Texas A&M International University will host "Clean Cities Awareness Day" Tuesday, Nov. 10

On Tuesday, Nov. 10, Texas A&M International University will be the site of an event designed to bring awareness to improving Laredo's air quality through the use of alternative fuels.

"Clean Cities Awareness Day," an initiative of the Laredo Clean Cities Coalition, will be held from 9 - 11:30 a.m. in the Great Room of the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library.

The event is free of charge and will feature an exhibition of local companies that use alternative fuels and a demonstration of electric, natural gas and propane vehicles. Participants will also have the chance to meet the Clean Cities stakeholders and learn how they are working to improve Laredo's air quality.

Clean Cities is a national program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy. Laredo is one of only six Texas cities chosen by the General Services Commission's State Energy Conservation Office to receive program funding

The Clean Cities Coalition promotes cleaner air through the use of alternative fuels. The Coalition's goal is to reduce the likelihood that Laredo will violate the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) clean air standards.

Participants at the event will have the opportunity to learn how cars, trucks and buses are converted to run on alternative fuels; understand how natural gas and propane are derived from petroleum; how propane and natural gas work in an engine and how they are different from gas or diesel. In addition, they will learn what kinds of transportation will be used in the future and what health concerns are related to polluted air.

For further information, please contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at (956) 326-2180. University office hours are 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at pais@tamiu.edu