New alternative fuel equipment is coming to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM). Wednesday, Sept. 30, separate ribbon-cutting ceremonies will be held at two of the visitor centers in the parkto unveil new pieces of alternative fuel equipment.
- 9:30 a.m. at Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee, NC
- 1:30 p.m. at Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg, TN
The new, non- gasoline centric initiatives include propane mowers, neighborhood electric vehicles, and new DC fast-charging stations. The park service plans to show off their new fast-charge capabilities with a Nissan Leaf vehicle and a Tesla Model S vehicle. The Smokies are the first unit in the National Park Service to install and operate public charging stations of this kind.
Funding for the project came from the joint DOI/DOE “Clean Cities National Parks Initiative” which is helping multiple national parks advance their goals towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions from park operations and maintenance vehicles and improving air quality overall in and around the parks.
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