National Parks Initiative
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) partners with the National Park Service (NPS) through the Clean Cities National Parks Initiative. The initiative supports transportation projects that educate park visitors on the benefits of shifting to affordable, domestic alternative fuels, advanced vehicles, and fuel-saving technologies and strategies. Since 2010, VTO and Clean Cities and Communities coalitions have partnered with NPS on 35 projects to put alternative fuel and fuel-efficient vehicles on the road, reduce vehicle idling, and improve vehicle efficiency. These actions support and coincide with NPS's efforts to reduce vehicle congestion, air pollution, and resource degradation, and to preserve the long-term quality of the parks.
Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park showcases the rugged Maine coast to more than 2 million visitors each year. Courtesy of NPS
At Acadia National Park, visitors and staff can travel among park destinations, inns, campgrounds, and neighboring communities on buses powered by alternative fuels. In 2014, the park worked with Maine Clean Communities to introduce eight alternative and fuel-efficient vehicles to replace existing vehicles. Acadia National Park also installed two public electric vehicle charging stations.
See how the Clean Cities National Parks Initiative supports parks transportation projects.