For the second time in a month, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has looked to the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC) for help, this time to provide educational assistance in reducing America’s petroleum use. NAFTC is headquartered at West Virginia University’s National Research Center for Coal and Energy.

The DOE awarded the consortium $1.6 million to develop classroom materials to raise awareness about alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies, NAFTC Director Al Ebron said. The award is part of the Clean Cities’ Fiscal Year 2009 Petroleum Reduction Technologies Projects funding for the Transportation Sector.

“NAFTC has long worked with the DOE Clean Cities Program,” Ebron said. “Our National Training Centers have partnered with many of the local Clean Cities Coalitions around the country. This award will formalize a partnership between the NAFTC and DOE that will energize the Clean Cities Program.”

The NAFTC award was one of 23 projects funded under DOE’s Clean Cities Program with $13.6 million for infrastructure, vehicle and educational projects to increase availability and awareness of alternative fuels and advanced technology vehicles. The NAFTC award, which will fund the development of a Clean Cities Learning Program, was one of only three awards for educational projects. This program will help implement petroleum reduction technologies, while training Clean Cities coordinators, technicians, first responders, instructors and many others.

In early August, DOE announced that NAFTC will receive $6.9 million to spearhead educational outreach initiatives related to the manufacture and deployment of advanced electric drive vehicles, batteries and components under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The new $1.6 million is in addition to the previously announced award, but is not under ARRA.

WVU’s NAFTC, founded in 1992, is the only nationwide training organization dedicated to improving air quality and decreasing U.S. dependence on foreign oil by promoting, supporting and expanding the use of alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles. It develops and disseminates training materials for auto technicians, fleet managers, automotive trainers and others in the alternative fuel vehicle field.

With National Training Centers from Maine to California, the organization provides an initiative called Training with Impact with experienced instructors and real-world shop facilities. NAFTC produces the nation’s largest non-profit consumer education program – National AFV Day Odyssey – designed to create public awareness and enthusiasm for alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles.

NAFTC offers training in the form of classes and workshops on a wide variety of topics such as biodiesel, ethanol, hybrids, hydrogen, fuel cells, natural gas, battery-powered electric vehicles and propane. Courses on transient emissions testing and AFV applications for forklift and material handling are also available.

Additional information on the NAFTC can be found at www.naftc.wvu.edu.

CONTACT: Judy Moore
304-293-7882