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| News and Events: Technical Assistance, Incentives, and Funding Opportunities:
Upcoming Events and Activities: Resources and Guides:
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| TDEC Now Accepting Nominations for the 2018 Governor's Environmental Stewardship Awards The Governor's Environmental Stewardship Awards honor outstanding accomplishments that support the protection and enhancement of Tennessee's natural resources. Nominations are currently being accepted for the 2018 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards, which include ten categories: Building Green, Clean Air, Energy and Renewable Resources, Environmental Education and Outreach, Environmental Education and Outreach (school category), Land Use, Materials Management, Natural Heritage, Sustainable Performance, and Lifetime Achievement. Alternative fuel vehicles and sustainable transportation projects could be eligible under several categories, including under Clean Air or Energy and Renewable Resources. Any individual, business, organization, educational institution, or agency is eligible, provided it is located in Tennessee and the project was completed during the 2017 calendar year. A panel of judges will select award recipients based on criteria including level of project or program completion, innovation, and public education. The deadline for nominations is March 30, 2018. Award recipients will be announced in May 2018.
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| Apply Now to the Tennessee Green Fleets Certification Program The Tennessee Green Fleets (TGF) Certification Program is an opportunity for Tennessee fleets to receive certification for their efforts to reduce petroleum consumption, use alternative fuels or advanced vehicle technologies, and reduce emissions. Tennessee Clean Fuels will administer this program via collaboration between the state’s two Clean Cities coalitions, the East and Middle‐West Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalitions. Tennessee Clean Fuels will review an applicant’s fleet fuel use and vehicle data to score its efforts. This awards program will certify fleets based on actions taken to reduce petroleum consumption, reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and implement alternative fuel vehicles. The deadline for submission to this certification program is March 1. For more information about the program, click here.
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Image from TN DGS: Socket delivering a Nissan LEAF to the Lentz Public Health Center. |
| Metro Nashville and Davidson County Department of General Services Delivers New Electric Vehicles for State Employees
The Metro Nashville and Davidson County Department of General Services’ Office of Fleet Management has acquired ten, new all-electric Nissan LEAFs. To date, four of them have been delivered to the administrative offices of Metro Nashville Public Works and the Parks Department for pool sharing. Last month, an additional two vehicles were delivered to the Lentz Public Health Center. Employees may use these zero emission electric vehicles for Metro business during business hours, saving fuel and improving air quality. Check out the Socket Bulletin, a news resource from Metro Nashville Government’s sustainability outreach program, for more information. You can also watch the video below to see Metro Nashville’s sustainability mascot, Socket, deliver the electric vehicles to the Public Health Center.
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| Waste Management Opens Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Facility in Jackson
Waste Management (WM) and local leaders recently celebrated the official opening of the company’s new compressed natural gas (CNG) refueling facility and the launch of a CNG waste truck fleet in Jackson, Tennessee. WM, a Houston-based provider of comprehensive waste management services in North America, began a major transition to CNG as part of its sustainability efforts years ago and currently operates a fleet of over 6,000 CNG-powered refuse trucks. WM’s Jackson hauling site has a fleet of 35 waste collection vehicles, with 17 of those trucks now fueled by CNG. Dawn Cole, a spokesperson for WM, said, “We are expecting four more trucks by the end of the year and to have our fleet fully converted in the next year to year-and-a-half.” The City encouraged the use of alternative fuel, and the company considered the conversion of its local fleet to be the perfect opportunity to support the City’s initiatives and to continue WM’s work to reduce emissions.
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| Nashville Selected for International Autonomous Vehicles Initiative
Nashville is one of 10 cities worldwide chosen for an autonomous vehicles initiative launched by Bloomberg Philanthropies in New York and the Washington, D.C.-based Aspen Institute. Other selected cities include Austin, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Helsinki, London, Los Angeles, Paris, São Paulo, Tel Aviv, and Washington D.C. The program, called the Bloomberg Aspen Initiative on Cities and Autonomous Vehicles, gives Nashville an edge in self-driving advances by supplying access to data and coaching from urban planners and other experts. This data and coaching will help prepare the City for self-driving cars and how to use those cars to address transit issues. For more information, click here.
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| TennSMART Public-Private Intelligent Mobility Consortium Launched
A group of 20 entities across the state recently launched the TennSMART Consortium to accelerate the development and deployment of intelligent mobility innovations in Tennessee. Research and development by the Consortium is focused on the following: - Connected and automated vehicles
- Electric vehicles
- Cybersecurity
- Freight efficiency
- Multimodal commuting
Founding members of the TennSMART consortium include Bridgestone Americas, Cummins Filtration, Inc., DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee, FedEx Corporation, GRIDSMART Technologies, Inc., Local Motors, Lyft, Miovision, Nissan North America, ORNL, Stantec Consulting Services Inc., TDEC, the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, TDOT, Tennessee Tech University, TVA, Top Five Inc., the University of Memphis, the University of Tennessee, and Vanderbilt University. Learn more about TennSMART here.
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| Local Motors Secures $1 Billion in Financing for Olli Customers
Local Motors has teamed up with two industry-leading professionals, Florida-based Elite Transportation Services (ETS) and Texas-based Xcelerate, to secure third party operational support and vehicle financing for their autonomous shuttle, Olli. As part of this agreement, customers who have existing relationships with transit companies will be able to finance the vehicle with Xcelerate for up to 84 months, even while working with their existing operations and monitoring partners. ETS has additionally agreed to provide an all-inclusive Olli operational solution, which includes routine maintenance, management, operations, vehicle financing, and more. The Olli is manufactured in Knoxville through an innovative 3D printing process. Olli was test launched on the streets of Knoxville in the fall of 2017 and is expected to be deployed fully in 2018 or 2019. For more information, click here.
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| Volkswagen Announces New All-Electric Vehicles Will be Made in Chattanooga Plant
On January 15, Volkswagen (VW) announced that it would build a new all-electric crossover vehicle, called the I.D. Crozz, at its Chattanooga plant. The Crozz is part of a larger I.D. line of concept electric vehicles that includes the original I.D. (a Golf-sized vehicle expected to be VW’s first mass-market EV) and the I.D. Buzz electric microbus. Production of the Crozz in Chattanooga is slated to begin in 2020 and will be based on the newly developed modular electric drive matrix (MEB) platform. VW confirmed that a longer range e-Golf will be produced at the factory, too. Read more about this story here.
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| TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, INCENTIVES, AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
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| Developing a Roadmap to Achieve Zero Emissions at Airports
The Transportation Research Board (TRB) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to develop a guidebook and roadmap by which airports can achieve zero emissions. The infrastructure investments that may be required to support zero emission technologies involve long-term planning decisions and the ability to budget in anticipation of future needs. However, many airports do not always know where to begin or what to prioritize in this process. A roadmap to reduce or pursue zero emissions may assist airports in identifying policy and technology options to help them confidently make those requisite long-term investment decisions. Applications to this RFP are due by February 13, 2018. To learn more, click here.
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| Apply Now for the 2018 Reducing Diesel Emissions for a Healthier Tennessee Rebate Program
The East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the 2018 Reducing Diesel Emissions for a Healthier TN (RDE4HT) rebate program. Applications for this RFP must be submitted by February 16, 2018. $222,000 will be available for diesel vehicle replacement projects. This opportunity is supported by state EPA Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) funding that East TN Clean Fuels manages on behalf of TDEC. Up to 100% of the incremental cost of new vehicles can be requested at up to $16,700 per vehicle. Under this funding opportunity, funding is available in any county in Tennessee, and scrappage of replaced vehicle engines is required. Applicants must propose to replace older diesel vehicles with new, alternative fueled vehicles of a similar size and duty. Only vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of 10,000 lbs. or more are eligible for replacement under this opportunity. The RDE4HT program may also fund truck stop electrification (TSE) projects, as well as the purchase of electrified "reefers" or trailer refrigeration units (eTRUs). Please see the RFP for more details on eligible project types. If you have questions about RDE4HT or the RFP, please contact East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coordinator Jonathan Overly at jonathan@etcleanfuels.org.
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| Apply Now for the Second Round of the Tennessee Natural Gas and Propane Vehicle Grant Program
Funding: - $1,700,000 in remaining, unobligated funding from the first round of the Tennessee Natural Gas and Propane Vehicle Grant Program will be available under the second round of this competitive funding opportunity.
- Each grant will provide up to 70% of the incremental purchase cost or vehicle conversion of eligible vehicles, with a maximum grant of $25,000 for each eligible vehicle.
- The maximum amount that may be awarded to a grantee shall not exceed $250,000.
Eligibility: - A project must propose to receive funding for a minimum of one vehicle.
- Eligible vehicles must either (1) be purchased new, from an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or OEM-authorized dealer or (2) be converted to run on natural gas or propane through an EPA-certified, after-market conversion.
- Vehicles must be registered within the State of Tennessee, unless the vehicle is to receive International Registration Plan (IRP) apportioned registration. In the case of the latter, the entity applying for a grant must submit a letter, certifying the percentage of time that the vehicle is expected to operate within the State of Tennessee.
- Eligible vehicles include dedicated compressed natural gas vehicles, dedicated liquefied natural gas vehicles, and dedicated propane-powered vehicles. Natural gas or propane-powered bi-fuel vehicles, or vehicles that are capable of operating on gasoline or diesel in addition to natural gas or propane, shall be eligible for emergency response vehicles only. (All bi-fuel vehicles will be required to utilize either natural gas or propane for no less than 75% of the vehicle's fuel use for a period of no less than five years. The grant amount available to bi-fuel vehicles will be 75% that of dedicated vehicles. Bi-fuel vehicles will therefore only be eligible to receive no more than 52.5% of the conversion or incremental purchase cost, up to $25,000 for each eligible vehicle.)
- Light, medium, and heavy-duty vehicles will be considered eligible, as there will be no gross vehicle weight restrictions or requirements.
- Applicants must intend to maintain operations in Tennessee for a minimum of six years.
Deadline to Submit: Applications must be received by 8:00 pm CST on March 15, 2018. Awards are expected to be announced by April 15, 2018, and the expected timeframe for award negotiations will be June 2018.
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| 2018 Transit IDEA Program Now Accepting Proposals
The Transit IDEA Program is part of the Transit Cooperative Research Program, a cooperative effort of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the Transportation Research Board (TRB), and the Transit Development Corporation (a nonprofit educational and research organization of the American Public Transportation Association), and provides start-up funding for new innovations in transit systems. A new round of funding for 2018 has been announced by TRB, and applications are currently being accepted. The Transit IDEA Panel has established four high-priority focus areas to encourage proposals in the following areas: - Increasing transit ridership
- Improving transit safety, security, and emergency preparedness
- Improving transit capital and operating efficiencies
- Protecting the environment and promoting energy independence
The Transit IDEA Panel reviews proposals twice a year, and the deadlines for submitting proposals to these review cycles are May 1 and November 1, annually. Suggested research areas, proposal evaluation criteria, and the forms for submitting proposals can be found here.
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| UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
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| Webinar: Renewable Diesel and Biodiesel Blends for Fleets
On February 8, 2018 from 1:30-2:30 PM CST, Louisiana Clean Fuels and the Center for Sustainable Energy will host a webinar on how to use renewable diesel and biodiesel blends in fleet applications. The webinar will cover the fuel efficiency, cost, availability, OEM approval, and quality aspects of the fuels. You can register for the webinar here.
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| Energy Independence Summit 2018
The 2018 Energy Independence Summit is the nation's premier clean transportation policy event and will be held February 11-14, 2018 in Washington D.C. The Summit provides a unique opportunity for leaders in the clean transportation industry to network and build partnerships with each other, and with key Congressional and Administration policymakers.
East TN Clean Fuels is in the process of gathering a team from Tennessee to represent the state’s unique alternative fuels market and needs at the Summit. This team will meet prior to the Summit to discuss the importance of continued support for alternative fuels in Tennessee and across the U.S. Please contact East TN Clean Fuels Coordinator Jonathan Overly at jonathan@etcleanfuels.org to become involved. For more information on the Summit, click here.
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| Clean Cities Releases October 2017 Alternative Fuel Price Report
The Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report is a quarterly report compiled by U.S. DOE’s Clean Cities Program on alternative fuel prices in the U.S. and their relation to gasoline and diesel prices. The recently released report includes prices that were gathered by Clean Cities coordinators and stakeholders between October 1-16, 2017, and then averaged to determine regional price trends by fuel and variability in fuel price within regions. The prices collected for this report represent retail, at-the-pump sales prices for each fuel, and include Federal and state motor fuel taxes. Clean Cities reported the following July to October nationwide average price trends for the following fuels (all amounts are per gallon or gallon equivalent):
- Regular gasoline increased 23 cents from $2.26 to $2.49;
- Diesel increased 29 cents from $2.47 to $2.76;
- Compressed natural gas (CNG) price increased 2 cents from $2.15 to $2.17;
- Ethanol (E85) increased 11 cents from $1.99 to $2.10;
- Propane autogas decreased 6 cents from $2.84 to $2.78; and
- Biodiesel (B20) has increased 19 cents from $2.49 to $2.68
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| Report: The Economic Benefits of Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Reducing Placemaking
A paper from the National Center for Sustainable Transportation analyzes the economic benefits of efforts that prioritize pedestrian and non-motorized locational access and that, at times, reduce VMT. Programs that reduce VMT can include complete streets, pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods, bicycle infrastructure, and transit opportunities. This paper shows that VMT-reducing programs like those described above result in economic benefits such as higher retails sales for businesses in walkable areas and higher resale value of residential properties after the completion of neighborhood walkability and transit projects.
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| Report: Public Sentiments Toward Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
Researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) released a report detailing public sentiments toward issues surrounding plug-in electric vehicles. This report is the third in a series of annual studies tracking consumer attitudes toward plug-in electric vehicles. Within the report, the researchers concluded that while most PEV charging occurs at home, widespread PEV adoption will require the development of a national network of non-residential charging stations. The report can be accessed online here.
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| UT Austin and ORNL Develop Tool to Calculate if Consumers Should Own a Car Researchers from UT Austin and ORNL have developed a calculator to compare the total costs of vehicle ownership and alternative mobility services. In general, the quantitative results show that shared mobility is more appealing if the value of travel time is higher, vehicle price is higher, annual travel distance is less, and shared mobility price is lower. The study finds that approximately one-quarter of the entire U.S. driving population might be better off using ride services versus owning a car. More information on the study can be found here.
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| Three Tools for Modeling Vehicle Energy Demand and Related Emissions Argonne National Laboratory recently updated three of its vehicle and energy modeling tools. VISION 2017 is a tool for estimating highway vehicle technology impacts on energy and GHG emissions. It was updated with new energy projections and added alternative powertrain technologies (like EVs and fuel cell vehicles in medium and heavy duty applications) with information from the newest Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Transportation (GREET) fuel cycle model. The second tool, NEAT 2017, estimates energy demand and GHG emissions from non-light duty freight modes through 2050 and was updated with new energy projects and usage rates from the newest GREET fuel cycle model. Finally, a third tool, Autonomie, is a state-of-the-art vehicle energy, performance, and cost model that can quickly and efficiently evaluate the impact of advanced vehicle and transportation technologies from a mobility and energy point of view. Autonomie was updated to include several new features, including new powertrain configurations from recent vehicle model launches, new vehicle models across 13 vehicle classes for medium and heavy duty applications, and new processes for emissions and standard test procedures.
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| Fuels Fix Magazine, Winter 2018 Fuels Fix Magazine is produced through a collaborative effort of all the U.S. DOE Clean Cities Program coalitions in the United States, working together to spread the word about activities that reduce oil dependence, improve air quality, and promote the use of advanced fuels, vehicles, and vehicle technologies. The East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition takes the lead in compiling the ezine, which is published on a quarterly basis. Click here to read the Winter 2018 Fuels Fix publication, which includes articles on a new solar canopy car charging station installed by the Cherokee Nation in Tahlequah, OK and the opening of a compressed natural gas (CNG) station in Kingman, KS. You can join the Fuels Fix email list here.
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