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LCF Clean Fuel News |May/June 2026
Letter from the Executive Director
It's been a busy and exciting few months for Louisiana Clean Fuels.
I recently returned from the U.S. Department of Energy's Transportation Technologies Annual Merit Review (AMR) in Washington, D.C., where I had the opportunity to serve as a project reviewer. The AMR brings together researchers, national laboratories, industry leaders, and transportation experts from across the country to evaluate emerging transportation technologies and federally funded projects. It is always an excellent opportunity to see what is coming next, learn about new tools and resources, and better understand the technologies that may shape the future of transportation.
Closer to home, Aspen Nero from the Southeast Louisiana Clean Fuel Partnership and I recently participated in a Congressional Fly-In hosted in Southeast Louisiana. We toured renewable diesel production facilities, storage terminals, and river transportation operations, including a memorable ride aboard an ADM/ARTCO crew boat on the Mississippi River. The experience provided a firsthand look at the people, infrastructure, and supply chains that make Louisiana a national leader in renewable diesel production.
The tour also helped kick-off a new year-long renewable diesel outreach initiative that our two Louisiana coalitions will be leading. Through educational outreach, stakeholder listening sessions, a renewable diesel roundtable, and a future webinar, we hope to better understand the opportunities and barriers facing Louisiana fleets interested in using this domestically produced, drop-in fuel. Louisiana produces a tremendous amount of transportation energy, and we should be having conversations about how that energy can support Louisiana fleets and communities.
You will also see in this newsletter that we have been awarded funding through the National Laboratory of the Rockies' Jumpstart Program to conduct a statewide assessment of Louisiana's compressed natural gas fueling infrastructure and market conditions. This project will help us better understand the current state of Louisiana's CNG market and identify opportunities for future growth and investment.
For our municipal partners, our summer Charging Smart cohort is now underway, providing free technical assistance to communities interested in becoming more EV-ready through improved permitting, planning, and zoning practices.
As always, our mission remains simple: provide objective information, connect stakeholders with resources, and help fleets and communities evaluate transportation options that make sense for their unique needs. Whether your interest is natural gas, renewable diesel, propane, electricity, hydrogen, or emerging transportation technologies, we are here to help.
Thank you for your continued support of Louisiana Clean Fuels. I look forward to seeing many of you at upcoming events and hearing about the projects and opportunities that matter most to you.
Sincerely,
Ann Vail
Executive Director
Louisiana Clean Fuels
Announcements
Louisiana Clean Fuels Awarded Funding to Assess Louisiana's CNG Market and Fueling Infrastructure
Louisiana Clean Fuels (LCF) has been awarded funding through the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) Jumpstart Program to conduct a statewide assessment of Louisiana's compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling infrastructure and market conditions.
Over the next year, LCF will visit all 10 public CNG fueling stations currently operating in Louisiana and conduct interviews with station owners, operators, fleets, and other stakeholders. The project will document station utilization, market trends, operational challenges, and opportunities for future growth. Findings will be compiled into a Louisiana CNG Market Readiness and Station Capacity Assessment Report that will help stakeholders better understand the current state of the market and identify opportunities for future investment, planning, and deployment.
Natural gas has played an important role in Louisiana's transportation sector for more than a decade. However, public compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling infrastructure in Louisiana has contracted in recent years, even as many national fleets continue to expand their use of the fuel. This project will provide a comprehensive statewide assessment of Louisiana's public CNG fueling network, evaluating station utilization, operational capacity, and the non-capital barriers affecting long-term market viability and sustained adoption of this domestically produced transportation fuel.
As part of this effort, LCF is forming the Louisiana Natural Gas Infrastructure & Fleet Working Group, a temporary stakeholder group that will help guide the project, validate findings, and provide industry insight. The group will meet periodically throughout the project and conclude upon completion of the assessment. We are seeking participation from:
- CNG station owners and operators
- Fleet managers and transportation companies
- Utilities and natural gas providers
- Equipment manufacturers and service providers
- Local and state government representatives
- Other organizations with an interest in natural gas transportation
If you are involved in Louisiana's natural gas transportation industry and would like to participate, please contact Ann Vail at [email protected].
The information gathered through this project will help inform future planning efforts, identify barriers to market growth, and support informed decision-making by state and federal policymakers, fleets, fuel providers, and natural gas utilities. By documenting the current condition of Louisiana's public CNG market, the final report will serve as a resource for stakeholders and decision-makers evaluating future transportation energy, infrastructure, and fleet investment strategies.
We look forward to working with stakeholders across Louisiana as we begin this important effort.
Outreach Activities
Louisiana Coalitions Join Clean Fuels Congressional Tour
Louisiana Clean Fuels (LCF) and the Southeast Louisiana Clean Fuel Partnership recently participated in the 2026 New Orleans Clean Fuels Congressional Tour, hosted by the Clean Fuels Alliance Foundation. The event brought Congressional staff, industry leaders, agricultural stakeholders, and transportation professionals together for an immersive look at the renewable diesel supply chain and its economic impact in Louisiana.
Representing Louisiana's Clean Cities and Communities coalitions were Ann Vail, Executive Director of Louisiana Clean Fuels, and Aspen Nero, Director of the Southeast Louisiana Clean Fuel Partnership. During the tour, participants visited several key facilities that help make Louisiana a national leader in renewable diesel production, including Diamond Green Diesel in Norco, Bunge Chevron Ag Renewables in Destrehan, and IMTT's storage and logistics operations along the Mississippi River. Participants also toured ADM's ARTCO river operations aboard a crew boat, providing a firsthand look at the complex transportation and grain-handling systems that support renewable fuel production.
One of the tour's key messages was that Louisiana produces a significant portion of the nation's renewable diesel supply, yet very little of that fuel is currently available for use by Louisiana fleets. Renewable diesel is a drop-in fuel that can be used in existing diesel vehicles and fueling infrastructure without modifications, making it one of the easiest pathways for fleets seeking to diversify fuel sources and reduce emissions.
During the luncheon program, Vail and Nero presented a new coalition-led renewable diesel outreach initiative that will take place throughout the coming year. The effort will include educational outreach to Louisiana elected officials, stakeholder engagement with renewable diesel producers and suppliers, a Louisiana renewable diesel roundtable, and a webinar designed to help fleets better understand the opportunities and challenges associated with renewable diesel adoption. Findings from the stakeholder listening sessions will help guide future coalition activities and identify barriers that may be limiting in-state use of renewable diesel.
The tour also created new opportunities for future collaboration. Discussions with tour organizers explored the possibility of hosting a similar Louisiana-focused educational tour for Congressional staff and policymakers within the next year. Such an event would provide decision-makers with a firsthand look at Louisiana's renewable fuel industry and the critical role it plays in supporting domestic energy production, agriculture, manufacturing, transportation, and port operations.
For Ann and Aspen, one of the highlights of the day was touring major industrial facilities and riding a tugboat on the Mississippi River while learning directly from the people who move feedstocks, fuels, and products through one of the most important energy corridors in the nation. These experiences help our coalitions bring real-world knowledge back to 0ur stakeholders as we continue our mission of providing objective education and technical assistance on transportation fuels and technologies.
Technical AFV Training
Join LCF’s Free "Charging Smart" Summer Cohort for Municipalities
Electric vehicles are becoming more common across Louisiana, with more than 20,000 EVs now registered statewide. As adoption grows, communities have an opportunity to ensure their permitting, zoning, and planning processes are ready to support safe and efficient charging infrastructure deployment.
That’s why Louisiana Clean Fuels is proud to support the Charging Smart program, a free national technical assistance and designation initiative that helps local governments adopt best practices for EV charging.
Through Charging Smart, your community can:
- Simplify permitting and reduce project delays
- Access expert guidance, templates, and vetted resources
- Position your community for private investment in charging infrastructure
- Earn national recognition for being “EV-ready”
To help Louisiana communities move forward, LCF is launching a Summer Charging Smart Cohort beginning in June. Join three other Louisiana communities already working on their Bronze designation.
This cohort will provide:
- Monthly group sessions with targeted guidance and resources
- A structured pathway to achieve Bronze designation
- Peer learning with other Louisiana communities
- One-on-one technical assistance and open office hours available to help you through the process
Participation is completely free, and LCF will guide you through each step of the process.
Sign up to join us!
Ready to get join us? Sign up for the Summer Cohort here.
Already signed up for Charging Smart and wish to continue your journey with us? Email Ann at [email protected]
Technical Training: C2001 Fundamentals of High Voltage xEV, Safety, and PPE
Learn the essential principles of high-voltage systems in xEVs, including safe handling, PPE requirements, and hazard mitigation. This course equips engineers, technicians, and safety professionals with critical skills to manage risks, comply with standards, and ensure operational safety in hybrid and electric vehicle environments. Whether you’re stepping into an EV-related role for the first time or looking to sharpen your skills, this course blends technical know-how with a vision for the future. As electrification reshapes the mobility landscape, you’ll walk away ready to make an impact on sustainability, innovation, and cleaner transportation for generations to come.
Who Should Attend
Any engineer or technician developing, verifying, or validating a vehicle electrification system will benefit from this course.
Prerequisites
An engineering degree or prior knowledge of high voltage EV systems is not required in order to benefit from and successfully complete this course. However, prior experience in the automotive field as an engineer, technologist, or technician would be beneficial.
Learn more: https://www.sae.org/learn/content/C2001 (Discount CODE CC2025)
Clean Fuels Conference & Workshops
Virtual Coffee Hour - LCF Open Office Hours
Jun 26, 2026 10:00 AM Central Time
Join the Louisiana Clean Fuels team for our Virtual Coffee Hour, a casual, drop-in open office hour designed to give you direct access to our staff and more opportunities to connect with fellow stakeholders. We want to hear what’s happening in your world. Whether you have a specific question, a project you’re exploring, or simply want to stay connected, this is your time.
Technical Resource of the Month
Free Technical Assistance from National Lab Experts
Energy to Communities (E2C) Expert Match connects local governments, utilities, nonprofits, schools, and community organizations with national laboratory experts — at no cost — to answer near-term transportation and energy questions. This round has capacity for 4–5 applicants focused on transportation and mobility topics like EV charging siting, fleet electrification, microgrid solutions, and workforce development.
Funding Opportunities
EPA To Overhaul Clean School Bus Program
FEBRUARY 23, 2026 | BY ERIN KRUEGER | Via Biodiesel Magazine
The U.S. EPA on Feb. 19 announced plans to revamp its Clean School Bus program to focus on a wider range of alternative fuels, including renewable natural gas (RNG), biodiesel, renewable diesel and E85.
The CSB program was created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, which provide the agency with $5 billion for fiscal years (FY) 2022-2026 to support the replacement of older, diesel-powered school buses with cleaner models. To date, the program has primarily provided funding for zero-emission battery electric buses, with a minority of awards supporting other technologies, primarily buses fueled by propane or compressed natural gas (RNG).
EPA Clean School Bus Program Website: https://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus
About LCF
Louisiana Clean Fuels is a designated coalition in the US Department of Energy's Clean Cities and Communities partnership, supported by the Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy and member organizations. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization serving fleets for 25 years.
The mission of Louisiana Clean Fuels, Inc. is to advance the nation’s environmental, economic, and energy security by supporting local actions to reduce emissions and diversify transportation fuel options. Our goal is to show how advanced technologies and alternative fuels can help meet business and environmental goals. By providing objective data, technical resources, and the right connections, we help fleets find reliable solutions that will stabilize or lower fuel costs.
