USDA Announces State Finalists for the Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill., Sept. 10, 2015 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that 21 states will receive grants through the Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership (BIP) to add infrastructure needed to supply more renewable fuel to America’s drivers. Since announcing the program in May 2015, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) received applications requesting over $130 million, outpacing the $100 million that is available. With a more than 1:1 match from private and state resources, USDA estimates that the BIP grants will support nearly 5,000 pumps at over 1,400 fueling stations across the country.

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Now More Than Ever:Mower Incentives Are Back

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PERC’s Propane Mower Incentive Program

is back: Effective immediately, but for a limited time, landscape contractors can apply to receive $1,000 toward the purchase of a new propane-powered mower, and $500 toward a qualified conversion.

This opportunity will only last until the program funds expire, though, so there’s no time to waste; in fact, some industry professionals attending the GIE + Expo in Louisville, Kentucky, this week got a head start in hearing about the advantages:

  • Lower operating costs
  • Proven performance
  • Fewer emissions

Kentucky Leadership Recognized at KCFC Natural Gas & Propane Workshop

Posted by & filed under Kentucky.

KCFC hosted a propane and natural gas workshop Wednesday, October 21st at Berry Hill Mansion in Frankfort, KY. This workshop brought together industry and political leaders to discuss propane and natural gas in the state of Kentucky. Selected fleets were recognized for their efforts to increase natural gas and propane vehicle use in the state.  KCFC recognized Bourbon, Bath and Hardin County Schools for their leadership in purchasing Propane powered school buses for their districts. Also, recognized Crittenden, Trimble and Nicholas counties. Tom Underwood, Kentucky Propane Education & Resource Council received an LPG Leadership Award from KCFC president Alan Steiden, along with Rumpke, who was honored as CNG Newcomer to Kentucky, and Carrie Butler and Michael Nagy from LexTran who received Kentucky’s First CNG Transit System Award in Frankfort.

Hotel Executive Building Electric Shuttles in Kentucky

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Two miles from Cincinnati, in the town of Wilder, Kentucky (population 3,500), a need is being met by hotel owner and CEO William Yung.

In 2003, Yung established Zenith Motors LLC to address his interest in electric shuttles for his 50 upscale and midscale hotels across the U.S. under branded names such as Hilton, Marriott, Doubletree and Starwood Westin. Zenith quietly began testing their electric shuttle technology in a small manufacturing plant in Wilder.

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Cummins Westport’s Near Zero Natural Gas Engine Certified

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Cummins Westport’s ISL G Near Zero NOx natural gas engine has received Near Zero NOx emission certifications from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board, the company announced.

The ISL G is the first mid-range engine to meet the 0.02 g/bhp-hr optional Near Zero NOx Emissions standards for medium-duty truck, urban bus, school bus, and refuse applications, according to Cummins Westport Inc. The ISL G NZ meets CARB certification eight years in advance of the 2023 California Near Zero NOx schedule.

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EV Charging Station Active in Downtown Louisville

Posted by & filed under Kentucky.

A new location for free electric car charging in Louisville is now active.

In the trendy NULU area of Louisville electric car owners can park and charge their cars at no cost.
EVolve Ky, Louisville’s own electric vehicle group, is proud to announce the install of a Level 2 charging station at The Green Building located at 732 E. Market Street in Louisville.
The install is part of the group’s new Adopt-a-Charger program where local companies and organizations subsidize the cost of the charger and installation for an appropriate host facility, such as an area non-profit, city park or other popular location.
Sponsors for Adopt-a-Charger’s first location are Graybar and Henderson Services. Parking and charging is free for EV drivers, and there are two highly-visible, dedicated parking spaces.
As we move forward, we will be working with Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition and other like-minded community organizations to identify additional appropriate locations and secure funding.  Our goal is to have 12 Adopt-a-Charger locations active within a year.

RUMPKE Receives CNG Trucks

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The Louisville division of RUMPKE has received two CNG trucks.

After the driver training on Tuesday, September 29th, the trucks went for their first refueling at Kentuckiana Clean Fuel on Geil Lane.

IC Bus Propane in Warren County

Posted by & filed under Kentucky.

IC Bus PropaneBluegrass International toured the Commonwealth with the new IC Bus propane school bus powered by the Power Solutions International (PSI) 8.8L propane engine and Allison 2500PTS transmission. The bus was on loan from International, and stopped at the school bus garages in Warren County, Laurel County, Johnson County, Hardin County, Henderson County, Graves County, and Boone County from September 14th through 25th. All districts were invited to send personnel to learn about and drive International’s propane solution school bus. The PSI 8.8L engine is rated at 270 H.P./565 lb.-ft. torque, and governed at 2600 RPM – providing a low speed/high torque application similar in characteristics and drivability to the Cummins ISB diesel engine. There was also representation from AmeriGas and Ferrellgas to provide information about fuel availability and fueling station options.

KCFC Fall Membership Meeting at UPS Worldport

Posted by & filed under Kentucky.

UPS Worldport in Louisville, KY hosted the Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition Fall Membership Meeting on Tuesday, September 22.  After the meeting, members and KCFC staff joined in a tour of the Worldport facility.

 

 

Rep. Steve Riggs challenges state, local officials to increase use of E85 vehicles

Posted by & filed under Kentucky.

Frankfort – After visiting the Kentucky State Fair and noting its long-standing emphasis on agriculture, state Rep. Steve Riggs said he is calling on his fellow legislators and those managing local and state government auto fleets to buy more flex-fuel vehicles and increase their use of E85 fuel.

“Kentucky has a strong, diverse farming community, but we can and should be doing more to promote it,” said Rep. Riggs of Louisville.  “I think challenging those in government to take a leading role is one of the best ways to increase the number of these vehicles in Kentucky and the number of stations wanting to sell this fuel.

“Since I bought a flex-fuel car earlier this year, I have been thoroughly pleased with the gas mileage, especially when factoring in the much-cheaper prices at the pump,” he added.  “This vehicle is better environmentally; it promotes our country’s energy independence; and it supports the farmers that grow corn and the agri-businesses that make E85 and other ethanol blends possible.  I want to see our local and state leaders step up and take advantage of all that these vehicles have to offer.”

Rep. Riggs is the long-time chairman of the House Local Government Committee and has been working with the Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition as well as the Kentucky Corn Growers and Kentucky Small Grain Growers Associations to promote the vehicles while increasing access to the fuel.

“As chairman, I am in constant contact with local leaders across the state, so I am using that network to ask them to do even more in this area,” Rep. Riggs said.  “This would build on the work they are already doing when it comes to energy efficiency and their increasing use of alternative fuels.”

Rep. Riggs praised those fuel companies providing E85 in Kentucky.  “There is always a chicken-and-egg dilemma when it comes to increasing fuel options, but Thortons, Speedway and Mapco are among those leading the way in solving that by making sure this fuel is available at a growing number of their stations.  My hope is that, in the not-too-distant future, we will see this number jump significantly and have many other companies follow their lead.”

Agriculturally based feedstocks, including corn, make up most of the E85 blend, with petroleum consisting of the rest.  According to the Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition, there are more than 60 stations across Kentucky offering E-85.  The website E95prices.com, meanwhile, shows that the average August cost for E85 is $2.09 per gallon in Kentucky versus $2.44 for the E10 blend.

A map of available locations selling E85 can be found here:

https://kentuckycleanfuels.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/E85-Kentucky-Station-Map.pdf