From the Office of the Executive Director

Dear members, colleagues and friends:

February is always an exciting month for the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium because it usually serves as the start of our conference and expo season. Attending these events allows us at the NAFTC to present our training resources and to network with industry and government colleagues. The National Biodiesel Conference and Expo, held Feb. 6-9 in Phoenix, provided an opportunity for us to exhibit U.S. Department of Energy Clean Cities Learning Program (CCLP) First Responder Safety Training materials, specifically the Biofuels and Biofuel Vehicles module. We also previewed the Advanced Electric Drive Vehicle Education Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles instructor’s manual at the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Conference and Expo, which took place Feb. 13-16 in the Washington, D.C., area.

In other consortium news, the NAFTC is extremely proud to collaborate with Giant Eagle by recently offering compressed natural gas (CNG) training to their automotive technicians. Their commitment to using alternative fuels in their fleet is inspiring, and we at the NAFTC look forward to assisting them with their training needs in the future. Speaking of the future, NAFTC Associate Training Center Monongalia County Technical Education Center (MTEC) is continuing to teach the next generation of electricians and automotive technicians – a responsibility the NAFTC recognized with a resolution celebrating MTEC’s membership and National Career and Technical Education Month.

This month’s Industry Headlines section features reports on the American public’s familiarity with alternative fuel vehicles, the Chevy Volt’s distinction as the 2011 North American Car of the Year and the EPA’s extension of the E15 waiver to include Model Years 2001-2006. In addition, congratulations to Eaton Corporation on its announcement that customers of its hybrid systems have collectively driven more than 100 million miles, saved four million gallons of diesel fuel and reduced emissions by 40,000 metric tons.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact me or any of us at the NAFTC if we can be of assistance

Sincerely,

Al Ebron
NAFTC Executive Director