• The Polk County Police Department converted 10 cruisers to propane autogas through Alliance AutoGas, saving the fleet $47,000 in fuel costs annually.

• The general manager of Olympic Pool Plastering in Georgia discusses how running his fleet vehicles on autogas helps his company promote clean air and save on fuel costs.

• Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in northern Michigan is deploying two propane autogas pick-up trucks and three Chevrolet Volt plug-in electric vehicles, and will also install on-site charging and fueling stations for the vehicles.

• A city in Ohio is converting 12 vehicles to propane autogas. The city fleet has more than 300 vehicles in its fleet; and if the process of converting vehicles to autogas is successful, they plan to add more kits to other vehicles in the future.

• ROUSH CleanTech will begin production on the new multipurpose Ford F-650 propane autogas fuel system this October.

• LP Gas Magazine offers highlights from last weekend’s Southeastern Convention & International Propane Expo.

• The Propane Education and Research Council discussed clean propane autogas technology at the convention and expo in Atlanta.

• Auto dealers in the U.S. have “issues” with a proposed alternative fuel vehicle tax credit.

• The Motley Fool takes a look at which states are the most “alternative fuel-friendly.”

• Tax credits for alternative fuel vehicles head to the Colorado Senate.

Follow us on Twitter or like our page on Facebook for the latest news affecting your fleet or the alternative fuel industry.

Until then, here’s your weekly collection of the top alternative fuel news headlines:

• The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has issued its annual alternative fuel vehicle data set…for 2011. Better late than never? Natural gas, ethanol and propane autogas were the top three most-consumed alternative fuels.

• Williamson County, Texas, is saving $73,000 annually operating 36 fleet vehicles on autogas. Their story is part of the Fueling Texas campaign from the Propane Council of Texas to educate fleets across the state about the benefits of operating on autogas.

• A New York school district is considering adding Blue Bird propane-powered buses to its fleet.

• The Chicago Tribune offers a few simple fuel economy tips for drivers.

• Is turning cow manure into natural gas the future of clean energy?

• A local FedEx Ground delivery fleet in South Carolina is running on autogas.

• Affordable electric vehicles are still not a reality.

• The Monticello Police Department in Iowa is considering the switch to propane autogas.

• TransEnergy Solutions and the Propane Education & Research Council are hosting a Green Transportation Conference in Denver April 30.

Follow us on Twitter or like our page on Facebook for the latest news affecting your fleet or the alternative fuel industry.

Image courtesy of the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA)

• As we’ve reported previously, the propane industry is celebrating 100 years with an autogas parade and rally event in Atlanta this Saturday. Come out to test drive a few autogas vehicles and hear about the benefits of this cost-effective clean fuel. Fleets from across the country and experts from organizations like Alliance AutoGas and the Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program will be on hand to answer your questions.

• Folks in Mississippi are praising the benefits of propane autogas. Alliance AutoGas and co-founding partner Blossman Gas (based in Ocean Springs) are helping fleets statewide convert to autogas, including the Coast Transit Authority community fleet, the West Point and Starkville Police Departments, the Mississippi State University Police, and the Pearl River, Oktibbeha and Jones County Sheriff’s Offices. The State Fire Marshall also recently began the transition to propane autogas.

• A South Carolina county is making the switch to autogas to reduce their dependence on costly gasoline.

• A mass transit fleet in Michigan is already reaping the cost-savings benefits of running on propane autogas, with plans to purchase even more autogas-powered vehicles

• PERC answers your most common autogas fueling questions.

• One of the first public fueling stations in the U.S. to offer multiple alternative fuel options (both CNG and LNG) has opened in Wisconsin.

• In a recent speech, a U.S. Navy energy leader stressed the need for alternative fuel development.

• GPS navigation provider TomTom has updated its Webfleet Mobile fleet management app to make it more accessible for managers on the go.

For the latest alt fuel fleet news and views, follow @AllianceAutoGas or find us on Facebook.

With gasoline prices continuing to rise, autogas is an affordable domestic fuel we can’t afford to ignore. CNG may be making headlines, but autogas is actually more cost-effective to implement when it comes to fueling infrastructure and vehicle conversions.

The event will showcase a wide range of autogas vehicles, from buses, trucks, and cars, to forklifts, commercial lawn mowers and golf carts. Virginia Clean Cities and Clean Cities-Atlanta will provide propane-powered vehicles from Georgia fleets in the landmark Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program. The autogas vehicles will be available for ride & drives following the parade and rally.

Participating industry organizations also include Alliance AutoGas, CleanFuel USA, ROUSH CleanTech and the Propane Education and Research Council. Visit www.pcc100.org for more information, including event times and location.