Five years ago I probably thought Tucson Clean Cities had to do with trash, clean sidewalks, and maybe air pollution. But that was BMG – before Mrs. Green. Oh the places I continue to go. Now I know that Tucson Clean Cities is a voluntary program of the U.S. Department of Energy. I also know that its purpose is to expand the use of alternatives to gasoline and diesel fuel and to accelerate the use of alternative fuel vehicles – including helping to build infrastructure for these vehicles. But most significantly, I have learned how very important the work of Clean Cities is to our country and to the planet.

I can’t speak for the numerous other Clean Cities coalitions throughout the USA but I can tell you activities that I have either participated in, observed, or learned about by being a Tucson Regional Clean Cities Coalition member. I have watched the Clean Cities team work with local businesses and government agencies to guide them through the process it takes to establish the foundation for a viable alternative fuels market. Example? Helping entire school districts move in the direction to convert to compressed natural gas alternative fuels for their buses & how to assist a private business (Golden Eagle Distributors) to convert their statewide fleet to CNG AND install CNG stations for their use and for anyone else using CNG. What outstanding examples of public/private partnerships in action & our tax dollars at work for the greater good.

Along the Mrs. Green journey, I have also learned that alternative fuels include biodiesel, ethanol (E85), compressed natural gas, propane, hybrid electric, fuel cell and hydrogen technologies. Phew. That’s a lot. And I am very clear about why encouraging the use of alternative fuels in any way possible is extremely important, getting more important every day.

One last little story about a Clean Cities project. They are now working in cooperation with the Pima County Wastewater Renewable CNG Project. For what, pray tell? To capture methane from the wastewater treatment plant, cleaning it up to pipeline quality, selling it to Southwest Gas and using the remainder in Pima County fleet vehicles. Press pause, stop reading, think about that last sentence and think ULTIMATE recycling. Any wonder I love being Mrs. Green?

Check out their other programs at http://www.pagnet.org/Programs/EnergyPlanningAltFuels/CleanFuelsCleanCities/tabid/180/Default.aspx

I hope you will be happily surprised. And can’t wait to share more on green talk radio!