WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) and the other members of the Alternative Fuel Trade Alliance are continuing their nationwide training program on alternative fuel at a workshop for fleet managers on June 24 in Hoover, Ala.

The Hoover workshop is the third in a series of 14 training seminars across the country made possible by a $1.6 million grant from the Energy Department. The workshops will cover alternative fuel quality, infrastructure, available vehicles, safety and environmental impacts and will culminate with a ride-and-drive event that will give fleet managers a chance to get behind the wheel of vehicles that run on alternative fuels, including a propane-powered Mercury Grand Marquis displayed by Alliance AutoGas.

“These workshops bring together four alternative fuel industries to train fleet managers on the choices and options available for fleet vehicles,” said Brian Feehan, vice president of PERC. “By encouraging wider use of propane and other alternative fuel vehicles, we increase our environmental and national energy security goals.”

The Alternative Fuel Trade Alliance consists of PERC, the Renewable Fuels Association, the National Biodiesel Board and the Clean Vehicle Education Foundation. Fuels represented include propane, ethanol, biodiesel and compressed natural gas.

Each of the full-day collaborative workshops scheduled over the next two years will involve a site in the Energy Department’s Clean Cities program, which uses local coalitions to promote the use of alternative fuels such as propane. Future workshops, free for all registrants, are scheduled for July 22 in Casa Grande, Ariz., and Sept. 9 in Denver, with more dates and locations to be announced soon.

The alliance will use the grant funds to do other things, too:

• Train Clean Cities coordinators as public speakers.
• Train primary stakeholders on fire safety issues.
• Increase training for technicians from original equipment manufacturers.
• Provide a forum for students interested in alternative fuels on college campuses nationwide.

To register for an alternative fuels workshop, or to view a free online webcast, visit www.altfuelsalliance.org. For more information on PERC and its programs, please visit www.propanecouncil.org.