Alan Steiden and Aleksey Dubrovensky of Kentuckiana Cleanfuel gave a tour to folks from the University of Louisville of their recently opened Natural Gas refueling station in Louisville, KY.
Tennessee About to Offer Electric Vehicle Rebates
Are you considering buying or leasing an electric car. If you live in Tennessee, you may want to wait until June 15th and get some money back!
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s Office of Energy Programs will offer a rebate on qualifying electric vehicles that are purchased or leased, and registered, in Tennessee.
The state will rebate $2,500 on zero-emission battery electric vehicles and $1,500 on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles sold or leased (with a three-year minimum lease term) by a Tennessee dealership to Tennessee residents, after a claim is filed by the dealership.
EPA Unveils Controversial Renewable Fuel Proposal
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced its long-awaited proposed volume requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program for the years 2014, 2015 and 2016, as well as proposed volume requirements for biomass-based diesel for 2017. However, reactions from the biofuels sector and industry supporters have been mixed, with one disappointed U.S. senator saying, “It’s Christmas in May for Big Oil.”
The EPA, meanwhile, says its proposal would boost renewable fuel production and provide for ambitious-yet-responsible growth over multiple years, supporting future expansion of the biofuels industry.
“This proposal marks an important step forward in making sure the Renewable Fuel Standard program delivers on the Congressional intent to increase biofuel use, lower greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions and improve energy security,” says Janet McCabe, the acting assistant administrator for the EPA’s Office of Air. “We believe these proposed volume requirements will provide a strong incentive for continued investment and growth in biofuels.”
Under the RFS program, the EPA is responsible for developing and implementing regulations to ensure that transportation fuel sold in the U.S. contains a minimum volume of renewable fuel.
The agency says that after extensive outreach and dialogue with the agricultural community, biofuel producers, and the oil and gas industry, the EPA is proposing to establish 2014 standards at levels that reflect the actual amount of domestic biofuel use in that year, and standards for 2015 and 2016 (and 2017 for biodiesel) that increase steadily over time.
Schools Turn to Propane Buses as Stricter Emissions Standards Loom
MACON, Ga. — For many Americans, propane is that stuff from the home improvement store that fuels backyard barbecues and patio dinners. But in a growing number of cities across the country, it is what gets children to school.
Of the top 25 school bus markets, 19 have propane-fueled vehicles in their fleets, including New York, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Philadelphia and Phoenix. Boston just bought 86 of the alternative-fuel buses for the fall, while in the Mesa County Valley district in Grand Junction, Colo., administrators recently signed a five-year, $30 million contract that includes 122 propane buses.
UPS Becomes Nation’s Largest User of Renewable Natural Gas in Shipping Industry
New Agreement with Clean Energy Will Help Grow Market for Use of Methane Gas from Landfills as Fuel
UPS® (NYSE:UPS) today announced it has entered into an agreement to purchase renewable natural gas (RNG) for its delivery vehicle fleet from Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NASDAQ: CLNE). The deal signifies UPS’s plan to significantly expand its use of renewable natural gas for its alternative fuel and advanced technology fleet. The company has a goal of driving one billion miles using its alternative fuel and advanced technology fleet by the end of 2017.
Lextran and TARC Receive Grants For Proterra Electric Buses
The Federal Transit Administration FTA recently distributed $55 million in grants to 10 transit agencies as part of a program to deploy US-made electric transit buses, including Kentucky’s Lextran and TARC.
Lextran, the transit authority in Lexington, Kentucky, will receive funding to purchase five Proterra battery-electric buses, one charging station and one maintenance area charging system. The zero-emission buses will replace five diesel buses that are at the end of their useful life. Lextran plans to develop a centrally charged and operated system of electric buses running out of the downtown transit center, which serves the majority of city bus routes.
The Transit Authority of River City (TARC), the transit agency for Louisville, Kentucky, and southern Indiana, will receive funding to deploy five Proterra battery-electric buses and a fast charging station. The zero-emission buses will increase TARC’s fleet of battery-electric buses, and the charger will work with TARC’s existing chargers to expand the area that the battery-electric buses serve.
Project Warm 2015 Green Spark Award goes to M&M Cartage for Business Leadership
M&M Cartage was honored to receive Project Warm’s 2015 Business Leadership Award at the annual Green Spark Awards and Luncheon on April 21 at The Olmstead in Louisville, KY. The Business Leadership award is given to a large or small business whose efforts with employees or in the community have demonstrated a commitment to energy conservation and environmental stewardship and have led to specific achievements as a result of those efforts.
UPS Building Additional 15 CNG Fueling Stations and Increasing CNG Fleet
Plans to deploy 1,400 CNG tractors and delivery vehicles
ATLANTA, April 1, 2015 – UPS (NYSE:UPS) today announced plans to build 15 compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling stations to support the purchase and planned deployment of 1,400 new CNG vehicles over the next year. Twelve of the CNG stations will be in new natural gas vehicle deployment areas, and three will replace existing CNG stations with more robust, higher capacity equipment.
This purchase represents a nearly 30% increase to UPS’s current industry-leading alternative fuel and advanced technology fleet of 5,088 vehicles worldwide. The CNG fueling stations and vehicle purchases are part of UPS’ ongoing commitment to diversify its fuel sources, implement a fleet infrastructure that can utilize lower carbon intensity fuel sources and increase experience using alternative fuels in freight transport applications.
“UPS’s investment in a large scale alternative energy fleet has enabled the company to avoid more than 34 million gallons of conventional fuels since 2000,” said Mitch Nichols, UPS senior vice president of transportation and engineering. “Today’s CNG announcement demonstrates UPS’s plans to expand use of widely available natural gas. CNG is an important building block in our long-term fleet strategy and offers environmental and economic advantages.”
When the deployments are completed, UPS anticipates its alternative fuel and advanced technology fleet will continue to log more than 350 million miles per year, supporting the company’s goal of driving one billion miles in this fleet by the end of 2017. This will displace approximately 54 million gallons of conventional diesel and gasoline annually while reducing total vehicle emissions. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the use of natural gas instead of gasoline cuts greenhouse gas emissions by 6-11 percent over the fuel life cycle.
UPS plans to deploy new CNG vehicles in 15 cities. The cities are Atlanta, Ga.; Charleston, W.Va.; Dallas, Texas; Denver, Colo.; Doraville, Ga.; Lenexa, Kan.; Lexington, Ky.; Montgomery, Ala.; New Orleans, La.; New Stanton, Pa.; Oklahoma City, Okla.; Port Allen, La.; Shreveport, La.; Richmond, Va., and Roanoke, Va. Currently UPS already has a total of eight CNG fueling stations in California, Colorado, Georgia and Oklahoma and operates CNG vehicles in Germany, the Netherlands and Thailand.
Using a “Rolling Laboratory” approach, UPS is one of the leaders in the industry developing the cleanest, most effective pathways to support the company’s effort to reduce emissions and dependence on fossil fuels while improving efficiency. The first package delivery company to introduce alternative fuel tractors into its fleet, UPS operates one of the largest private alternative fuel and advanced technology fleets in the U.S. Its fleet includes all-electric, hybrid electric, hydraulic hybrid, CNG, LNG, propane, biomethane and light-weight fuel-saving composite body vehicles.
UPS collaborates with various stakeholder groups to identify and promote transportation solutions that enhance the sustainability of emerging fuel choices. In 2012, UPS helped BSR (Businesses for Social Responsibility), launch Future of Fuels, a working group that promotes the development of lower-emission fuels for transportation. The group’s objective is to study the impacts of all fuel sources to help guide businesses in deploying alternative fuel vehicles in their fleets.
UPS’s sustainability initiatives are focused in four strategic areas: environmental responsibility, economic enhancement, empowered people and connected communities. For more information, please view the company’s most recent Corporate Sustainability Report at ups.com/sustainability. In 2014, UPS became the second U.S. company (and only one in the U.S. transportation sector), to report at GRI G4 Comprehensive, the GRI’s highest standard of transparency, with the release of its 2013 Sustainability Report. The Sustainability Report covering 2014 is scheduled for release this summer.
About UPS
UPS (NYSE:UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including the transportation of packages and freight; the facilitation of international trade, and the deployment of advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. UPS is committed to operating more sustainably – for customers, the environment and the communities we serve around the world. Learn more about our efforts at ups.com/sustainability. Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. The company can be found on the Web at UPS.com and its corporate blog can be found at blog.ups.com. To get UPS news direct, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS.
KCFC Spring Membership Meeting and Green Fleets of the Bluegrass Awards Ceremony
Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition hosted a Spring Membership Meeting and Green Fleets of the Bluegrass Awards Ceremony at the Louisville Zoo on March 17. Coalition members gathered to celebrate and recognize accomplishments from 2014 and display the various alternative fueled vehicles our members utilize throughout the state. Nick D’Andrea from UPS delivered a featured presentation at the meeting detailing the UPS national and international alternative fuel fleet vehicles.
U.S. Senator Rand Paul to Introduce Fuel Choice and Deregulation Legislation
The Fuel Choice and Deregulation Act of 2015
Improving the environment and reducing emissions is a task best suited for American innovation, market competition, and consumer choice. When government does act, it should remove barriers to competition, not erect new ones. The Fuel Choice and Deregulation Act removes federal barriers to competition and innovation in America’s transportation fuel market. Competition and consumer choice will reduce our dependence on foreign oil, lower emissions, and help balance the scale to make alternative fuels an economically viable option in America.
Bill Summary:
- The Fuel Choice and Deregulation Act removes overly burdensome EPA certifications on aftermarket vehicle conversions.
- Fleet turnover rates for American light-duty vehicles have varied widely over the years. Removing EPA regulations that unnecessarily increase the cost of aftermarket vehicle conversions will allow for accelerated market penetration of vehicles that are capable of running on alternative fuels and increase incentives for investments in refueling infrastructure. The Fuel Choice and Deregulation Act removes the EPA certification requirements, while ensuring the conversion does not degrade emission performance.
- The Fuel Choice and Deregulation Act reforms Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) requirements by permanently extending the credit for auto manufacturers of alternative fuel vehicles and providing a new bonus credit of compliance for automakers with at least half of their fleet comprised of alternative fuel capable vehicles.
- Congress enacted the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standard to reduce American dependence on foreign oil. The CAFE standards have been a prominent part of this Administration’s strategy for reducing emissions. The current standard is 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. Instead of using CAFE standards to force automakers to produce expensive vehicles that consumers do not want to buy, this bill reduces the regulatory burden of CAFE obligations on automakers by providing a bonus credit to alternative fuel automakers and deeming them in compliance with greenhouse gas emissions standards promulgated under the Clean Air Act.
III. The Fuel Choice and Deregulation Act requires liquefied natural gas (LNG) to be taxed based on its energy content rather than volume.
- The federal highway excise tax on both diesel and LNG is 24.3 cents per gallon. However, because LNG has a lower energy content per gallon than diesel fuel (it takes about 1.7 gallons of LNG to travel the same distance on only one gallon of diesel) LNG is being taxed at 170 percent the rate of diesel on an energy equivalent basis. Reforming the LNG tax removes this federal barrier to competition that artificially raises the cost of LNG.
- The Fuel Choice and Deregulation Act reforms EPA’s Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) requirements by allowing higher blend levels of ethanol to exceed the current 9.0 psi standard and prevents EPA from regulating biomass fuel.
- RVP is a measure of how quickly fuel evaporates into the atmosphere. EPA regulates RVP in conjunction with ozone emissions in the summer months. Congress directed EPA to issue a “one pound waiver” for ethanol blends of 10 percent, allowing E10 to be sold at 10.0 psi. The bill extends this waiver to higher blend levels of ethanol, including E15.