Drive Clean Rural USA: Reflecting and Moving Forward in the Clean Transportation Transition

Drive Clean Rural USA was a program that connected rural communities with educational and technical resources for adopting clean transportation solutions. The project also assessed the successes and challenges faced by communities, culminating in the development of a Drive Clean Rural Replication Playbook and Resource Guide to make the clean fuel transition more accessible. 

As one of eight states in the program, Oregon was well-represented, with three success stories—Lane County, Deschutes County, and Weyerhaeuser—highlighting the state’s progress transitioning to cleaner fleets. These institutions demonstrate the significant work being conducted by Oregon governments and businesses to advance clean transportation goals. 

Lane County has advanced its fleet with a focus on reducing carbon emissions and improving technical efficiency. The county’s fleet uses R99 (renewable diesel) in equipment operations, and it has 13 battery-electric vehicles and eight plug-in electric hybrid vehicles (Lane County). 

Deschutes County is committed to increasing the sustainability of its transportation operations and infrastructure, as exemplified by the 2024 Deschutes County Transportation System Plan (Deschutes County). This document highlights the government’s prioritization of environmental protection when implementing transportation projects. 

Weyerhaeuser is a leader in the sustainable forestry industry, with a history of developing innovative clean transportation projects. The company created the first logging truck fueled with a combined propane and diesel system approved for testing in the United States by the Environmental Protection Agency (Weyerhaeuser). Since this advancement, Weyerhaeuser has continued to advance its clean fleet and infrastructure. 

While the Drive Clean Rural USA project may be over, efforts to adopt alternative fuel vehicles and infrastructure will only continue, as evident in ongoing projects in Lane County, Deschutes County, and Weyerhaeuser. The Drive Clean Rural Replication Playbook and Resource Guide can help advance the clean fuels transition, providing communities with valuable insights and tools to inform their clean transportation initiatives.