The State of Virginia is committing to alternative fuels with the several programs to encourage alt-fuel vehicle use and expansion within its fleet and across the state. Governor Terry McAuliffe released the Virginia Energy Plan on Oct. 16, outlining the state’s alternative fuel vehicle and infrastructure goals.

The state is encouraging state agencies to purchase vehicles that use non-traditional fuels. To facilitate this, the state is expanding its Commonwealth Alternative Fuel Program, which helps fund the purchase or conversion of vehicles fueling with natural gas or propane autogas using federal grants. The state’s goal is to deploy at least 300 vehicles through this program by the end of the administration in 2018.

The state also plans to double its alternative-fuel fueling infrastructure for state and public use to 800 stations, including electric vehicle charging stations. Virginia currently has 400 alternative fuel stations for biodiesel, natural gas, ethanol, electricity, and hydrogen. This may be done through public-private partnerships that “involve leveraging state vehicle fleets to provide the volume of vehicles needed for the financial viability of building new fueling infrastructure,” the plan stated.

Additionally, the governor is creating an annual Governor’s Green Fleet Award to showcase state agencies that are public-sector leaders in shifting their fleets to alternative fuels.

The full plan can be found on the state website.