RICHMOND, VA- Virginia’s Governor Robert McDonnell has signed partner agreements with a number of alternative fuel and vehicle conversion companies. McDonnell signed agreements with Alliance AutoGas extended partners and Clean Energy Fuels Corp. that will enable State and local government entities to purchase alternative fuels for their vehicle fleets and convert their vehicles.

Under the agreement with Alliance AutoGas, partners Blossman Gas, Phillips Energy, ROUSH CleanTech, and CleanFUEL USA will supply propane autogas fuel and refueling infrastructure, facilitate propane autogas vehicle conversions, and provide OEM autogas vehicles for State entities.

Clean Energy Fuels will supply natural gas to State entities.

Beyond these partner agreements, McDonnell signed a multi-state memorandum of understanding (MOU) and an executive directive that is designed to further Virginia's State fleet conversion efforts.

McDonnell and Oklahoma’s Governor Mary Fallin, along with representatives from organizations that responded to the Commonwealth’s RFP to supply alternative fuels and convert State vehicles, attended a ceremony to commemorate the signing.

Two vehicles featured at the event included a propane autogas-fueled police cruiser from the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office and a propane autogas-powered ROUSH CleanTech Ford F-250.

According to McDonnell’s office, these actions follow legislation passed in 2011 in Virginia’s General Assembly that required the State to pursue, Virginia's Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act of 2002, building infrastructure and converting the Commonwealth's fleet to use alternative fuels.

The executive director McDonnell signed outlines the steps State agencies need to take to use the newly signed contracts and begin converting fleet vehicles to use alternative fuels where practical.

The multi-state MOU is designed to leverage the purchasing power of the 22 states that have signed the agreement. McDonnell’s office stated that it has issued an RFP for natural gas vehicles for these states as well.

Earlier this year, McDonnell created an alternative-fuel vehicle conversion fund for State entities.

Updated 12:53 p.m., 10/4/2012, to clarify partner agreement details.