NextEnergy Center Hosts the Michigan Clean Fleet Conference

Conference focuses on driving technologies, fuels and funding for cleaner air

DETROIT - March 22, 2006: Continuing efforts to encourage economic competitiveness, advance energy security and promote a healthier environment, NextEnergy is hosting the Michigan Clean Fleet Conference at its headquarters in TechTown, Detroit. The conference, taking place Wednesday, March 22, from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., spotlights technologies, fuels and funding for cleaner air and transportation cost savings.

"The Clean Fleet Conference is a direct response to air quality issues in Michigan driving us to investigate options for reducing emissions in both heavy and light duty vehicles, particularly diesel-powered vehicles," said Jim Croce, CEO, NextEnergy. "The affordable, readily available transportation solutions for commercial and municipal fleets highlighted by the conference are helping reduce harmful emissions, drive down fuel costs and lessen our dependency on imported oil as a fuel source."

The conference features panel discussions focusing on the various strategies, fuels and technologies available to assist fleets in conserving fuel and decreasing emissions. Each panel discussion is moderated by an industry representative and composed of noted authorities and companies. All of the panels include representatives from local fleets currently utilizing clean technologies or fuels in their vehicles.

  Conference panels will feature dialogue on the following topics:
  *  U.S. EPA's diesel engine standards and fuel requirements, including
     diesel retrofit technologies
  *  Alternative fuels such as biodiesel, ethanol and natural gas
  *  Idle and fuel reduction technologies/techniques, including the SmartWay
     Transport Partnership -- a voluntary collaboration between the U.S. EPA
     and the freight industry designed to increase energy efficiency while
     significantly reducing greenhouse gases and air pollution
  *  Hybrid technologies, including gas-electric and hydraulic hybrid
     vehicles
  *  Funding opportunities for all of the emissions and fuel consumption
     reduction technologies discussed at the conference

Matt Roush, editor of the Great Lakes IT Report and Michigan Energy Report, will be the moderator, reporting live on WWJ from the NextEnergy Center during the conference.

  Speakers at the conference include:
  *  G. Vinson Hellwig - chief, Air Quality Division, Michigan Department of
     Environmental Quality
  *  Stephanie Sung - project manager, Clean Cities, U.S. Department of
     Energy
  *  Cheryl Newton - deputy director, Air and Radiation Division, U.S.
     Environmental Protection Agency Region 5
  *  Bill VanAmburg - executive vice president, WestStart/CALSTART Hybrid
     Truck Users Forum
  *  John Kargul - director of technology transfer, U.S. EPA Office of
     Transportation and Air Quality
  *  Jody Pollok - executive director, Michigan Corn Growers Association
  *  Mark Summers - vehicle superintendent, Birmingham Public Schools;
     Chairperson, Fleet Management Committee for the Michigan Association of
     Pupil Transportation
  *  Dawn Fenton - manager, Technical and Policy Programs, Diesel Technology
     Forum

In addition to NextEnergy, the Michigan Clean Fleet Conference is sponsored by the EPA Region 5 Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and the State of Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth - Energy Office.