U.S. DOE recently announced selections of projects working with Clean Cities and Communities that will drive innovation in equitable clean transportation through the U.S. DOE Vehicle Technologies Office Fiscal Year 2024 Technology Integration Funding Program. The Tennessee Tech University-led project, Charging Tennessee: Advancing Public Vehicle Fleet Electrification, will receive approximately $1 million in funding to demonstrate an innovative EV testbed for diverse public vehicle fleets in two of the most rapidly growing cities in Tennessee, Nashville and Chattanooga. The project will also demonstrate an electric park-and-ride system as a centralized charging hub for commuters who own EVs but lack at-home charging. View the full list of selected awardees here.

The fifth annual Transportation Electrification in the Southeast Report released by the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy and Atlas Public Policy shows Tennessee has increased its inventory of publicly-available DC Fast Charging infrastructure by 60% year-over-year, the largest increase in the region. The report analyzes data underlying EV markets in six states in the southeast and looks at growth trends across six indicators: manufacturing investments, anticipated jobs, EV sales, charging infrastructure deployment, utility investments, and public funding. The Tennessee one-pager also notes that Tennessee is the second in the region for EV manufacturing employment and public funding per capita.

DENSO, a manufacturer of automotive advanced technology and components, recently announced that it will expand in Tennessee, establishing additional manufacturing operations in Athens. The $100 million expansion will add approximately 200 new jobs, an additional 54,560 square feet of production space, and renovations to existing areas to expand the capability to produce HVAC systems that can improve the efficiency of traditional, hybrid, and electric vehicles.

TDEC’s Office of Outdoor Recreation and the Tennessee Blueways Initiative are working on a Strategic Master Plan to enhance waterways, boost recreation opportunities, and support river conservation efforts. The Tennessee Blueways Strategic Plan survey aims to gather input from community members and outdoor enthusiasts to help shape the future of the state’s recreational waterways. Survey feedback will play a key role in balancing environmental preservation, recreation, and overall accessibility to Tennessee’s Rivers. Complete the survey here.

Energizing Tennessee, a podcast from the Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council (TAEBC) and FirstBank, explores the latest news and insights about the advanced energy sector with experts sharing their thoughts on transportation electrification, workforce development, and the growing sector of advanced energy in Tennessee’s economy.

In episode twenty-six, host Cortney Piper interviews Dale Harrigle, Chief Engineer of Tire Development – Consumer Replacement for Bridgestone Americas, which is headquartered in Nashville. Harrigle talks about why EVs require a specialized tire and shares pivotal industry milestones, from the introduction of silica in tire manufacturing to Bridgestone’s global expansion.  

All episodes are available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts. Click here to listen.

The Tennessee Smart Mobility Expo will return to the Music City Center in Nashville on April 2-3, 2025. The Expo is a celebration of the latest transportation technologies, innovations and research that make Tennessee an emerging leader in mobility solutions. With thought-provoking sessions, tech demonstrations and networking, the Expo celebrates the state’s position as an automotive manufacturing giant and generator of smart mobility solutions. Sign up here for email updates on speakers, registration details, and sponsorship opportunities.

The Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo will take place April 28 – May 1, 2025 in Anaheim, CA. The Expo unites the transportation sector in an effort to reduce emissions from goods movement, the service industry, and passenger transportation while also driving economic sustainability. This annual event offers attendees access to the latest technologies, services, and vehicles driving the transition to low- and zero-emission transportation solutions. Sign up here for updates on the Expo. 

The Drive Electric TN initiative will host the third annual Momentum Summit at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro on June 24, 2025. The Momentum Summit will focus on transportation electrification efforts, including economic and environmental benefits, infrastructure progress, and research into transportation electrification at Tennessee colleges and universities. Register for the Momentum Summit here.

EPA recently announced the 2024 Clean School Bus Rebate Program, which anticipates awarding up to $965 million in funding. Eligible applicants can now apply to receive funding for the purchase of up to 50 zero-emission and/or clean school buses, along with charging infrastructure, eligible workforce training, consulting costs for bus deployment, and bus warranty costs. EPA will also provide additional funding per bus for ADA-compliant buses.

Eligible applicants include:

EPA is prioritizing applications that will replace buses serving high-need local education agencies and rural areas. View the detailed list of prioritized school districts here. Selectees (including tax-exempt entities) may also be eligible for tax credits, such as the Commercial Clean Vehicle and Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property tax credits, to apply to their bus and infrastructure purchases. Additional information on tax credits can be found on the EPA’s Clean School Bus Tax Credits webpage.

EPA will host informational webinars on the program through January 2025; view the list of upcoming webinars here. The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation released a recording of the webinar, Overview for Electric School Bus Operators, to provide operators, technicians, and other school bus fleet members with a fundamental understanding of electric school bus technology.  Find additional resources on acquiring electric school buses on the World Resources Institute’s Electric School Bus Initiative website and Drive Electric Tennessee’s TN Bus Electrification, Education and Planning (TN BEEP) website.

Applications are due January 9.

The State Funding Readiness Project (SFRP) provides no-cost technical assistance to jurisdictions, including local governments, for preparing and applying for funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act. SFRP can help jurisdictions identify specific investment opportunities, conduct a stakeholder mapping exercise, inform budget planning, meet Justice40 requirements, develop competitive grant applications, and strengthen linkages with administering agencies. They have supported forty projects in twenty-five jurisdictions thus far, securing over $1.5 billion in federal funding. SFRP has an open, rolling intake process and considers jurisdiction requests at any time. Learn more on the SFRP website.

TVA EnergyRight recently released an EV Buyers Guide, a comprehensive resource designed to help people in the Tennessee Valley learn more about the benefits of EVs and make informed decisions about purchasing or switching to EVs. The Guide includes information on types of EVs and how to choose the right one for your needs, common charger types, EV battery basics, how to deal with range anxiety, as well as information on test driving and buying and the benefits of driving an EV. 

U.S. DOE recently released the Pathways to Commercial Liftoff: Sustainable Aviation Fuel report, which underscores the near-term potential for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to meaningfully decarbonize the aviation sector. The report analyzes the technical and commercial readiness of several SAF production pathways and highlights tangible, actionable steps that the public and private sector can take in SAF production. Announced projects in the U.S. represent over three billion gallons of annual domestic SAF production capacity by 2030, surpassing the U.S. SAF Grand Challenge target. 

Visit the TDEC Office of Energy Programs Website at http://www.tn.gov/environment/energy.

Past Monthly Newsletters: 

October 2024

September 2024

August 2024

For more information or to submit an idea for a future Monthly Transportation Edition, contact:

Audrey Jackson, Communications Officer
TDEC Office of Energy Programs
615-917-6683 or audrey.jackson@tn.gov

OR

Alexa Voytek, Deputy Director, OEP Programs
U.S. DOE State Energy Program / Innovation & Transportation / Communications
TDEC Office of Energy Programs
 615-613-1096 or alexa.voytek@tn.gov

OR

Mark Finlay, Senior Energy Analyst, TDEC Office of Energy Programs
615-772-6011 or mark.finlay@tn.gov

Acknowledgement: This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) under the State Energy Program Award Number DE-SE0001095.

Disclaimer: This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government.  Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights.  Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof.  The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof.