Energy officials host Clean Cities conference in Baton Rouge

State Senator Melvin "Kip" Holden speaks to coalition on January 29, 2004 at their annual conference. Sen. Holden serves on the Clean Cities advisory board.

The Clean Cities Statewide Conference met in late January in Baton Rouge to discuss the use of alternative-fuels for public transportation vehicles in the state. Over 60 representatives including the U.S. Department of Energy/Clean Cities program officials, transportation industry officials and members of the Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Shreveport Clean Cities program met to share perspectives on the benefits of using alternative-fuels and hybrid vehicles.

Attendees had a chance to see a bus that uses electric power up to 12 mph and then switches to diesel at higher speeds. It has been shown that this type vehicle can provide a 40 percent reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions and have a 50 percent improvement in fuel economy from standard diesel buses.

The DNR Energy Section assists in supporting and funding the state's Clean Cities programs.

Pictured above: Wes Wyche, City of Shreveport /Clean Cities; Mike McDaniel, Secretary, La. Dept. of Environmental Quality; Paula Ridgeway, DNR, Energy Supervisor; Louis McArthur, DNR, Energy Program Manager; and Rodney Littleton, City of New Orleans / Mayor’s Office.