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Rather than focusing their efforts on energy supply, several communities across the country are working to increase demand for renewable sources of energy. The South Florida Regional Planning Council and the Centralina Council of Governments in North Carolina are encouraging their member communities to use alternative fuels.

For the past decade, the South Florida RPC has promoted the development of the local counties' alternative fuel programs. Robert Daniels, Assistant Director of Planning and Policy, explains, "We're trying to promote the use of biodiesel for all the fleet vehicles in this region, including city and county fleets and postal service trucks. With the islands that make up the Florida Keys stretching out from the coast about a hundred miles, the water taxi service is also important for transportation. The water taxis have been very receptive to using alternative fuels, and many of them are operating on hybrid engines that use biodiesel as well as electricity."

The Centralina Council of Governments (COG) took a regional approach to increasing alternative fuel demand. They formed the Centralina Clean Fuels Coalition (CCFC), made up of cities, counties, state organizations, interest groups, businesses and other stakeholders. The CCFC is receives support from the N.C. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Energy's National Clean Cities Program, which promote the use of alternative fuels to improve air quality and reduce the nation's dependence on petroleum. Local cities like Monroe, North Carolina recognize the benefits of using biodiesel and other fuels. In 2004, Monroe began using a 20 percent biodiesel blend in its entire fleet of diesel vehicles.

With a local supplier of soy-based biodiesel available, the city has saved money by switching fuels, sees reduced maintenance needs due to the lubricating and cleaning properties of biodiesel and provides economic support for the local agricultural community.

The COG replaced its fleet with E85 ready cars and a Ford Escape Hybrid and is developing a network of fuel stations in the region that offer alternative fuels. CCFC has also partnered with the Gaston County School District in the production of biodiesel fuel from used cooking oil. Production began in the fall of 2005 using oil from the school food services department and several local restaurants. Initial production planned for 12,000 gallons of biodiesel fuel this year for a savings valued at $30,000. They plan to expand production over the next two years with a goal of 60,000 gallons per year.

South Florida Regional Planning Council 3440 Hollywood Blvd, Ste 140 Hollywood, FL 33021 Tel: 954.985.4416 Fax: 954.985.4417 http://www.sfrpc.com/

Centralina Council of Governments 1300 Baxter Street, Ste 450 Charlotte, NC 28204 Tel: 704.372.2416 Fax: 704.347.4710 http://www.centralina.org/