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.
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
Mission San Juan Capistrano. Courtesy of NPS Courtesy of NPS
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, which partnered with Alamo Area Clean Cities, is taking steps to reduce pollution in San Antonio. In 2012, the park purchased two propane pickup trucks to replace two outdated gasoline-powered pickup trucks. The park also installed two electric vehicle chargers and a propane vehicle refueling site.
See how the Clean Cities National Parks Initiative supports parks transportation projects.