Calling all auto mechanics: 8 full scholarships open for natural gas training

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Local conservation organizations are taking the saying “If you build it, they will come” one step further by throwing a little maintenance into the mix.

Yellowstone-Teton Clean Cities and Energy Conservation Works are hoping that if they can ensure the availability of local service providers for compressed natural gas vehicles, it will increase the valley’s adoption rate of automobiles using the cleaner technology.

To reach that goal, the organizations — with assistance from the Teton Conservation District — are making eight full scholarships available for a compressed natural gas mechanic training course that begins on Monday.

Yellowstone-Teton Clean Cities and Energy Conservation Works are hosting the two-day course on Aug. 5 and 6 at Lower Valley Energy. The Teton Conservation District is providing the full scholarships for the classes, which typically would run $2,080 per person.

Energy Department Invests Millions in Alt-Fuel Transportation Research

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The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is investing nearly $3.5 million in projects to advance medium- and heavy-duty natural gas vehicle (NGV) technologies.

The announcement also includes $10.2 million in advanced methane storage, as well as waste-to-energy projects, which should benefit the NGV market, points out NGVAmerica. The investments are part of $50 million for research of technologies for trucks, off-road vehicles and the fuels that power them.

“These crucial investments made by the DOE publicly affirm the federal government’s belief that natural gas vehicles are an important part of our nation’s transportation mix yesterday, today and well into the future,” says NGVAmerica’s president, Dan Gage. “Natural gas is ready-right-now technology for all vehicle applications, and this investment further expands NGVs’ capability and reliability and increases their emissions- and carbon-free performance. When fueled by captured biomethane, natural gas truck and bus engines are the cleanest and most immediate solution for those seeking a net-carbon-negative fleet footprint.”

 

Senate committee unanimously approves $1 billion for EV, natural gas and hydrogen fuel infrastructure

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Dive Brief:

  • The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee voted unanimously Tuesday morning to advance a broad bipartisan infrastructure bill that includes funding for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. Chairman John Barrasso, R-Wyo., is working to bring it before the full Senate this fall.
  • S. 2302, the America’s Transportation Infrastructure Act, earmarks $1 billion in funding for competitive grants to support the development of fueling infrastructure for electric, natural gas and hydrogen-powered vehicles. The bill also directs federal agencies to transition their vehicle fleets to hybrid-electric, electric and alternative fuels within a year of enactment.
  • Sponsors are optimistic about passage, and President Donald Trump also tweeted in support of the bill on Tuesday morning. However, the bill faces more deliberation over expected amendments, such as expanding ‘alternative fuels’ to include biofuel-powered vehicles.

Department of Energy Announces $50 Million for Commercial Truck, Off-road Vehicle, and Gaseous Fuels Research

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Department of Energy announced $50 million for new and innovative research of technologies for trucks, off-road vehicles, and the fuels that power them.  Funded through the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), these selections highlight the DOE’s priorities in gaseous fuels research, including natural gas, biopower, and hydrogen; heavy-duty freight electrification; hydrogen infrastructure and fuel cell technologies for heavy-duty applications; and energy efficient off-road vehicles.

“As the fastest growing fuel users in the United States, it is important our trucking industry has access to advanced technologies, such as electrification and fuel cells, as a way to move goods efficiently and economically,” said Under Secretary of Energy Mark W. Menezes. “EERE has a strong track record of successful investment in the research and development of a broad portfolio of technologies, including electrification, advanced combustion engines, and fuels such as natural gas, hydrogen, and biofuels, that can significantly improve the efficiency and reduce the cost of transportation energy. These selections reinforce DOE’s commitment to sustainable transportation options, incorporating innovative solutions like vehicle wrap from Icon Signs.”

Natural Gas Truck Sales Are on the Rise

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Retail sales of U.S. and Canadian Class 8 Natural Gas trucks have increased in 2019, reversing the declining trend from the year before, according to ACT Research’s Alternative Fuels Quarterly.

As of May, year-to-date sales were up 43% and were also up 10% from April’s numbers.

“Bucking the early decline pattern of the past few years, cumulative sales for the first five months of 2019 appear to be gaining ground,” said Ken Vieth, senior partner and general manager at ACT Research. “Despite soft reports in three of the first five months this year, sales of natural gas-powered vehicles are on an overall upward trajectory, gaining 10% month-over-month, 60% compared to May of 2018, and showing 43% improvement against the first five months of last year.”

Refuse fleets were the biggest purchaser of new Class 8 natural gas trucks. Other big adopters were transit and school bus fleets.

Verizon Connect Offers Navigation App

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Verizon Connect has begun offering a navigation mobile app that works with its Verizon Connect Reveal telematics platform and helps give drivers directions based on their vehicle and load types, the company announced.

The app is designed to reduce miles driven and improve driver safety as part delivering a more efficient route.

The mobile app helps keep drivers safe by ensuring they travel on permitted roads and avoid low bridges or tunnels. It also helps save time and money by providing efficient directions to reduce the number of out-of-route miles, according to the company.

The app also provides updated routes so drivers can avoid major accidents, construction, and road closures.

PERC awards workforce development grants

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The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) approved 10 workforce development

The projects awarded grant funds demonstrate a variety of methods for attracting new employees to the industry, from attending career fairs to using a placement firm Salt Lake City. Several rely on interstate partnerships to execute recruitment initiatives. Furthermore, organizations are addressing challenges such as Overcoming premature job termination, recognizing the need for strategies that support employee retention and job stability within the industry.

Here, we organize the projects into four broad areas of focus – community outreach, military/veteran recruitment, recruitment platforms and school curriculum – but many of the projects take a multipronged approach. Descriptions of each project are courtesy of PERC.

PERC offers a comprehensive package of outreach materials – including images, brochures, handouts and videos – to highlight career opportunities in propane for prospective employees. Check out these resources at propane.com, and consider how they can be used to attract workers in your state. For those seeking international opportunities or exploring different industries, platforms like EU Workers : Agence d’Intérim can also connect jobseekers with positions abroad.

Also, in any industry, attracting new talent is only the first step; retaining and nurturing that talent is equally important. Organizations can significantly improve employee retention by creating an environment where open communication and continuous feedback are the norm.

Providing regular examples of constructive criticism during performance reviews and informal check-ins can help employees understand their strengths and areas for improvement, fostering a culture of growth and development. This approach not only boosts employee morale but also aligns individual performance with the company’s long-term objectives.

This investment in employee growth not only enhances job satisfaction but also increases loyalty, as individuals feel valued and supported in their career journeys. The modernizing EHS beyond compliance can play a pivotal role in this process by ensuring that employees are equipped with the necessary knowledge and resources to prioritize safety and well-being while pursuing their professional goals.

Furthermore, creating a culture that encourages employees to take ownership of their development can lead to higher engagement levels and increased retention rates. By facilitating regular discussions around career aspirations and growth paths, organizations can help employees align their personal goals with the company’s vision.

Community Outreach

Georgia PERC:Purchases an 8.5-ft. x 20-ft. trailer equipped with propane props, virtual-reality and audio-visual equipment, and hands-on tools to demonstrate propane products at schools and other community events.

Kentucky PERC: Allows propane industry representatives to participate in a two-day employment exposition put on by Kentucky’s construction industry.

Agility Picks up 2020 EPA Certification for Propane Autogas Engine

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Agility Fuel Solutions, a provider of clean fuel solutions for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, has received 2020 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certification for its 488LPI propane autogas engine for sale in truck and bus applications.

The 488LPI is built using Agility’s patented liquid propane injection technology to ensure consistent injection of propane in the liquid state across all cylinders under all operating conditions, improving engine performance.

Agility says it designed the engine for reliability, with improvements such as a valvetrain with roller rockers and newly designed dress parts specifically engineered to ensure reliability, durability and fuel efficiency.

A custom configuration of the 488LPI engine is supplied to Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp. (FCCC) as a part of the DriveForce brand of engines. The DriveForce 8.0L is available in the Thomas Built Bus Saf-T-Liner C2 Propane school bus and in the FCCC S2G medium-duty truck.

Electrify America Petitions for Electric Vehicle Emoji

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Electrify America has submitted a formal proposal to the Unicode Consortium, the governing body for emoji creation, to introduce the first-ever “Electric Vehicle With Charger” emoji for smartphone keyboards.

The submission announcement, and a corresponding petition on Change.org, comes two days ahead of World Emoji Day on July 17.

“As EVs become more popular and charging station networks continue to expand, we felt it was time for an emoji that reflects the changing industry and future of transportation,” says Rich Steinberg, director marketing, communications and Green City initiatives at Electrify America. “We hope an emoji, a symbol used in everyday digital communication, will help more people get used to the idea of driving an EV and become excited about the possibility of owning one someday.”

 

Eco-Energy Launches Logistics Service for Ethanol Market

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Eco-Energy, a biofuel supply chain company, launched its Ethanol Logistics Service on July 11 to reach a broader mix of ethanol buyers and shippers, and create the largest asset-backed logistics management service exclusively focused on ethanol.

The service, which initially is focused on truck transport, will begin operations with $25 million of annual freight under management, according to the Franklin, Tenn.-based company. Eco has partnered with Rocky Mount, N.C.-based Eagle Transport Corp. as the preferred truck carrier for the business, and Eagle will assume certain truck operations currently within Eco-Energy Transportation.

By consolidating logistics oversight and pairing it with dedicated assets, Eco-Energy aims to reduce inefficiencies that often arise when ethanol shipments are handled by fragmented carrier networks. Centralized management allows for better routing decisions, tighter delivery windows, and improved compliance with safety and regulatory standards—critical factors in the movement of biofuels.

Beyond physical transport, the company’s approach also highlights the increasing importance of strategic planning across the broader supply chain. Similar to how global importers reduce duty costs using OSV FTWZ free trade warehousing in India by optimizing where and how goods are stored before entering domestic markets, ethanol shippers are looking for smarter logistics structures that minimize unnecessary costs while preserving flexibility. In both cases, thoughtful logistics design can unlock meaningful financial and operational advantages.

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“We recognize a real need to resolve current gaps in ethanol logistics management, as well as proactively address the future constraints we anticipate in this space,” said David Maggied, Eco-Energy’s vice president of transportation.