This story originally ran: 9/2/2009

The Clean Energy Coalition will take a major step forward this fall now that it has roped in a $15 million federal contract, a hit that is expected to result in an expanded staff at the Ypsilanti-based non-profit.

"Obviously our staffing could grow significantly from this," says Sean Reed, executive director of the Clean Energy Coalition.

The non-profit currently has a staff of six full-timers and two part-timers at its offices in Depot Town. The staff normally handles six-figure state and federal grants that focus on sustainability projects.

The $15 million grant comes from the U.S. Dept. of Energy and is part of the $787 billion federal stimulus package. The money will be used as part of the $31 million Michigan Green Fleets project, a program that looks to integrate more alternative fuels and advanced fuel-efficient technology (think bio-diesel and hybrids) across Michigan.

The project will assist nine partners, such as the state, DTE Energy and the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority, in purchasing 271 alternative fuel vehicles. These include hybrids, electric vehicles and compressed natural gas vehicles. It will also install 19 alternative fueling stations across the state. The end goal is to save more than 5 million gallons of fossil fuels and 500 million pounds of vehicle emissions over four years.

"This is a very significant project for us," Reed says.

And it might not be the only one. The Clean Energy Coalition is still waiting on word for another $9-10 million in grant projects this fall to potentially be used to ramp up the non-profit's hiring.

Source: Sean Reed, executive director of Clean Energy Coalition
Writer: Jon Zemke