Currently, most government and utility fleets operate on petroleum-based fuels. These fuels, consumed as gasoline or diesel, are produced at regional petroleum refineries, which are then transported by interstate and intrastate transmission pipelines, or over-the-road delivery systems, and placed in local storage. While noticeable disruptions are rare due to robust fuel markets, large finished product reserves do not exist; therefore, system outages can have large and immediate system wide effects. These outages can cause a lack of available petroleum-based fuels.
Integrating alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) into emergency operation plans and related plans will allow a jurisdiction to rely on a diversified pool of fuel resources in the event of a petroleum shortage. Fuel diversity should become an essential part of the emergency planning process.
The National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) launched a nation-wide program – the Initiative for Resiliency in Energy through Vehicles (iREV) – to help integrate alternative fuel vehicles into emergency operation plans. iREV has developed a series of reports that outline the benefits of alternative fuel vehicles, highlight ways that these fuels have helped states and communities during emergencies, and recommend actions states can take to integrate alternative fuel vehicles into future emergency plans.
Four “case studies” provide basic information on biodiesel, electric, natural gas, and propane vehicles for emergency planners and provide key context for why alternative fuels should be considered during the emergency planning process, and used during emergencies. Read the full article here.
