The Fourth National Clean Cities Conference and Expo Takes the Nation's Capital by Storm

The Fourth National

Clean Cities Conference

and Expo Takes the

Nation's Capital

by Storm

"NOW, THEREFORE I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the

United States of America, do hereby proclaim [May 31 through June 6],

1998 as Alternative Fuels Week. I call upon all Americans to observe

this week with appropriate ceremonies and activities."

- Presidential Proclamation, May 29, 1998

he Clean Cities Program answered the President's call with an action-packed

week of unforgettable ceremonies and activities. From special sessions on

Capitol Hill to a fireworks show and parade down Pennsylvania Avenue,

the Fourth National Clean Cities Conference and Expo took Washington, D.C.,

Many conference events were held

by storm. The impressive new Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade

in the Ronald Reagan Building,

Center (one of the largest federal buildings in the country, second only to the

shown here.

Pentagon) served as the center of the "AFV Village." Seven hundred conference

participants gathered to share success stories and plan future strategies for building alternative fuel vehicle (AFV)

markets. This year 's conference featured the first personal visit from the former Secretary of Energy, as Federico Peña

addressed the conference in a special "State of the Industry" plenary session.

Special events included a Department of Defense workshop designed to bring its fleet managers up to speed on ways

to continue integrating alternative fuels into federal fleets and how the Clean Cities Program can help. The Natural Gas

Vehicle Coalition sponsored a State Roundtable Meeting to discuss the current issues facing state and local government

advocates of natural gas vehicles. The Electric Transportation Coalition held its Fourth National Electric Vehicle (EV)-Ready

Market Launch Stakeholder meeting to celebrate the past year 's successes in the nation's EV-ready communities and

strategize for the future. Outside the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Forrestal Building, crowds cheered in the

streets as the 14 university teams competing in the Ethanol Vehicle Challenge raced across the finish line, completing

their 2-day, 600-mile trek from Detroit. And some conference participants enjoyed a "ride and drive" at Bolling Air Force Base,

where they had an opportunity to truly test these vehicles from behind the wheel. All in all, this year 's conference was

one to remember. We've captured some of the week's highlights in the following "top ten" list.