Interest in E15 Picks Up Among Gasoline Retailers

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Mike O’Brien, vice president of market development for Growth Energy, says that with seasonal restrictions on E15 sales potentially being lifted in time for next summer’s driving season, interest in selling E15 has increased among gasoline retailers.

“We’ve had quite a few retailers calling us wanting to discuss E15. How to put E15 in place with an eye on the fact that the RVP waiver will likely be going away sometime in the near future,” he said.

Growth Energy is an ethanol trade group, and has created Unleaded88 branding for E15, which has helped retailers market and sell the product. “The intent behind that is to provide a consistent and recognizable fuel brand for all the retailers to use when selling E15 because in that manner, they’re able really to optimize the sales of the new product that’s out there,” O’Brien said.

Biodiesel Tax Credit Extension, Phaseout Proposed in US House

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Chairman of the House ways and means committee Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, released a proposal Nov. 26 to make technical corrections to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (PL 115-97) and to extend several expired tax credits, including the biodiesel and renewable diesel tax incentive. The National Biodiesel Board welcomed the proposal for a multiyear extension of this important incentive, which would keep the credit at its current rate of $1 per gallon for 2018 through 2021 but gradually reduce it to 33 cents per gallon by 2024 and then allow it to expire.

Evolve KY Announces its 15th Electric Vehicle Charger Location — Prospect Plaza in Prospect, Kentucky

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Evolve KY, Kentucky’s non-profit electric vehicle group has just installed electric vehicle chargers at their fifteenth location… and the first in Prospect, Kentucky.

The chargers are located at Prospect Plaza at 9211 US Highway 42 in Prospect, KY.  There is a Starbucks Coffee shop, several restaurants and shops all available at that location.

The charger is fee-free and part of the non-profit group’s very popular Adopt a Charger program.  Highland Cleaners (which is located in the plaza) sponsored the chargers.

“Highland Cleaners is striving to be the “greenest cleaners” in Louisville and Kentucky,” said owner Michael Jones. “We aim to go above and beyond using green cleaning solutions and recycling programs.  Highland built the highest LEED rated dry cleaning building in the United States and now we feature two locations with electric car charging stations.”

With more and more people choosing electric vehicles, the chargers will be a great services to those living in the area and also for travelers.

“Electric cars cost less to “fuel” and maintain, are zero emission vehicles and are super fun to drive,” said Stuart Ungar, president of Evolve KY. “Once you understand the features and benefits and go for a ride in one, you want one!” If you’re seeking an enjoyable and thrilling experience, you can explore the excitement of betting on 겜블시티 슬롯, where you have the chance to win substantial prizes that can add a significant thrill to your gaming adventure. The games available on these websites offer a remarkably enjoyable and engaging experience, providing hours of entertainment and excitement that can keep you immersed in the world of gaming, ensuring that you’ll have an incredible time exploring all the diverse gaming options they have to offer.

Ryder, FedEx Ink Deal for 1,000 Chanje Electric Delivery Vans

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Ryder System Inc. has announced what it claims to be the largest commercial electric vehicle (EV) purchase in the U.S.

With an order of 1,000 medium-duty electric panel vans by Chanje Energy Inc., Ryder and FedEx Corp. have also executed a truck leasing and preventive maintenance agreement primarily for Ryder’s ChoiceLease fleet. The purpose-built EVs will be operated by FedEx Express for commercial and residential pick-up and delivery services in the U.S. The fleet is expected to be deployed throughout California over the next two years.

“With our focus on innovation and technology, combined with our entry into the EV market more than a year ago, we’ve made it easy for customers such as FedEx to adopt sustainable, advanced vehicle technologies,” says Dennis Cooke, president of global fleet management solutions for Ryder. “We continue to see broadening interest in EVs from businesses of various sizes and industries looking to outsource – especially in the final-mile delivery space, where a smaller, more environmentally friendly vehicle is required.”

Clean Energy Reports Boost in CNG Deliveries

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Natural gas fuel company Clean Energy Fuels Corp. has announced its operating results for the quarter and nine months ended Sept. 30. The company delivered 92.3 million gallons in the third quarter of 2018, compared with 91.5 million in the third quarter of 2017. In the first nine months of the year, it delivered 266.8 million gallons, compared with 265.0 million delivered in the same period in 2017.

According to Clean Energy, its growth in compressed natural gas (CNG) volumes was partially offset by a reduction in liquefied natural gas (LNG) volumes due to the non-renewal of two contracts and a decrease in renewable natural gas (RNG) volumes for non-vehicle fuel included in contracts sold to BP in 2017.

The company defines “gallons delivered” as its gallons of RNG, CNG and LNG, along with its gallons associated with providing operations and maintenance services, plus the company’s proportionate share of gallons delivered by joint ventures.

KCFC Executive Director Speaks at U.S. Department of Energy Conference

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The Executive Director of the Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition, Emily Carpenter, spoke at the U.S. Department of Energy Clean Cities Program National Conference. Her speech highlighted the phenomenal work in electric transit fleets in Kentucky.

The conference held in Cape Canaveral, FL included Clean Cities Coordinators from across the United States. Use the following link for more information on the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities Program.

 

KCFC Recognized for Achievements by U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities Program

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The Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition (KCFC) was recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy at the Clean Cities National Conference. Of the nearly 100 Clean Cities coalitions across the United States, the KCFC had the largest environmental impact than any other coalition with idle reduction efforts. The coalition is proud of this achievement and honored to be able to work with Kentucky fleets to be leader in our nation for idle reduction.

The KCFC Executive Director, Emily Carpenter, was also personally recognized for exemplary efforts to increase industry knowledge through the Clean Cities University.

Fleet Equipment – Running Your Fleet on Biodiesel is Easier Than You May Think

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One of the challenges of working in the renewable fuel industry is that people often believe that using biodiesel products requires a lot of jumping through hoops and equipment upgrades.

With biodiesel, that’s just not true. In fact, getting started with biodiesel blends requires no vehicle or infrastructure modifications. Here’s what fleet operators need to know about using biodiesel.

Vehicles. Biodiesel is a “drop-in” fuel, which means diesel-powered vehicles don’t need modifications to use it. All major OEMs support using biodiesel blends up to B5, meaning the fuel is 5% biodiesel and 95% petroleum diesel. Nearly 90 percent of medium- and heavy-duty truck OEMs support B20 (20% biodiesel).

Infrastructure. If you have your own fueling locations, switching to biodiesel blends does not require modifications to that infrastructure. Some fleets choose to blend the fuel themselves. This may necessitate a dedicated storage tank for the B100 and a blending system, but it often only takes months to realize a return on the investment.

Quality. The biodiesel industry has come a long way since its pioneering days. Today, biodiesel meets the stringent standards of ASTM International. ASTM D6751 gives biodiesel a minimum uniform quality across the industry. On top of that, you could look for a producer who follows the voluntary BQ-9000 program, which brings additional quality assurance steps on biodiesel production, distribution and storage.

Supply. Biodiesel is a mature industry, with billions of gallons produced in the U.S. annually and a robust supply chain. When picking a supplier, fleets should consider companies that can provide a full range of products, such as blended fuel, B100, renewable diesel and ULSD. Other factors when picking a supplier include how they can move product—truck, rail, ship, barge—and the extent of their terminal network. And don’t forget value-added support that goes beyond the sales team, such as logistics and supply chain management, RINs expertise and technical support.

Performance. Ease of use is great, but you still need a fuel that performs, right? So what do the people who know diesel equipment best—diesel technicians—have to say?

Louisville Metro Government and Louisville Gas & Electric Co. Installed a New Public Charging Station at Seneca Park

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Louisville Metro Government and Louisville Gas & Electric Co. have installed a new public charging station at Seneca Park.

The charging station was installed on Rock Creek Drive, near the restrooms and tennis courts. It will be available to the public for an hourly fee during normal park hours.

The station is equipped with quick-pay options and safety features, including charging plugs that lock in place when not in use, according to a news release. The fee is about $3 per hour.

The site was chosen using data collected by Drive Clean Louisville, a Metro Government initiative that promotes the benefits of alternative fuel vehicles. A survey asked the public to identify places in Louisville in need of vehicle chargers, and Seneca Park was among the top spots named.

LG&E is locating this and other stations across the Louisville area through its EV Charging Station Program to meet the growing demand for accessible, convenient charging facilities as more motorists embrace electric vehicles.

LG&E and KU Energy host nine public charging stations through the program. You can learn more about the program — including other locations — on the LG&E and KU website.

REV Announces LNG-Fueled Capacity Tractors

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REV Group, a manufacturer of specialty vehicle brands and a provider of parts and services, has announced the introduction of liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fueled engines in its Capacity TJ9000 L9N terminal tractors, which will be used for California Energy Commission (CEC) research.

The Cummins L9N LNG engine, which powers the TJ terminal tractor, features a near-zero-emissions certification. Further, according to REV, LNG is competitive in matching the duty cycles of a diesel-powered tractor.

The stainless-steel tank used by Capacity Trucks (which is part of the REV Group) was designed by Chart Industries Inc. and provides an expected service life of 25 years. With a tank volume of 127 gallons, the LNG tractor is set to exceed the total energy of Capacity’s standard 50-gallon diesel tank.