The Central Coast Clean Cities Coalition (C⁵) is a group of local stakeholders whose mission is to expand the use of alternative fuel vehicles and fueling infrastructure throughout the Central Coast. C⁵ is best described as clearing house for people to get together and learn more about AFVs (e.g., what is required, what's available, how to purchase AFVs, and where to fuel them). Active membership is heart of the C5 coalition, with members from local schools & universities, fuel and vehicle providers, local government, and the general public.

C⁵’s Goals

Having gained official U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) designation as a “Clean City”, the following goals have been identified by local stakeholders:

Increase the number of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) and expand the alternative fuel infrastructure in SLO County; improve the clean fuel corridors between Los Angles, San Francisco and the San Joaquin Valley

Identify local fleets and educate fleet managers / purchasers of the federal and state mandates regarding AFV requirements (i.e., identify total fleets in SLO County, identify fleets required to meet EPAct requirements, support the development of fleet compliance plans)

Promote AFV maintenance and technician training programs and provide listing of training sites and dates

Secure grants to promote AFVs and alternative fuel infrastructure throughout SLO County

Promote AFV benefits and awareness to public and private sectors alike

C⁵ "Clean City" Designation Status

The following DOE objectives were met by C5 prior to official " Clean City" designation:

1) Stakeholders signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to satisfy DOE requirements and help our coalition develop into a more structured entity.

2) Developed committee structure. Current committee areas:

• Administration, Funding and Budget
• Fleets and Infrastructure
• Education, Outreach and Public Relations

3) Established (and maintain) inventory of current AFV’s and document fueling infrastructure in SLO County; developed infrastructure projections for 2008.

4) Wrote Designation Plan. Utilized all data collected from committees. The Designation Plan was the official application for designation and has been approved by the DOE. The C⁵ Designation Plan outline is currently available in Archives.

Is This a Local or National effort?

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities program is a nationwide effort that C⁵ is attempting to implement on California’s Central Coast. Once the coalition is fully established the main goal is to become designated by DOE as an official “Clean City.” This designation will enable the coalition to seek out federal, state and local grant funds that can assist local stakeholders purchase alternative fuel vehicles and needed infrastructure. Clean Cities a voluntary, locally-based government/industry partnership to expand the use of alternative fuels (alt-fuels) by accelerating the deployment of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) and increasing the local alternative fuel refueling infrastructure. The Clean Cities program works with both public and private sector proponents with a vested interest in AFVs (known as stakeholders) in order to reach its goals. The program coordinates activities with its stakeholders, providing them direction and acting as a forum to discover commonalties, investigate opportunities for joint projects, pool resources, and cooperate on promoting the benefits of AFVs in their communities.

What’s in it for Me?

This is a local effort to be meet on a regular basis to share information, the coalition meets regularly as serves as an excellent forum to share information and make connection related to clean forms of transportation. C⁵ has been meeting regularly throughout 2002 and 2003 and is now expanding its membership with new stakeholders.

As part of the U.S. Department of Energy’ National Clean Cities Program, the C⁵ needs stakeholder support to achieve its goals. With the support of the SLO Air Pollution Control District and with the assistance of its current stakeholders, the C⁵ has made great strides over the past few months and hopes to attain official Clean Cities designation this fall.

The National Clean Cities Program was established as a way to direct federal energy funding into projects and programs that would create, maintain and increase AFV use throughout the United States. Representing a nation continually striving for energy independence, the Department of Energy created the Clean Cities Program as a means to educate the public and private sectors of the benefits that alternative fuels can offer.

AFV’s offer more than an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional vehicles - they can save thousands in comparative purchase costs and often cost less to refuel than their conventionally fueled counterparts. In addition, federal mandates require certain operators to maintain a certain number of AFV’s in their fleet.

In order to make AFV’s a realistic alternative, federal funding is available to increase refueling infrastructure and provide tax benefits for AFV purchases. Much of this funding, however, is only available through the Clean Cities Program. The Central Coast needs to attain official Clean Cities designation in order to be eligible for this funding.