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.
Catoctin Mountain Park
Visitors enjoying Thurmont Vista. Courtesy of NPS
Working with the State of Maryland Clean Cities coalition, in 2014 Catoctin Mountain Park replaced two conventional vehicles with plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and installed three electric vehicle charging stations for park and public use. The park also replaced four gasoline lawnmowers with propane mowers and shares their use with a nearby military base. Additionally, the project included an idle-reduction education and outreach initiative.
See how the Clean Cities National Parks Initiative supports parks transportation projects.