Tennessee Clean Fuels (TNCleanFuels)

What Tennessee Clean Fuels (TNCleanFuels) does

Tennessee Clean Fuels (TNCleanFuels) is a 501c3 nonprofit coalition, established in 2002/2003, that operates as the umbrella for two regional coalitions — the East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition (housed under the University of Tennessee, Knoxville's Institute for a Secure and Sustainable Environment) and the Middle-West Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition. Both are designated participants in the U.S. Department of Energy's Clean Cities and Communities Program, a federal network of roughly 80 coalitions. The organization functions as a fleet guide, helping public and private fleets across Tennessee navigate alternative fuels (biodiesel, ethanol, propane, natural gas, RNG) and advanced vehicle technologies (EVs, hydraulic hybrids). Its coverage extends from the Mississippi River to the Appalachian Mountains.

The core offering is a portfolio of advisory services rather than a unified software product: fleet analysis, ROI review, project stewardship from concept to implementation, grant writing and funding navigation (advertised at 80%+ success), and access to hundreds of industry contacts. Supporting programs include the Tennessee Green Fleets Certification Program, the EMPOWER Workplace Charging Initiative, the DRIVE Electric USA (DEUSA2) statewide electrification initiative, the RDE4HT state DERA funding program, and the Tennessee Sustainable Transportation Forum & Expo. The organization has facilitated over $15 million in cumulative funding for member fleets across its history.

The business model is a two-sided tiered membership plus grant administration. Membership is offered in five tiers — Bronze ($500/year), Silver ($1,000), Gold ($2,500), Platinum ($5,000), and Diamond ($10,000) — for both fleets and industry partners, with higher tiers unlocking more grant-writing hours, fleet assessments, stakeholder introductions, and visibility benefits. Additional revenue comes from grant writing services (offered to Gold-tier and above) and ancillary program administration. Customers are primarily municipal governments (Chattanooga, Kingsport, Knoxville, Sevierville), utilities (Knoxville Utilities Board), educational institutions (UTK, Washington County Schools, Motlow State), and alternative fuel industry vendors. The organization is led by CEO Jonathan Overly and a 12-person staff, with separate directors for each coalition.

Name

Tennessee Clean Fuels (TNCleanFuels)

Legal name

Tennessee Clean Fuels

Website

https://tncleanfuels.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tennessee Clean Fuels is a 501c3 nonprofit coalition providing fleet advisory, grant writing, and networking services to public and private fleets transitioning to alternative fuels across Tennessee, operating as a DOE Clean Cities designated participant.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Transportation Advisory

NAICS

Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

SIC

Gas & Other Services Combined (4932)

akta.pro primary industry

Pollution Prevention & Toxics Reduction (BPAGAGAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Biofuels & Renewable Fuels Switching (Biomethane/RNG, Bio-oils, Sustainable Biomass) (EUABAJAD)

Keywords

• Alternative fuel consulting
• Fleet electrification services
• Clean transportation advisory
• Grant writing assistance
• Sustainable fleet certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Knoxville

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Tiered membership program offering Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond levels for both Fleet and Industry members. Fees range from $500 to $10,000 annually, with higher tiers receiving more assistance hours, strategic services, and greater visibility.
2. Grant Writing Services: Grant directional guidance and writing services, with over 15 years of experience. Grant writing opportunities are offered to Gold-level members and higher as part of membership benefits. Additional fee-based grant assistance available beyond included hours.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Tennessee Clean Fuels provides fleet advisory services for alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies, helping public and private fleets navigate funding opportunities, conduct fleet analyses, and steward projects. The organization operates as an umbrella for two regional coalitions (East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition and Middle-West Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition) and serves as a designated participant in the U.S. Department of Energy's Clean Cities Program since 2003.

Product overview

Tennessee Clean Fuels operates as a nonprofit coalition organization comprising the East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition and Middle-West Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition, serving as designated participants in the U.S. DOE Clean Cities Program. The organization does not offer a unified software product but provides a portfolio of advisory services, membership programs, and certification offerings. Core services include fleet consulting (fleet analysis, ROI calculations, project stewardship), grant writing assistance with an 80%+ success rate, fleet data analysis, and industry networking with hundreds of contacts. The Tennessee Green Fleets Certification Program provides sustainability recognition for fleets. The organization administers funding programs including RDE4HT (state DERA funding) and previously administered the SADI Alternative Fuel Vehicle Demonstration Grant. Membership programs are structured in five tiers (Bronze through Diamond) for both fleet operators and industry vendors, offering differentiated levels of grant assistance hours, stakeholder introductions, fleet assessments, press release distribution, webinar hosting, and branding opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tennessee Green Fleets Certification Program: A certification program that honors fleets in Tennessee that have made great strides towards reducing petroleum use and switching to alternative fuels
• DriveElectricTN
• RDE4HT

Products and services

• Tiered Membership Program (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond) Annual membership program for fleets and industry partners at various tiers (Bronze through Diamond), providing access to fleet guidance, networking, and clean transportation resources.
• Fleet Consulting and Advisory Services Advisory services for public and private fleets on alternative fuels, advanced vehicle technologies, fleet analysis, and project stewardship.
• Grant Writing Services Assistance to fleets and organizations in identifying and applying for funding opportunities related to alternative fuels and clean vehicle technologies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 80% grant-writing success rate with over 15 years of experience with federal, state, and local grants
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered innovation partner, core, key account, implementation partner, regional partner, flagship and technology partner.

• Suburban Propaneinnovation partnerTechnology or Integration · 24 June 2026Demonstrated portable EV charging system using renewable propane-fueled generators to charge battery energy storage systems powering DC fast chargers (ABB and Kempower equipment).
• ABBinnovation partnerTechnology or Integration · 24 June 2026Equipment partner in renewable propane mobile EV charging demonstration, managing power delivery to Kempower DC Movable chargers.
• Kempowerinnovation partnerTechnology or Integration · 24 June 2026Provided DC Movable chargers for renewable propane mobile EV charging demonstration project.
• Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 April 2026TDEC awarded a $3 million grant to UT Facilities Services for electric fleet expansion. TNCleanFuels played critical role in shaping the successful grant application and worked with UT and Tickle College of Engineering.
• U.S. Department of Energy Clean Cities ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoth East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition and Middle-West Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition are designated participants in the U.S. DOE's Clean Cities Program, providing official standing and access to federal resources and programs for alternative fuel adoption.
• Transportation Energy PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerETCF and MWTCF are partners in Transportation Energy Partners, working to strengthen the Clean Cities and Communities Network and advance their missions.
• Clean Transportation NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerETCF and MWTCF are partners in the Clean Transportation Network, collaborating to strengthen the Clean Cities and Communities Network.
• University of Tennessee, Knoxville - Institute for a Secure and Sustainable EnvironmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEast Tennessee Clean Fuels is housed as a 501c3 nonprofit organization under UTK's Institute for a Secure and Sustainable Environment.
• Knoxville Utilities Board (KUB)key accountGTM or Marketing PartnerKUB provides electric, fiber, natural gas, water, and wastewater services and has been a de facto leader in implementation of various alternative fuels in their fleet. They share experiences and resources as a top partner.
• Seven States Power Corporationimplementation partnerTechnology or IntegrationProvided ChargePoint CPF50 charging stations for workplace EV charging installations at locations like Crosstown Concourse Memphis.
• Land-of-Sky Clean Vehicles Coalitionregional partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition and Great Smoky Mountains National Park on the Clean Cities National Parks Initiative.
• Great Smoky Mountains National ParkflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst national park in the country to install DC fast chargers for electric vehicles at two visitor centers, as part of National Park Service's Climate Friendly Parks program.
• Parker-Hannifintechnology partnerTechnology or IntegrationProvided Hydraulic Hybrid Refuse Truck for the SADI Alternative Fuel Vehicle Demonstration Grant program.
• Fordtechnology partnerTechnology or IntegrationMultiple Ford vehicles available for SADI demonstration including F-150, Explorer Interceptor, Transit, and Police SUV with propane bi-fuel systems.
• DriveElectricTNcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide electrification initiative coordinated through East Tennessee Clean Fuels, focused on accelerating EV adoption across Tennessee.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Atlas Public Policy: Atlas Public Policy provides data, analysis, and policy expertise on transportation electrification and clean fuels. Comparable to TNCleanFuels as an EV/fleet advisory specialist, with stronger data-product and policy focus versus the coalition membership model.
• Plug In America: Plug In America is a nonprofit advocating for plug-in vehicle adoption through education, policy, and consumer outreach. A direct peer given shared clean transportation advocacy and nonprofit coalition structure, with consumer-EV focus versus fleet focus.
• Forth Mobility: Forth is a nonprofit advancing electric, smart, and shared transportation through advocacy, education, and demonstration programs. Comparable to TNCleanFuels as a regional-to-statewide nonprofit focused on fleet and consumer EV adoption, with stronger EV-charging specialization.
• CALSTART: CALSTART is a national nonprofit consortium accelerating clean transportation technologies and clean fuels. It is a direct peer given TNCleanFuels' similar nonprofit-coalition model, fleet advisory mandate, and focus on alternative fuel adoption, though at much larger national scale.
• NACFE (North American Council for Freight Efficiency): NACFE is a nonprofit focused on reducing fuel consumption in freight transportation through analysis, guidance, and industry collaboration. Comparable to TNCleanFuels as a fleet-focused nonprofit providing advisory, analysis, and industry networking to operators.

Emerging players

• Greenlane: Greenlane is a public charging infrastructure company building dedicated charging depots for commercial fleets. Comparable to TNCleanFuels as an enabler of fleet electrification, but with a capital-intensive infrastructure model rather than advisory/coalition model.

Regional players

• Atlanta Clean Cities Coalition: Atlanta Clean Cities Coalition is a DOE-designated coalition serving Georgia fleets with alternative fuel advisory and grant support. A direct regional peer to TNCleanFuels given shared DOE Clean Cities designation, coalition model, and fleet transition services in an adjacent Southeast geography.

Others

• Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC): TDEC is the state environmental regulator and primary funder behind the DERA program TNCleanFuels administers. Listed as an adjacent ecosystem participant given the funding/governance relationship rather than competitive overlap.
• Velociti: Velociti is a fleet technology services company deploying telematics, EV charging, and connected vehicle solutions. Adjacent peer serving the same Tennessee and national fleet buyers, but as a commercial technology integrator rather than a nonprofit coalition.

Broad incumbents

• Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI): RMI is a major clean energy think tank working on transportation electrification, efficiency, and fuels. It is a broad incumbent peer given shared clean-transportation advocacy, but with global scope and policy rather than Tennessee-specific fleet advisory delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ETCleanFuels
• Facebookfacebook.com/TNCleanFuels
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tncleanfuels
• Instagraminstagram.com/tncleanfuels

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tennessee Clean Fuels (TNCleanFuels)