The Earth Day Coalition (EDC) has scheduled a compressed natural gas workshop for fleet managers in the Cleveland area on Jan. 27, the group has announced.

The workshop is part of the coalition's Fuel for Thought series with funding from the Ohio Environmental Education Fund for the Reducing Geenhouse Gas Emissions project that will include three Fuel for Thought workshops designed for local fleet directors and one Workforce Development Opportunity in Alternative Fuels workshop for area educators.

Fuel for Thought presentations will provide attendees an opportunity to learn about alternative fuels, funding availability for vehicles and infrastructure, and personnel training required for operating alternative fuel fleets. Attendees will have an opportunity to network with alternative fuel professionals and learn about the benefits and challenges to operating compressed natural gas, propane and electric vehicle fleets.

The CNG workshop will be held on Jan. 27 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Greater Cleveland Rapid Transit Authority at 1240 W 6th St. It will highlight Compressed Natural Gas vehicles and fleet operations. Two additional workshops will be held around propane autogas on Feb. 24 and battery-electric vehicles on March 24.

Several individuals and organizations will share feedback at the CNG workshop.

Ace Taxi owner, Devo Bavishi, will share insights as an owner and operator of a CNG-powered taxi fleet in Northeast Ohio. Approximately 65% of their 165 vehicles operate on CNG and their fleet is expanding to include 15 Super Shuttle buses. Additionally, Ace Taxi operates one of two publically accessible compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling stations in the Greater Cleveland area. Ace Taxi worked with Clean Energy in 2012 to install fast-fill CNG dispensers that allow vehicle operators to fill vehicles at similar rates as conventional fuels.

Marcus Gillete, director of public and government affairs for the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas, will discuss the benefits of renewable natural gas and sources. The coalition is a member-led non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of renewable natural gas (biogas, biomethane or RNG) as a clean, green, alternative and domestic energy resource. The coalition advocates for renewable natural gas development and deployment so that present and future generations will have access to domestic, renewable, clean fuel and energy supply.

Bill Davis, director of the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC), will present on compressed natural gas vehicles and technology and discuss personnel requirements for operating an alternative fuel fleet. NAFTC is a nationwide training organization, with international centers in Canada and China. The NAFTC develops and disseminates curricula on alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles, and presently offers more than 35 courses and workshops.

Contact Christina Yoka at (216) 281-6468, ext. 231, to register to attend or to inquire about sponsorship opportunities. The workshop series is free to attend for Earth Day Coalition members, $10 per workshop for fleet representatives, and $25 per workshop for industry representatives.