Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition

What Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition does

Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition (KCFC) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization and the only U.S. Department of Energy-designated Clean Cities coalition in Kentucky, founded in 1993 and headquartered in Louisville. The organization functions as a statewide convener and resource center for advanced transportation technologies, promoting the adoption of biodiesel, ethanol, electricity, hydrogen, natural gas, propane, and idle reduction across Kentucky's fleet operators, school districts, transit authorities, utilities, and corporate fleets. KCFC's core programs include the Green Fleets of the Bluegrass members-only network (providing fleet benchmarking, analysis tools, and an annual awards ceremony), the Hybrid Horsepower for Kentucky Schools initiative (which deployed 156 hybrid-electric school buses across 35 districts), and an expanding portfolio of EV-related projects covering charging infrastructure, workplace charging, and first-responder training.

KCFC's underlying technology is not proprietary — the organization does not sell software or hardware products — but it curates and publishes a suite of third-party tools (AFLEET, GREET, AFDC Vehicle Cost Calculator, NREL Station Locator, EPA Green Vehicle Guide, Petroleum Reduction Planning Tool) along with an ArcGIS-based Kentucky Alternative Fuel Station Locator. The organization operates with 1-10 employees and generates revenue through a membership-based subscription model (with tiers including Gold membership that unlocks one-on-one fleet analysis), supplemented by grant administration fees and partner contributions such as the $250,000 Kentucky Utilities consent-decree grant program. KCFC's go-to-market is community-led, leveraging direct engagement with member fleets, an annual Green Fleets of the Bluegrass awards ceremony, a newsletter, and a Clean Cities network presence.

The organization is currently hosted by the Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research at the University of Louisville, formalizing an academic partnership for research and outreach. Key go-to-market assets include recognition by the U.S. DOE in 2018 for having the largest environmental impact for idle reduction among nearly 100 Clean Cities coalitions, and a body of operational data covering over 16.2 million gasoline-gallon-equivalents displaced and 123,000 tons of greenhouse gas reductions by participating fleets in 2017 alone.

Name

Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition

Legal name

Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition

Website

https://kentuckycleanfuels.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition is a 501c3 nonprofit and the only U.S. DOE-designated Clean Cities coalition in Kentucky, founded in 1993 and based in Louisville. It convenes government, transit, school, utility, and corporate fleets around the adoption of alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies through membership, benchmarking, and grant-funded programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Clean Transportation Advocacy Services

SIC

Gas & Other Services Combined (4932)

akta.pro primary industry

Electrification & Alternative Fuels for School Fleets (EV Buses, Charging, CNG) (EDAEADAJ)

Keywords

• Alternative fuel advocacy
• Clean transportation coalition
• Fleet sustainability programs
• Clean cities coordination
• Alternative fuel education

Headquarters

HQ city

Louisville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: KCFC operates as a nonprofit membership organization. Membership is representative of all aspects of the advanced transportation technology industry in Kentucky, including producers, distributors, end users, educators, and regulatory agencies. The coalition offers Gold membership level or higher with access to one-on-one fleet analysis.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition (KCFC) is a 501c3 nonprofit and Clean Cities coalition partner that promotes clean transportation fuels in Kentucky. It convenes fleet operators, alternative fuel producers and distributors, educators, and government agencies; administers the Green Fleets of the Bluegrass benchmarking and award program; coordinates projects such as Hybrid Horsepower for Kentucky Schools that replaced 156 diesel school buses with hybrid-electric models; and provides training, technical assistance, and resources covering biodiesel, ethanol, natural gas, propane, electricity, hydrogen, and idle reduction technologies.

Product overview

Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition operates as a membership-based nonprofit organization providing a portfolio of programs and resources for advanced transportation technology. The core offerings include the Green Fleets of the Bluegrass members-only network offering fleet analysis tools and industry resources, the Green Fleets Award Program recognizing fleet sustainability leadership, and the Hybrid Horsepower initiative replacing diesel school buses with hybrid-electric models. Supporting these are online tools and calculators for fleet cost/ emissions analysis, an interactive ArcGIS station locator map, EV charging infrastructure resources, first responder safety training, and K-12 education curriculum. The organization functions as a Clean Cities partner rather than a traditional software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Green Fleets of the Bluegrass Members-only network for Gold-tier KCFC members and above, providing one-on-one fleet analysis, industry resources, and benchmarking tools to improve environmental and economic performance of vehicle fleets across Kentucky.
• Green Fleets Award Program Annual recognition program honoring Kentucky fleets demonstrating leadership in alternative fuel adoption and emissions reduction across municipal, corporate, transit, school, freight, and refuse categories.
• Hybrid Horsepower for Kentucky Schools Statewide initiative that replaced 156 aging diesel school buses with hybrid-electric buses across 35 Kentucky school districts, achieving 35% greater fuel efficiency and saving nearly 200,000 gallons of fuel.
• Hybrid Bus Training and Education Curriculum Multi-disciplinary K-12 curriculum and technician training program developed in partnership with the National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project and Eaton, providing hands-on training for school bus drivers, mechanics, and educators on hybrid-electric technology.
• First Responder Dealership EV Ambassador Program Training program providing first responders and dealerships with education on alternative fuel vehicle safety, registration resources, and NFPA training materials.

Quantifiable outcome

• Green Fleets of the Bluegrass Program reduced 16.2 million GGEs of conventional fuel in 2017
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Conn Center at University of LouisvillecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019KCFC is now hosted by the Conn Center at the University of Louisville, providing a formal academic partnership for research and outreach activities related to clean transportation technologies.
• Transit Authority of River City (TARC)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018TARC received $4.4 million from the Federal Transit Administration Clean Fuels Program for the purchase of fully electric buses to replace diesel trolleys. KCFC has supported TARC's electric bus deployment, including its ZeroBus program with 10 fast-charging all-electric buses.
• Electrify AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Through the Volkswagen Settlement, $2 billion was allocated to Electrify America to promote zero-emission vehicle technology. Over a ten-year period ending in 2027, Electrify America invests across four 30-month cycles to establish EV charging networks including in Kentucky.
• Federal Highway AdministrationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018The Federal Highway Administration designated alternative fuel corridors in Kentucky as 'corridor-ready' following an application submitted by KCFC with corridor nominations, enabling improved infrastructure for alternative fuel vehicles.
• University of Louisville - DOE Workplace Charging ChallengemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014In 2014, the University of Louisville became the first DOE Workplace Charging Challenge partner in Kentucky. UofL installed 6 Level II EV charging stations and conducted EV research including an algorithm developed by doctoral student Nick Jewell to predict peak electricity demand.
• Propane Education and Research Council (PERC)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013PERC partnered with Mammoth Cave National Park in 2013 to identify propane-equivalent replacements for mowers, water heaters and other conventional items. PERC committed $80,000-$100,000 in 2014 for this initiative.
• Owensboro Community and Technical College (OCTC)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012KCFC partners with Owensboro Community and Technical College on the OCTC Initiative to develop an advanced transportation technology training program for vehicle technicians, preparing the workforce for alternative fuel vehicle maintenance and repair.
• Kentucky Utilities Company (KU)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011In 2012, Kentucky Utilities Company offered $250,000 in grant funding for acquisition of plug-in electric vehicles in fleets owned by governmental and quasi-governmental bodies. The company reimbursed the incremental cost of EVs and funded charging stations for selected applicants.
• Eaton (Hybrid System Manufacturer)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Eaton provided the hybrid system for the Hybrid Horsepower for Kentucky Schools project. The company delivered over 40 hands-on in-person training sessions to school district technicians and first responders, and certified school district technicians to work on the hybrid-electric system.
• ThomasBuilt BusmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009ThomasBuilt Bus was a bus manufacturer partner in the Hybrid Horsepower for Kentucky Schools project, supplying the vehicle chassis for the 156 hybrid-electric school buses deployed across 35 Kentucky school districts.
• International BusmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009International Bus was a bus manufacturer partner in the Hybrid Horsepower for Kentucky Schools project, providing vehicle chassis for the hybrid-electric school bus deployment.
• National Energy Education Development (NEED) ProjectmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009The NEED Project provided three cross-disciplinary curriculum trainings for primary and secondary school teachers. Approximately 70 teachers across 40 districts received K-12 hybrid system curriculum training in 2012-2013 covering Science, Math, English, and Social Studies.
• Kentucky Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009The Kentucky Department of Education partnered with KCFC on the Hybrid Horsepower for Kentucky Schools project. It provided funding coordination and supported bus procurement from 2009-2011, and facilitated ongoing data collection through school district transportation directors from 2010-2013.
• U.S. Department of Energy Clean Cities ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1993KCFC is a designated Clean Cities coalition partner with the U.S. Department of Energy. The Clean Cities program coordinates the deployment of alternative fuel vehicles and infrastructure. KCFC has been recognized by DOE for its leadership, including having the largest environmental impact for idle reduction among nearly 100 Clean Cities coalitions.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition: Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition is a DOE-designated coalition covering the DC metro area, with a comparable mission of advancing alternative fuels, idle reduction, and fleet electrification across public and private sectors.
• Clean Fuels Ohio: Clean Fuels Ohio is Ohio's DOE Clean Cities-designated 501c3 coalition promoting alternative fuels, advanced vehicles, and fleet sustainability across the state. It is the closest geographic and structural analog to KCFC (single state, multi-fuel, nonprofit coalition model).
• Triangle Clean Cities Coalition: Triangle Clean Cities Coalition is a regional North Carolina Clean Cities coalition advancing alternative fuels and advanced vehicles. It shares KCFC's partnership-driven approach to fleet decarbonization and multi-stakeholder convening.
• Tennessee Clean Fuels: Tennessee Clean Fuels is Tennessee's state-level Clean Cities coalition and nonprofit with the same multi-fuel scope, fleet engagement model, and DOE partnership structure as KCFC. It serves a directly comparable constituency of public and private fleets.
• Drive Clean Indiana: Drive Clean Indiana is Indiana's Clean Cities coalition, a nonprofit convener for alternative fuel adoption and fleet sustainability. It mirrors KCFC's role in driving school bus, transit, and government fleet transitions across a single Midwest state.

Broad incumbents

• CALSTART: CALSTART is a national clean transportation nonprofit that works across multiple states, technologies, and modes to accelerate clean vehicle adoption. It is a larger, broader-incumbent analog to KCFC's coalition/advocacy model and often serves as a regional implementation partner in geographies adjacent to KCFC.
• Electrification Coalition: The Electrification Coalition is a national nonpartisan advocacy organization focused on accelerating EV adoption across light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles. It is comparable to KCFC as a complementary advocate for fleet electrification, operating at a national rather than state scale.

Others

• Propane Education & Research Council (PERC): PERC is a national propane industry organization that promotes propane autogas adoption in school bus, fleet, and commercial markets. It is comparable to KCFC as a partner in propane school bus deployment (Crittenden County's 13 propane buses and Mammoth Cave partnership) and an enabler of KCFC's fleet programs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kycleanfuels
• Facebookfacebook.com/kycleanfuels
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kentucky-clean-fuels-coalition

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition