Pacific Propane Gas Association Donates $170k to ATTC

Propane industry joins forces with LBCC to provide program education.

The Pacific Propane Gas Association donated $170,000 to Linn-Benton Community College’s new Advanced Transportation Technology Center for purchase of equipment to train student and incumbent workers to service propane-operated vehicles.

LBCC’s new alternative fuels training center in Lebanon, Oregon will work with industry to meet the needs of local and regional businesses.

“I am really excited about our partnership with Pacific Propane Gas Association,” said LBCC automotive instructor Bryan Schiedler. “I’ve spoken with many local industry leaders who have asked about various alternate fuels to reduce their cost of fuels.”

PPGA’s donation will give existing automotive and heavy equipment students the opportunity to train on some of the latest, most advanced propane systems on late model vehicles, as well as give the college the ability to use these vehicles for demonstration purposes to show businesses and consumers the benefits of using propane as a transportation fuel, Schiedler added.

LBCC’s new Advanced Transportation Technology Center will be the only major broad-spectrum training facility for alternative fuel vehicles between Seattle, Washington and San Francisco, California, and will serve as a first step toward creating a base for alternative fuel technology in Oregon’s Willamette Valley.

“The propane industry is proud to support the Advanced Transportation Technology Center,” said PPGA Executive Director Baron Glassgow. “Propane brings reliable, low-emission vehicles and equipment to fleets, industry and the everyday driver. Partnering with Linn-Benton Community College will help ensure that innovative vehicles and equipment produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions and provide savings at the pump.”

Students in LBCC’s automotive and heavy equipment programs will receive hands-on training using state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment in research, installation, maintenance, conversion and operation of high-efficiency alternative fuel technologies including compressed natural gas, propane, electric and biodiesel as well as traditional fuel vehicles. The center will also be used to train technicians already in the field.

Future plans for the ATTC site include construction of a new 10,000-square-foot innovation center is set to begin winter 2014, and construction of compressed natural gas and propane fueling stations and electrical charging stations.

LBCC is continuing to raise funds to support moving its heavy equipment and diesel program to the center, with plans for an additional 20,000-square-foot building to be built on the site.

The college has raised approximately $6.2 million for the project. In addition to the Pacific Propane donation, major funding for the center includes more than $2 million in private donations, $1.5 million from the Economic Development Administration, $1.4 million from the City of Lebanon Urban Renewal District, $800,000 from Oregon lottery funds, $100,000 from the Lebanon Industrial Development Corporation, $350,000 from the Meyer Memorial Trust and $50,000 from Drive Oregon.

Industry partners include Snap On, Pacific Power, John and Phil’s Toyota, and CoEnergy Propane of Corvallis.