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
Kentucky Charges Forward with All-Electric Buses
JOHN DAVIS: Our Clean Cities success story this week takes us to Louisville, Kentucky, where they’re charging towards the future with one of the country’s largest all-electric bus fleets.
With help from the Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition and other partners, the Transit Authority of River City started adding all-electric buses to their fleet 3 years ago.
Today, they have 15 Proterra buses traveling throughout downtown. The TARC says their electric buses reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions by some 45,000 pounds each year.
BARRY BARKER: What’s particularly useful about it is the fact that we’re taking that out of downtown, which is probably the dirtiest place, right, in terms of auto emissions.
JOHN DAVIS: Powering up takes less than 10 minutes at either one of two quick overhead charge stations, so when it comes to fast and eco-friendly, this fleet hits it out of the park.
To watch the video click here.
Kentucky Lawmakers Override All 4 of Gov. Bevin’s Vetoes
By ADAM BEAM, Associated Press
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky’s new GOP majority in the state Legislature has voted to tell the state’s Republican governor that if he wants to spend taxpayer money, he has to ask them first.
Gov. Matt Bevin on Monday vetoed a portion of House Bill 471, which said the state Legislature alone has the final say in who gets to spend up to $100 million of settlement money from a lawsuit against Volkswagen. On Wednesday, state lawmakers voted unanimously to override that veto, so it becomes law anyway.
OCTC Students Hands On Learning
Owensboro Community & Technical College students continue with hands on learning in the alternative fuel and advanced transportation technologies. Pictured are several of them completing the conversion of a gasoline powered pick up to operate on Propane!
Waste Management is investing $30 million to implement new technology in Louisville
Texas-based waste disposal company Waste Management plans to invest $30 million in renewable energy infrastructure in Louisville.
Waste Management will use the gas produced naturally during waste decomposition at the Outer Loop Recycling and Disposal Facility, 2673 Outer Loop, to fuel its vehicles and sell off the remainder.
“The energy recovered at the landfill will be used to power Waste Management’s compressed natural gas-powered collection trucks,” according to a statement from the company. “The facility, the first of its kind in the region, will provide enough energy to fuel 800 trucks — the equivalent of 12,000 homes — per day.”
UPS Invests More Than $90 Million In Natural Gas Vehicles And Infrastructure
ATLANTA, March 15, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — UPS (NYSE:UPS) today announced plans to build an additional six compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling stations and add 390 new CNG tractors and terminal trucks and 50 liquefied natural gas (LNG) vehicles to its alternative fuel and advanced technology fleet. UPS further cements its leadership in the alternative fuel market while continuing to reduce its environmental footprint with this more than $90 million investment in natural gas.
“With more than 4,400 natural gas vehicles and a network of fueling stations, UPS has had great results using natural gas as an alternative fuel in our fleet,” said Mark Wallace, UPS senior vice president global engineering and sustainability. “We know the importance of investing in natural gas globally for our fleet and the alternative fuel market. In 2016, we used more than 61 million gallons of natural gas in our ground fleet, which included 4.6 million gallons of renewable natural gas. This helped us to avoid the use of conventional gas and diesel, and decreased CO2 emissions by 100,000 metric tons.”
The six new CNG stations will be built in Ontario, Calif.; Orlando, Fla.; Salina, Kan.; Louisville, Ky.; Greensboro, N.C; and Vancouver, B.C. Renewable natural gas (RNG) will be used at the station in Ontario to fuel UPS vehicles in the area with renewable compressed natural gas (RCNG).
In 2016, UPS invested $100 million in CNG fueling stations and vehicles. UPS currently operates 31 CNG fueling stations in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Tennessee, and West Virginia and runs CNG vehicles in 38 states in the U.S. in addition to vehicles in Germany, the Netherlands and Thailand.
The use of natural gas reduces greenhouse gas emissions six to 11 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.[1]
RNG, also known as biomethane, can be derived from many abundant and renewable sources, including decomposing organic waste in landfills, wastewater treatment and agriculture. It is then distributed through the natural gas pipeline system, making it available for use as liquefied natural gas (LNG) or compressed natural gas (CNG).
UPS also purchased 50 additional LNG vehicles that were deployed in Indianapolis, Ind.; Chicago, Ill.; Earth City, Mo.; and Nashville, Tenn., where UPS has existing LNG stations.
The company has driven more than one billion miles since 2000 with its alternative fuel and advanced technology fleet. Through its Rolling Laboratory, UPS uses a research-based approach to determine the right alternative fuel solutions for the location, route and driving environments.
Since 2009, UPS has invested more than $750 million in alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles and fueling stations globally. UPS deploys the more than 8,100 vehicles in the Rolling Lab to determine what works best in each situation. From old-fashioned pedal power and electric-assisted bicycles in dense urban areas like London and Hamburg to electric and hybrid electric vehicles in the U.S., and natural gas, renewable natural gas and propane globally, UPS puts sustainability innovation into action, all over the world.
Trustee Named in VW Settlement
The U.S. District Court approved the appointment of Wilmington Trust as the trustee of the Environmental Mitigation Trust under the Volkswagen Settlement. States are eligible to become beneficiaries of the $2.9 billion Environmental Mitigation Trust and invest in alternative fuel vehicles and infrastructure that will result in decreased nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions.
The trustee will be responsible for administering the trust and approving projects approved by beneficiaries. The trust effective date has NOT been set. The trustee will have the opportunity to request changes to the form of the trust agreement (Appendix D of the Consent Decree), and will confer with the U.S. Department of Justice, the State Recommending Parties (those that nominated candidates for the position of trustee), and the Settling Defendants to finalize the trust agreement.
Once the trust effective date has been established, states will have 60 days to file a Certification Form to become beneficiaries of the trust. Additional information on the court order to appoint Wilmington Trust can be found here.
Recruiting Young Drivers
Young drivers are indeed attractive to fleets, yet they frequently experience turnover, often losing employment for no apparent reason. This trend is attributed to the millennial generation’s propensity for job-hopping compared to previous cohorts. In light of this, recruiters must adapt their strategies to appeal to young drivers. What exactly are these drivers seeking in a trucking job today, and how can fleets innovate their recruitment approaches to meet these evolving preferences?
In this March 8 LiveOnWeb, hosted by Transport Topics reporter David Elfin, we look at the challenge the industry faces in attracting young drivers to replace retiring drivers. We explore this topic through several different prisms: regulation, technology, lifestyle, hiring practices and techniques, use of social media and more.
Our guests include:
•Vigillo CEO Steve Bryan
•Jet Express President Kevin Burch
•Conversion Interactive Agency VP of Marketing and Training Priscilla Peters
•FedEx Freight driver and 2016 Rookie of the Year Rich Merich
Save your seat now.
Shortly after the live take, an audio version of every episode is available on demand.
Customized for the long haul, our podcast channel covers transportation hot topics and includes lots of web extras.
To read the full article view it here.
Delta Natural Gas Enters Agreement to Be Acquired by Peoples Gas
WINCHESTER, Ky.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–February 21, 2017–Delta Natural Gas (NASDAQ:DGAS) (Delta) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to merge with an affiliate of Peoples Natural Gas (Peoples). Delta is headquartered in Winchester, Kentucky, and serves approximately 36,000 customers in central and southeastern Kentucky. Peoples, headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, serves approximately 700,000 customers in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Kentucky. Peoples is controlled by SteelRiver Infrastructure Fund North America LP (SteelRiver).
Under the terms of the transaction, Delta shareholders will receive $30.50 in cash per Delta share, which represents a premium of 17% to Delta’s closing share price on February 17, 2017, the last trading day prior to the announcement of the agreement. Prior to closing, the transaction is expected to have no impact on Delta’s dividend. Delta shareholders will continue to receive dividends at an annualized rate of $0.83 per share until closing, subject to the authorization of Delta’s board of directors.
Following the close of the transaction, Delta will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of PNG Companies LLC, the parent of Peoples, and will continue to be regulated by the Kentucky Public Service Commission. PNG Companies made commitments to Delta customers and employees as part of the agreement. Existing employees are planned to continue with Delta after the merger. It’s important you understand your rights in an at-will employment state. Peoples plans to increase Delta’s investments in infrastructure improvement projects and grow the Delta business over time. Delta’s strong customer service will continue and Delta’s customers’ rates will not be affected by the transaction. In addition, following the close of the transaction, one member of Delta’s board of directors will be an independent representative of Delta’s constituents’ interests.
“Peoples, like Delta, is a highly regarded natural gas distribution company and it shares Delta’s values, particularly our commitment to customer service and creating a great place for our employees to work. That is why I am pleased to announce this merger agreement, which is beneficial to all parties involved,” said Glenn Jennings, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of Delta Natural Gas. “Our Board of Directors has considered the opportunity carefully and believes merging with Peoples is in the best interests of Delta’s shareholders, customers, employees and the communities we serve.”
Peoples has been providing natural gas service in western Pennsylvania for more than 130 years. In the last five years, PNG Companies purchased the T.W. Phillips Gas & Oil Company and Equitable Gas to become the largest natural gas distribution company in Pennsylvania. These purchases also provided Peoples with service territories in West Virginia and Kentucky.
“Peoples started serving customers in 10 eastern Kentucky counties in late 2013,” said Morgan O’Brien, President and CEO of Peoples. “We quickly learned that Kentucky is a good place to do business and there are strong growth opportunities in this region. One of Peoples’ key values is tied directly to the success of the communities it serves. We have committed to increasing investments in infrastructure modernization. We will implement Peoples’ state of the art technology solutions for the customers of Delta and support community based organizations and initiatives throughout central and eastern Kentucky. We are also excited to add the employees of Delta to our family of valued employees. Our goals with these investments are driven by Peoples’ mission to make our customers lives better.”
Chris Kinney, CEO of SteelRiver Infrastructure Fund North America, commented, “The acquisitions of Peoples, Peoples TWP and Equitable Gas have led to increased capital investment in those regions to upgrade the existing infrastructure and the creation of more jobs. With the addition of Delta Natural Gas, SteelRiver adds to its commitment to that region to own and operate safe and reliable utility service with a long-term investment horizon under the leadership of Morgan O’Brien.”
Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. is serving as exclusive financial advisor to Delta, and Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC is Delta’s legal advisor. O’Melveny & Myers LLP is acting as legal advisor for Peoples and SteelRiver.
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the approval of Delta shareholders, the approval of the Kentucky Public Service Commission and the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2017.
About Delta Natural Gas:
Delta serves 36,000 customers with facilities located in 23 counties in central and southeastern Kentucky. Delta’s mission to provide premier natural gas services while having a positive impact on customers, employees and shareholders guides the company’s efforts. For more information about Delta, visit www.deltagas.com.
About Peoples:
Peoples is the largest natural gas distribution company in Pennsylvania. It provides reliable and low cost natural gas service to approximately 700,000 homes and businesses in Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Kentucky. The company’s mission is to improve the lives of its customers and to help build long-term economic growth for the region. For more information about Peoples, visit www.peoples-gas.com.
Bluegrass International Trucks, Buses, RV’s, and Idealease, Inc. is one of 15 dealers nationally to be awarded the prestigious “IC Bus Diamond Dealer” Status
LISLE, Ill. – February 1, 2017 – IC Bus today announced the four winners of the 2016 Diamond Premier Dealer award and the 11 winners of the 2016 Diamond Dealer award. IC Bus partners with dealers throughout the United States and Canada and the award recipients have proven to be the best in their class for their efforts to improve sales and grow market share.
“The Diamond Premier and Diamond Dealer awards are reserved for IC Bus’ top dealers who consistently attain excellent sales results year after year,” said Trish Reed, vice president & general manager, IC Bus. “We are appreciative of their efforts to reliably deliver unmatched customer support and demonstrate a commitment to ensuring the success of their customers and their local communities.”
This year’s Diamond Premier Dealer winners are Wolfington Body Company, Inc. in Exton, Pa.; Leonard Bus Sales, Inc. in Deposit, N.Y.; Longhorn Bus Sales, LLC in Houston, Tex.; and Midwest Transit Equipment in Kankakee, Ill. This award is given to dealers that have secured a majority of the market share within a specific sales territory and who exceed annual sales goals.
This year’s Diamond Dealer winners are Carolina International in Columbia, S.C.; Silver State International in Sparks, Nev.; Leeds Transit International in Elgin, ON; Creative Bus Sales in Chino, Calif.; Bluegrass International in Georgetown, Ky.; RWC Group in Anchorage, Alaska; Waters Truck & Trailer in Columbus, Miss.; Capital City Bus Sales in Lansing, Mich.; ITA Truck Sales in Lafayette, La.; K. Neal International in Hyattsville, Md.; and Kingmor Supply, Inc. in Mt. Crawford, Va. This award is given to dealers who exceed annual sales goals.
“IC Bus leads the school bus industry by manufacturing excellent products, by improving Uptime, and by having the industry’s strongest dealer network,” said Reed. “On behalf of everyone at IC Bus, I congratulate our top performers of 2016.”