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.


Rocky Mountain National Park

Autumn Elk bull with his harem in Rocky Mountain National Park. Courtesy of NPS


Rocky Mountain National Park, with more than 3 million annual visitors, is the fifth most-visited park in the NPS system. With support from Northern Colorado Clean Cities in 2013, the park purchased one propane pickup truck and two Chevy Volts, installed two electric vehicle charging stations, and boosted idle-reduction through technology deployment and a comprehensive education and outreach program.

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

Text version