Letter from the Executive Director

Valued Clean Fuel Leaders, Members, and Stakeholders:

Fall is shaping up to be a busy season for Louisiana Clean Fuels! We have some exciting projects underway, new funding opportunities to share, and several events coming up that we hope you'll join us for.

We also have some fun events ahead! The Fall Fuels Fest kicks off on Friday at the Jimmie Davis State Park, and don't forget to save December 2–3 for our Virtual Clean Fuels Summit. We're bringing together speakers and stakeholders from across the country to share practical solutions, new technologies, and lessons learned.

Finally, I'm happy to see the EPA's DERA funding opportunity open again. With $180 million available nationally, this is welcome news for fleets looking to modernize their equipment. If you are considering a project, please reach out to us!

As always, thank you for your continued support of Louisiana Clean Fuels. We have a lot to look forward to as we wrap up 2026, and I hope to see many of you at one of our upcoming events!

Regards,

Ann Vail
LCF Executive Director

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Funding Opportunities

EPA Opens $180 Million in 2026 DERA Funding

The U.S. EPA officially released the 2026 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) notice of funding opportunity (NOFO), which provides about $180 million in competitive funding to accelerate upgrades, retrofits, and turnover of the nation's legacy diesel fleet. EPA anticipates making roughly 120 awards, with applications due January 22, 2027.

Eligible activities have historically spanned engine and vehicle replacements, retrofits, and idle-reduction technologies across school buses, heavy-duty trucks, locomotives, marine engines, and nonroad equipment; we'd encourage applicants to confirm the specific eligibility criteria in this NOFO before finalizing project scope. Award sizes will range up to a $12 million ceiling per project. 

This is welcome news for the Clean Cities and Communities network and for the fleets, ports, school districts, and communities that rely on DERA funding to cut diesel emissions and protect public health. Even as Congress continued to appropriate DERA funds this past spring, EPA hadn't opened a new National Grants NOFO since August 2023.

Read more here.

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Clean Fuels Conference & Workshops

Fall Fuels Fest & Jambalaya Cookoff

Fall Fuels Fest is just two days away — and we hope you’ll join us!

On Friday, October 16, Louisiana Clean Fuels heads to Jimmie Davis State Park in Chatham for our inaugural outdoor clean transportation celebration on the shores of Caney Creek Reservoir. We’ll have an alternative fuel vehicle display, an outdoor exhibitor expo, live Cajun music by Amanda Shaw and her guitarist, and a Jambalaya Cook-Off with four competing teams.  

Admission is free in advance or $5 at the door, and kids 12 and under are free. Stick around after the door prize drawings for our Stakeholder Huddle at 2:00 PM — an open conversation about growing clean transportation adoption across Louisiana and planning for what’s ahead in 2027. 

Save the date for the 2026 Virtual Clean Fuels Summit, bringing together fleet professionals, industry leaders, government agencies, utilities, and clean transportation experts for two days of practical education, discussion, and connection.

Hosted by Louisiana Clean Fuels and the Southeast Louisiana Clean Fuel Partnership, this year’s virtual Summit will feature transportation technologies, fuels, market trends, and real-world strategies shaping transportation today and in the years ahead. Attendees will hear from national and regional experts, learn from successful projects and fleet experiences, and connect with others working to advance alternative fuels and cleaner, more efficient transportation.

Sponsorship opportunities are now available, with registration, speakers, and the full agenda coming soon. Save December 2–3 and join us online! Sponsorship information can be found here: 

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Welcome New Members

Cummins Joins LCF as a Bronze Member 

Have you heard about the new CNG engine? The Cummins X15N is the industry’s first 15-liter natural gas engine purpose-built for heavy-duty and long-haul applications. Built to integrate seamlessly into existing, demanding operations, the X15N delivers power and performance while providing a practical path to reduced fuel costs and emissions. The X15N runs on natural gas and renewable natural gas (RNG), helping you move confidently toward a lower-carbon future—without reinventing how you work today.

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Member Spotlight

New NACFE Study Published: Electric Terminal Tractor Adoption, Four Years Later

LCF Member Orange EV Is Leading The Charge In The Yard

When fleets go electric, many start in the yard, and Orange EV is the name they reach for most. This month the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE) released Beyond the Pilot: Electric Terminal Tractor Adoption, Four Years Later. It found that LCF member Orange EV is still the market leader. The company accounted for 58.3% of all zero-emission heavy-duty truck registrations in early 2026 and has put more than 2,000 electric terminal tractors to work. Momentum keeps building: this year alone, Orange EV landed a record 600-unit order and a 96-unit order from APM Terminals Elizabeth at the Port of New York and New Jersey. Customers also point to Orange EV's hands-on approach. One fleet manager said the deciding factor was that Orange EV came out, walked her facility, and learned how her operation really works before recommending a truck.

The bottom line is what's driving the switch. In NACFE's survey, 60% of fleets said direct savings on fuel and maintenance was their top reason for going electric, and 76% report real operating-cost savings compared with diesel. Lazer Logistics, whose first electric yard trucks were Orange EV units back in 2017, reports cutting maintenance costs per hour roughly in half and energy costs by 75–95%, for more than $5 million in savings. Another fleet estimates about $10,000 a year in fuel savings for each electric unit. Electric tractors don't have diesel emissions systems that break down, and fleets report uptime as high as 95–98%. Electric units still cost more upfront, but that price gap has shrunk a lot in the past few years. As a bonus, drivers love the quiet cabs and the fact that there are no diesel fumes.

If your Louisiana fleet is thinking about electrifying its yard, visit their website at https://orangeev.com. You can read the full NACFE report at nacfe.org.

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LCF Member News

SporTran Announces New Autonomous Bus

LCF Member, SporTran has unveiled something new and exciting: its first autonomous public transit vehicle. After the successful launch event, attended by special guests Glenn Ledet, Jr., Louisiana Secretary of Transportation, and Seval Oz, Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology at the U.S. Department of Transportation, the SporTran representatives and vehicles will travel to Washington DC. In Washington, they will showcase the bus during the US Department of Transportation’s Roadway Safety Expo.

SporTran is an award-winning public transport service for Shreveport and Bossier City, with a long history going back to the 1870s. The program is robust and modern, supporting a fleet of 95 heavy-duty and smaller cutaway buses powered by alternative fuels: compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric batteries. The fleet has been massively successful and has recently captured the attention of the U.S. Department of Transportation. 

Read more here.

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LCF Projects and Programs

LCF and Southeast Louisiana Clean Fuel Partnership Expand Renewable Diesel Outreach

Louisiana is home to some of the nation's largest renewable diesel production facilities, yet much of the fuel produced here is shipped to other states. Louisiana Clean Fuels (LCF) and the Southeast Louisiana Clean Fuel Partnership (SLCFP) are working together to raise awareness of this important Louisiana industry and explore opportunities to expand renewable diesel use within the state.

The initiative began earlier this year with an educational mailing to Louisiana legislators highlighting the benefits of renewable diesel, its compatibility with existing diesel engines, and the state's production capacity.

Building on that outreach, the coalitions held a listening session with Louisiana renewable diesel producers and industry stakeholders on July 23rd to better understand current market conditions, challenges, and opportunities. A second listening session, scheduled for October 29th, will focus on diesel fleet operators and their interest in using renewable diesel, including questions about fuel availability, pricing, and operational considerations.

Looking ahead, LCF and SLCFP are planning additional educational activities during the 2027 legislative session, including a potential tour of renewable diesel production facilities for state and local elected officials, educational outreach at the State Capitol, and opportunities for legislators to connect directly with industry representatives.

Through this collaborative initiative, the coalitions aim to highlight the economic importance of Louisiana's renewable diesel industry, share practical information about this drop-in alternative fuel, and strengthen connections between producers, fuel providers, fleet operators, and policymakers.

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National Clean Fuels Events

Connect with us at GTSE at RE+26 Next Month!

GTSE26 at RE+ 26 brings together leaders working across fleet decarbonization and clean mobility. Louisiana Clean fuels will be in Las Vegas November 16–19 to connect with industry partners and learn more about the work moving clean transportation forward.

If you’re attending, use discount code NEQAW2CM at checkout. We look forward to connecting with you!

For more information: https://www.gtsummitexpo.com.  

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Industry News

Via Commercial Carrier Journal | By: Dan Sceli  | Updated Sep 28, 2026

The Natural Gas Revolution Isn't Coming: It's Already Here

North American fleets are watching the electric and hydrogen transition unfold with understandable caution. Battery-electric trucks are making progress in short-haul applications, while hydrogen development continues on a longer horizon. But while those technologies dominate headlines, another transition is already happening at commercial scale — not in pilot programs or future projections, but on highways around the world.

Renewable natural gas (RNG) has become the workhorse of global freight decarbonization. RNG production is ramping up in North America and already fuels most on-road natural gas vehicles. Yet only a small share of long-haul transport fleets run on RNG, leaving a massive untapped market opportunity.

The global natural gas commercial vehicle market is expanding rapidly as fleets seek cleaner, cheaper alternatives to diesel.

Read more here.

Houston METRO Awards New Flyer Order for 100 CNG Buses, Extending a Trusted Partnership Built Over 30 Years

FI Group Inc. (NFI), a leading manufacturer of buses and motorcoaches and a provider of comprehensive aftermarket parts and service solutions, subsidiary New Flyer of America Inc. (New Flyer), today announced an order from the Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority (METRO) for 100 Xcelsior® 40-foot compressed natural gas buses. The order was added to New Flyer’s firm backlog in the second quarter of 2026.

The purchase, valued at approximately $93 million, is supported by funding from the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) 2025-2026 Low- or No-Emission (Low-No) Program and Bus and Bus Facilities Projects.

Read more here.

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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. 

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