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.

Mesa Verde National Park

Find a Project Mesa Verde National ParkBy park...Acadia National Park Blue Ridge Parkway Cape Cod National Seashore Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site Catoctin Mountain Park Cedar Breaks National Monument Christiansted National Historic Site Denali National Park and Preserve Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument Golden Gate National Recreation Area Grand Teton National Park Great Smoky Mountains National Park Independence National Historical Park Mammoth Cave National Park Mesa Verde National Park Mississippi National River and Recreation Area National Mall and Memorial Parks Nicodemus National Historic Site Pea Ridge National Military Park Petrified Forest National Park Petroglyph National Monument Pipe Spring National Monument Point Reyes National Seashore Rocky Mountain National Park Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site San Antonio Missions National Historical Park Scotts Bluff National Monument Shenandoah National Park Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Wilson's Creek National Battlefield Yellowstone National Park Zion National Park

The remarkably preserved cliff dwelling of Spruce Tree House. Courtesy of NPS

Invoking the spirit of the Ancestral Pueblo people who made it their home for over 700 years, Mesa Verde National Park worked with Southern Colorado Clean Cities to cut harmful emissions. In 2012, the park eliminated inefficient vehicles that traveled nearly 400,000 miles and added four new propane pickup trucks and a propane lawn mower. A propane fueling station was also installed for park use. Project partners executed a comprehensive idle-reduction outreach campaign for staff, concessioners, and the park's 500,000 annual visitors.

See how the Clean Cities National Parks Initiative supports parks transportation projects.

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