School Transportation News hosted a free recorded webinar: VW Settlement & Beyond: Emissions Funding Opportunities for School Bus Deployments. This recorded webinar not only highlights key programs throughout the U.S. that fund new, cleaner school buses, but also how you can position your fleet to compete and potentially secure Volkswagen funding. Click Here to Listen to the Webinar.
Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition Fleets Save 20 Million Gallons of Fuel in 2016
The Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition through its programs and projects across Kentucky displaced approximately 20 million gasoline-gallon equivalents (GGEs) and reduced greenhouse-gas emissions by 160,800 tons. These reductions are in large part due to the extensive work of member fleets in the Green Fleets of the Bluegrass Program. KCFC hosted the sixth annual Green Fleets of the Bluegrass Awards Ceremony on Friday, May 12th in Frankfort, KY. The program had the largest participation in program history at 37 fleets. The combined sustainability efforts in 2016 of the participating fleets led to a reduction of gallons of gasoline used by over 11.1 million GGEs and a reduction in greenhouse gas emitted by over 48,000 tons of GHGs.
Green Fleets of the Bluegrass aims to improve the environmental performance of vehicle fleets across Kentucky by reducing petroleum fuel use. Green Fleets of the Bluegrass is a voluntary recognition program of the Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition. The participating fleets in 2016 reduced petroleum use through operating alternative fuel vehicles, preforming preventative maintenance, and focus on anti-idling and efficient driving practices.
Fleets Recognized with Leadership Awards
Greenest Third Class Municipal Government Fleet – City of Somerset
Greenest Public School Fleet – Crittenden County Board of Education
Greenest First Class Municipal Government Fleet – Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government
Greenest Medium Freight Fleet (under 500 vehicles) – M&M Cartage
Greenest Corporate Fleet – Mercer Transportation
Greenest Transit Fleet – Transit Authority of River City
Greenest Freight Fleet (over 500 vehicles) – UPS
Greenest Refuse Fleet – Waste Management of Kentucky
Other Fleets Recognized
Bourbon County Schools
City of London
Irvington Gas
Jefferson County Public Schools
Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection
Kentucky Division of Fleet Management
LaRue County Schools
LexTran
Louisville Metro Government
Mammoth Cave National Park
Murray State University
Schwans
Trimble County Schools
University of Louisville
Zenith Motors
Other Green Fleets Participants
Allen County Schools
Bath County Schools
Carrollton Utilities
Darling Ingredients
DoubleTree by Hilton
Fort Campbell
Hardin County Schools
Kentuckiana Cleanfuel
Louisville Gas & Electric/ Kentucky Utilities
Metropolitan Sewer District
Nicholas County Schools
Rumpke
Taxi 7
Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky
The Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition is honored to be able to celebrate and recognize the sustainability efforts of fleets across the state of the Kentucky.
Cummins Oks Renewable Diesel For B6.7, L9 School Bus Engines
News that Cummins, Inc. approved paraffinic fuels for its B6.7 and L9 school bus engines could be the push needed to open the renewable diesel market to the student transporters.
The conclusion resulted from an 18-month field trial of paraffinic fuels Cummins performed to compare efficiencies and differences with standard diesel. Cummins determined that the paraffinic renewable diesel met EN 15940 specifications and is now approved for B6.7 and L9 engine platforms as well as the company’s B4.5 that meets Euro 6 emissions standards.
Webinar: Alternative Fuel Vehicle Technology Update – Options Under the VW Settlement
NASEO will host a webinar on Thursday, June 1 at 3:30pm eastern time that will review the latest on-road, medium- and heavy-duty alternative fuel vehicle technologies eligible for funding under the Volkswagen (VW) Settlement. Through the VW settlement, states will have an opportunity to replace old diesel vehicles with on- and off-road alternative fuel vehicles. During this webinar, participants will hear updates on various alternative fuel vehicle technologies and their expected emissions benefits, and will have an opportunity to ask questions of their peers. Our speakers will include: Kent Leacock with Proterra and Leslie Eudy with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, who will provide an overview of electric transit buses; Hugh Donnell with Cummins Westport, who will discuss recent developments in the heavy-duty natural gas vehicle industry, including “near zero” natural gas engines; and Tucker Perkins with the Propane Education & Research Council, who will provide an overview of the latest on-road propane vehicle applications. To register for the webinar, please visit: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7661374315484547842.
Additional information on the Volkswagen Settlement can be found on NASEO’s website at www.naseo.org/volkswagen-settlement. For more information, please contact Cassie Powers at cpowers@naseo.org.
Peek into Propane Bus Universe Via New PERC Tool
The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) has developed an interactive, web-based map that shows the status of propane autogas school bus adoption across the country, making it easy for school transportation directors to see how many districts in their state are currently operating propane autogas buses.
Ryder Now Offering Renewable Diesel at San Francisco Fueling Facility
Ryder System Inc., a commercial fleet management, dedicated transportation and supply-chain solutions provider, has begun to offer renewable diesel fuel at its San Francisco fueling facility, located at 2700 3rd St.
With this implementation, Ryder says its customers will be better able to address their sustainability goals of reducing greenhouse-gas emissions while still utilizing diesel vehicles.
2018 Alternative Fuel Vehicles available on the Kentucky state vehicle bid list
2017 US EPA Clean Diesel Grant Opportunity
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $11 million in competitive grant funding for the Diesel Emissions Reductions Act (DERA) Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program. The Program is soliciting proposals nationwide for projects that achieve significant reductions in diesel emissions in terms of tons of pollution produced and exposure, particularly from fleets operating in areas designated by the EPA as poor air quality areas.
Submit your Project for VW settlement funding!
Complete the survey to have your diesel replacement project(s) included in Kentucky’s “wish list”. A list of “shovel ready” NOx mitigation and Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) projects is needed for when Kentucky’s $19 million in allocated VW settlement funding becomes available.
SURVEY – Tell us about your potential vehicle or equipment replacement project(s) by MAY 30, 2017
Please use the free form text fields below to describe the type of diesel vehicles/equipment currently operating. Use a separate line for each specific vehicle/equipment type. Include on or off road vehicles or equipment.
Thank you. KCFC will use your input to express our members’ interests as Kentucky moves forward with naming a beneficiary agency and mitigation plan development.
VW Settlement Background
In 2016, it was discovered that Volkswagen, a German car manufacturer, made a series of intentional missteps in the design and operation of their diesel vehicles. In July 2016, The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency filed complaints against Volkswagen alleging that the car manufacturer violated the Clean Air Act with regards to approximately 580,000 model year 2009-2016 motor vehicles containing 2.0 and 3.0-liter diesel engines. The EPA alleged that each vehicle contained an internal computer that caused the emissions control system of those vehicles to perform differently during normal operation compared to EPA emissions testing certification process. During normal operation and use, it was discovered that the vehicles emit levels of nitrogen oxides (NOx) significantly exceeding EPA’s compliance levels.
The Settlement
In October 2016, Volkswagen agreed to spend up to $14.7 billion to settle these allegations. The funds will be divided to benefits consumers, states, and national programs. Of the $14.7 billion, $10 billion will be spent on vehicle buyback and modification for consumers. $2.9 billion has been set aside for states in an Environmental Mitigation Trust and will be allocated to beneficiaries based on the number of impacted VW vehicles in their jurisdictions. The trust will support projects that reduce NOx emissions where the VW vehicles were, are or will be operated. Lastly, $2 billion will be spent over the next 10 years to support increased use of zero emission vehicle (ZEV) technology in the U.S. For more information on eligible consumer vehicles, visit https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/cases-proceedings and search for Volkswagen.
What Happens Next
As of March 17, Wilmington Trust has been named as the National trustee who will oversee the disbursement of funds. Currently, Wilmington is reviewing appendix D for any changes they may need to submit to the courts. Once Wilmington is confirmed Governors of each state will have 60-days to file to receive their allocated pot of mitigation trust funds by naming the agency that will be the beneficiary of said funds. For further information visit http://www.naseo.org/volkswagen-settlement
Vehicle/Equipment Replacement Project Examples
The following matrix outlines the designated vehicle classes, model year and applications, eligible for replacement with VW Mitigation Trust Funds.
Volkswagen National ZEV Investment Plan: Cycle 1
As required by Appendix C to the 2.0-Liter Partial Consent Decree entered by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on October 25, 2016, Volkswagen Group of America is investing $1.2 billion over the next 10 years in zero emission vehicle (ZEV) infrastructure, education, and access outside California to support the increased adoption of ZEV technology in the United States, representing the largest commitment of its kind to date. View more