U.S. Department of Energy: Fuel Efficiency

I discovered an intriguing article on the USDE's website about government programs that prioritize fuel efficient vehicles and improve America's transportation system, making it more sustainable.  The Energy Department recently announced 20 new projects to improve accessibility to the training and tools needed to produce more fuel efficient vehicles.  U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu comments that these programs will "...give American families, businesses, and communities more options and reduce fueling costs. At the same time, these projects will help lead the way to further reducing America's dependence on foreign oil and protecting our nation's air and water."  These programs improve the country's sustainability through the Energy Department's Clean Cities Initiative, a group of coalitions that aim to make certain major US cities and certain private companies more energy efficient and clean. The city of Austin, Texas was recently awarded half a million dollars to assist companies that make a lot of deliveries to make their fleet of trucks more energy efficient, while offering training seminars on electric vehicles.  Additionally, Kansas City, Missouri will be given roughly $815,000 that will establish a Green Fleet Technical Assistance and Certification program to encourage companies to asess their fuel consumption and emission levels.

Link: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/cleancities/index.html