Renew America Success Stories

Clark County Alternative Fuel Strategy

Description 

The Clark County Alternative Fuel Strategy is a program adopted by the Clark County Board of Commissioners in March 1993 designed to improve air quality in the Las Vegas Valley by using compressed natural gas (CNG) as a clean-burning alternative motor vehicle fuel. To achieve this aim, the program set goals for acquiring CNG-powered vehicles for Clark County, for establishing a network of public CNG fueling facilities, and for gaining the participation of vehicles within private fleets. 

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Area is located in a valley in the Mojave Desert surrounded by mountains that capture and hold air pollution in the valley. On some days the haze will block the view of the mountains and burn residents eyes -- portions of the Valley violate national ambient health standards for carbon monoxide (CO). Since gasoline-powered motor vehicles generate 86% of the CO emissions and since CNG, when burned, releases only 10% of the CO released by gasoline, the Alternative Fuel Strategy is designed to substantially reduce CO emissions and improve air quality in the Las Vegas Valley. 

The program has received the cooperation of more than 20 government agencies, including three cities and the State of Nevada and has implemented a market-based approach to building refueling stations. This effective, cooperative effort has already led to substantial reductions in emissions of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides and other vehicle emissions and these savings will increase as the program expands. 

Program Highlights 

Conversion of 40% of Clark County Motor Vehicle Fleet to CNG 

• The program calls for a total of 395 CNG-fueled county vehicles to be operational by the year 2000.
• An analysis of the County's fleet was conducted, determining age, type and size of the fleet, and mapping both garage and service facilities to aid in the efficient siting of fueling facilities.
• The Clark County fleet consists of 960 vehicles (excluding specialty and emergency vehicles such as sweepers, loaders, trailers, police, fire and other emergency vehicles).
• In order to run on CNG, vehicles must undergo a conversion process at a cost of $2,500-$3,000 per vehicle. Vehicles consuming 1,000 or more gallons of fuel per year (natural gas costs $.63 less per equivalent gallon of gasoline) will recoup the cost of the conversion in just five years.
• The cost of using CNG-powered vehicles will decline as auto manufacturers begin producing large numbers of dedicated CNG vehicles from the assembly line, eliminating the need to convert such vehicles.

• The strategy calls for the implementation of convenient, CNG fueling facilities for both private and government use.
• One government-owned and three privately-owned CNG fueling sites have been constructed. Four more sites, two for the public and two for government fleets, are planned for construction in the near future.
• Government agencies are cooperating to design a universal fueling card system to enable vehicles to refuel at any facility.

• A comprehensive marketing strategy was developed to ensure as much private participation in the alternative fuel strategy as possible. The County developed a five-part strategy for encouraging private participation in the strategy, including:

• Educate customers, legislators and regulators about the environmental, economic and other benefits of natural gas as a vehicle fuel.
• Reduce up front capital costs for customers to purchase/convert vehicles.
• Increase the fuel cost savings of using natural gas versus other fuels.
• Create a special public recognition program for CNG-fueled vehicle customers.
• Increase the number of CNG-fueling facilities.

Vital Statistics

Program Management/Partnerships: The Clark County Alternative Fuel Strategy was adopted by the Clark County Board of Commissioners in March 1993. Its implementation assures the County's compliance with a variety of federal and state initiatives, including the Energy Policy Act of 1992 and the Department of Energy's goals of increasing energy independence by reducing dependence on oil imports. 

Budget: Private investment of approximately $2.5 million has enabled the construction of fueling centers for the public and maintenance of such centers. Government agencies have spent approximately $3 million on constructed high volume fuel centers for government vehicles. 

Community Served: The nearly one million residents of the Las Vegas Valley and the 30 million tourists who annually visit the city. 

Measures of Success:

There are now 500 natural gas vehicles in operation in the Las Vegas Valley, owned by 20 different local, state, and federal agencies, utility companies, and private sector fleets. 

A marketing plan to convert private fleet vehicles is in place with the projection that 2,500 cars and trucks will be CNG-powered by the year 2000.

Three privately-owned and one government-owned CNG fueling sites have been constructed. Four more sites, two for the public and two for government fleets, are planned for construction in the near future.

CNG-powered vehicles consume approximately 1.5 million gallons of CNG annually.