA lab.
Bought 2 Low Speed Electric Vehicles for the City of Ann Arbor's fleet.
Hosted a 35 vehicle "Drive-to-Survive" parade with the Mayor of Ann Arbor and actor, Dennis Weaver.
Numerous AFVs on display with ride and drive at the Green Fair.
The CNG dump truck and two electric vehicles, one driven by the Mayor at the head of the parade, were in the 4th of July parade.
Installed new signage at the City Garage public CNG fueling site.

2004

New staff member, Sean Reed, our Alternate Fuel Vehicles Program Developer, joined Dave Konkle in developing the Ann Arbor Area Clean Cities Coalition.
New and improved AACC website launched.
Dave Konkle, Clean Cities Coordinator, served as Master of Ceremonies at the Greater Lansing Area Clean Cities Coalition Advancing the Choice event. AACC stakeholders served as presenters.
AACC organized an alternative fuel vehicle/Clean Cities section for the City of Ann Arbor's Earth Day event. The event included 12 different vehicles and organizations; notably including the new Daimler Chrysler/UPS fuel cell vehicle. At least two thousand people attended the event.
AACC stakeholders spoke at a legislative event held at the state capitol in support of statewide B2 (2% biodiesel) mandate legislation.
A heavy duty, compressed natural gas, stake panel truck was put into service on City of Ann Arbor roads. The vehicle has a customized paint job with cartoons extolling the use of alternative fuels.
The EPA Administrator came to Ann Arbor to award a clean school bus grant to stakeholder, Ann Arbor Public Schools. The award presentation was covered by local print and TV news outlets. The Clean Cities Coordinator was recognized as instrumental in getting the grant.
Stakeholder nonprofit, Ecology Center, held a kickoff event for a national tour to promote hybrids and fuel efficient vehicles. The kickoff event was held in Kansas City and received broad coverage from print and broadcast media.
Participated in two day Energy Festival sponsored by the University of Michigan.
Stakeholder DTE Energy held a grand opening event for a Hydrogen Technology Park in partnership with BP and DaimlerChrysler. The park is equipped to dispense gaseous hydrogen to fuel cell vehicles. Coverage of the event appeared on television, newsprint, and radio.
Provided grant funds to the Washtenaw County Road Commission for use of B20 in heavy duty fleet vehicles.
Provided a $2,000 purchase incentive to the City of Ann Arbor for the purchase of a dedicated CNG van.
AACC was awarded a $13,157 grant from the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition to develop an E85 station in Ann Arbor.
AACC was awarded a $29,990 grant from the Michigan Energy Office to perform a feasibility study on the development of a biodiesel production facility.
AACC organized a full city block of alternate fuel vehicles and organizations for the City of Ann Arbor's successful Green Fair event, which notably included the new Ford Escape Hybrid vehicle. At least two thousand people attended. New Clean Cities display boards and posters made their public debut at the event.
The City's CNG Dump Truck, GEM electric vehicle, and Clean Cities display boards were on display at the Rolling Sculpture Car Show in Ann Arbor. It was the first time we attended the event.
AACC was awarded a grant from the State Energy Office to develop two new, public, B-20 stations in partnership with Meijer and the Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee. One of these stations will be in Ann Arbor; the other will be in Ypsilanti.
Numerous alternative fuel vehicles, including one driven by the City of Ann Arbor's Mayor, were in the annual 4th of July parade.
AACC took an active role in a global warming awareness rally held at the State capital building in Lansing. The City of Ann Arbor's CNG canoe livery van was a featured vehicle in the event's parade.
4 City of Ann Arbor alternative fuel vehicles led the way in the ribbon cutting ceremony and parade for the new Broadway bridges.

2005

Organized Earth Day AFV Expo. Event included 14 different AFVs.
Organized Biodiesel Bus Tour of Southeastern Michigan with the Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee and the Michigan Department of Agriculture. Tour was sold out.
Organized a grand opening event for Meijer's two new B-20 pumps. The grand opening was part of the Southeast Michigan Biodiesel Bus Tour. The event was attended by US Representative John Dingell and many other state and local politicians.
Article on Biodiesel Grand Opening featured on front page of Ann Arbor News Business Section.
Organized a Green Fair AFV Expo. The event included a full block of display vehicles including hydrogen ICE, fuel cell, biodiesel, straight vegetable oil, hybrids, electric cars and motorcycles, and CNG vehicles.
Exhibitor at Ann Arbor's rolling sculpture car show.
Exhibitor at the Huron River Day.
Exhibitor at the University of Michigan Energy Fest.
Brought CNG van and discussed AFVs and safety issues with fire fighters at the statewide fire fighters conference.
Held a celebration event to commemorate Clean Cities displacement of one billion gallons of petroleum nationally since the program started.
Awarded a $20,000 grant from the Michigan Energy Office to incentivize the installation of idle reduction equipment in local fleets.
Awarded a $10,000 grant from the Michigan Energy Office to provide a contingency for an E-85 infrastructure project, publish promotional materials, and incentivize AFV purchases among local fleets.
Awarded a $24,500 Challenge grant by the Michigan Energy Office to support coalition administration and organizational development.
Awarded a $1,000 General Motors Clean Cities Reward grant.
Awarded $3,000 from the Department of Energy Midwest Regional Office to support two advancing the choice events.
Printed biodiesel t-shirts and bumper stickers. The bumper stickers are being distributed at two Meijers fueling stations.
Applied to the IRS for nonprofit 501(c)3 status.
Held quarterly stakeholder meetings in January, April, July, and November.
Published and distributed newsletters in February, June, and September.
Sean Reed featured guest in Lucy Ann Lance morning show in October.