When Volkswagen's only U.S. plant is up and running in early 2011, it will have an environmentally friendly strategy to help triple sales nationally by 2018.

VW plans to play off Chattanooga's sustainability initiatives and the company's own green efforts. According to VW, the manufacturing plant will hold a bevy of features to save energy and money.

In addition, VW is pinning some of its hopes in the United States on its clean diesel technology. The company says its Jetta four-cylinder turbo-diesel gets 41 miles per gallon and is eligible for a $1,300 federal tax credit.

"I think there is a very good fit between a green town, a green plant and, of course, green cars," said Frank Fischer, chief executive of the German automaker's Chattanooga operations.

Mr. Fischer has marveled at what Chattanooga has done to renew its downtown, anchored by the Tennessee Aquarium.

"I was touring Chattanooga again and (am) aware of what kinds of changes Chattanooga has lived though in the last 20 years. It's absolutely incredible," he said.

The 1,600-acre Enterprise South industrial park is a former U.S. Army ammunition plant that made TNT for World War II.

Tom Edd Wilson, the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce's chief executive, recalled when it was "very raw" earlier this decade.

"It had not been cleaned up," he said. "We had a dream but not a plan."

VW'S GREEN PLANT

*Efficient electric motors will save 3 million kilowatt hours a year, enough to supply electricity to 750 households.

*Lighting will save 1.15 million kilowatt hours annually over typical industrial uses.

*LED technology over conventional fluorescent tubes in its 12-foot VW sign will save 4,600 kilowatt hours annually.

*Advanced welding technology will save 222,000 kilowatt hours of electricity a year.

*Recycling stormwater will save 290,000 gallons of fresh water.

*When the plant's paint shop becomes operational, a new process will cut carbon dioxide emissions by 20 percent.