TDEC OEP is hiring for multiple roles, including a Grants Analyst position, which will contribute to a variety of transportation-related programs and initiatives, including those focused on increasing the deployment of alternative fuels, advanced vehicle technologies, and sustainable transportation options. Responsibilities will include assisting with research, design, and implementation of grant programs, providing technical assistance to grantees and vendors, assisting the Middle-West TN Clean Fuels Coordinator on projects or tasks related sustainable transportation and adoption of alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies, and more.

Other available positions include a Grants Program Manager that will support the design and implementation of the Grid Resilience Formula Grant Program, an Energy Programs Administrator / Accounting Manager who will manage and coordinate budgets for TDEC OEP’s multiple funding sources, and an Administrative Services Assistant to assist the team with various administrative duties. Applications should be submitted through tn.gov/careers by November 29.

Nashville’s WKRN recently interviewed TDEC OEP’s Mark Finlay and Justin Huff with Drive Electric Nashville about the expansion of Tennessee's electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. The interview highlights the Fast Charge TN Network, which has recently expanded to include  ten new EV fast-charging stations across the state with dozens more in the works, as well as the addition of charging infrastructure at Tennessee State Parks.

The Knoxville City Council recently approved funding to install EV charging stations at the City-County Building Garage for the City’s EV fleet. The City currently has nine EVs in its fleet and has ordered an additional 16 vehicles. Adding charging stations will allow the City to further expand its EV fleet, with each station allowing for two vehicles to charge simultaneously.

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) and Volkswagen Group of America recently announced the signing of a new five-year Master Research Agreement. The agreement, which also includes the UT Research Foundation, builds off of a partnership that has already produced nearly 30 active research projects, 15 publications, and multiple pending patents. UTK research faculty and Volkswagen scientists are collaborating on technology to make lighter vehicles, batteries that last longer, and more sustainable materials.

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 fourteen, host Cortney Piper interviews Gina Maria Bonini, Vice President and General Manager of Advanced Thermal Systems at Modine, which operates an EV component manufacturing plant in Lawrenceburg. The episode includes a discussion about thermal management and why it is critical for electrification, how Modine is overcoming engineering challenges to keep heavy-duty EVs viable in dirty and severe environments, and the company’s presence in Tennessee.

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

The Connect Downtown project team, a partnership between the Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure (NDOT), WeGo Public Transit, TDOT, and the Nashville Downtown Partnership, recently released draft recommendations for public review and comment. Connect Downtown is a 10-year action plan with projects and programs to be delivered in three phases. Draft study recommendations focus on five high-level “big moves” to improve mobility in the downtown area. The “big moves” include managing congestion, improving safety, moving more people, creating complete networks, and maximizing the curb. Comments on the draft report can be submitted online here.

The Better Buildings Webinar Series takes on the most pressing topics facing energy professionals, with experts leading the conversations on proven best practices, cost-effective strategies, and innovative new ways to approach sustainability and energy performance. On November 28 from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Eastern, join the How to Finance Your Emissions Reduction Plan webinar to learn from Financial Allies on how to leverage the recently developed Emissions Reduction Planning Framework to make effective financing decisions to achieve emissions reduction goals.

The Electrify the South Collaborative will host a webinar on November 30 from 12:00 – 1:30 pm Eastern. The webinar will include a presentation from the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, which will provide updates on federal transportation electrification funding opportunities. Additionally, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities will share information about the Inflation Reduction Act tax credits for electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. The Collaborative is facilitated by the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy and the Southeast Sustainability Directors Network to identify challenges, find solutions, and enhance local government ability to access and implement federal transportation electrification funding made available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. Register for the webinar here. 

The Tennessee Smart Mobility Expo will take place December 5-6 at the Music City Center in Nashville, presented by TennSMART in partnership with the State (TDEC, TDOT, and TNECD) and Tennessee Clean Fuels. Sessions will address a variety of topics, including urban mobility solutions, emission reduction planning efforts, medium- and heavy-duty fleet electrification, mobility workforce development initiatives, and equity and access for rural transportation. View the full agenda here.

Keynote speakers include Mark Smith, Technology Integration Program Manager at the U.S. DOE Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO). Mark will discuss the converging trends that are shaping mobility and the need to create knowledge, insights, tools, and technology solutions that increase mobility energy productivity through early-stage R&D, demonstration, and deployment. He will also highlight VTO’s collaboration with and investment in projects across Tennessee.

Additionally, Lang Wiseman, former Deputy Governor, will moderate a discussion with TDEC Commissioner David Salyers, TNECD Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter, and TDOT Deputy Commissioner Preston Elliott about the future of sustainable transportation solutions and economic opportunity in Tennessee. 

Register now and learn more at tnsmartmobilityexpo.com. Those interested in sponsorship or exhibitor opportunities at the event should contact Sara Pruneski at sara@hallstrategies.com.

Tennessee Tech University and Tennessee Clean Fuels are actively welcoming fleets interested in testing a medium-duty all-electric step van for their organizational operations. The Medium-Duty eTruck Pilot Project is a federally funded testbed initiative that offers the opportunity for Tennessee fleets to test the all-electric Xos FXSV01 at no cost to evaluate how it performs within their operations. Participating fleets will be able to trial the vehicle for up to one month and will be provided with Level 2 charging infrastructure at no cost.

Fleets will provide information and feedback to the project team on successes and challenges related to driving and charging the vehicle, as well as utilization data, and will receive valuable insight into how an EV can be the right fit for their organization. Interested fleets are encouraged to complete the form linked here. For more information or for answers to any questions, please contact Mark.Finlay@tn.gov.

Tennessee Clean Fuels announced the launch of the EMPOWER TN Workplace Charging assistance program. The program provides up to $2,000 in no-cost technical assistance and consulting to assist workplaces with implementing EV charging through funding from the U.S. DOE Vehicle Technologies Office. The first round will allow for 24 workplaces to participate.

Available assistance includes:

Complete the interest survey to get started. Additional workplace charging guidance is available on the EMPOWER TN Workplace Charging website, including the newly released Drive Electric Tennessee Workplace Charging Guide, which covers how employers can get started on a workplace charging plan

Under the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA), EPA is offering funding assistance to accelerate the upgrade, retrofit, and turnover of legacy diesel fleets to address diesel emissions and protect public health and air quality.

The DERA program promotes an array of diesel emissions strategies by working with manufacturers, fleet operators, air quality professionals, environmental and community organizations, and state and local officials to address the varying priorities of different regions and sectors.

Eligible applicants include:

Find information on eligible activities, vehicles, and equipment on EPA’s DERA website. View the Notice of Funding Opportunity for additional information. Applications are due December 1.

EPA recently announced a prize competition, My Electric Ride: An EV Transportation Video Challenge, that encourages people to share their personal experiences with electric transportation. The challenge aims to showcase real-world experiences of electrified transportation in everyday life and help inform the public about more sustainable transportation. Interested participants are asked to submit a short one- to two-minute video for a chance to win up to $3,000. 

Participants can submit videos in one of three categories:

EPA will select up to three winning videos in each category, which may be featured on EPA’s website and social media channels. Submissions are due January 23, 2024.

EPA recently announced the 2023 Clean School Bus Rebate Program, which anticipates awarding at least $500 million in funding. Eligible applicants can apply to receive funding for the purchase of up to 25 zero-emission and/or clean school buses, along with charging infrastructure and eligible workforce development costs. Selectees may also be eligible for tax credits, such as the Clean Vehicle tax credit, applicable to their bus and infrastructure purchases.

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. EPA will host information webinars on the program through January 2024; view the list of upcoming webinars here. Applications are due January 31, 2024.

U.S. DOE and EPA have recently released the 2024 Fuel Economy Guide. The guide provides detailed fuel economy estimates for model year 2024 light-duty vehicles, along with estimated annual fuel costs and other information for prospective car buyers. The online Guide will be updated periodically to include newly released vehicle models and current fuel cost estimates. Visit FuelEconomy.gov for additional resources on fuel-efficient vehicles.

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

Past Monthly Newsletters: 

October 2023

September 2023

August 2023

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 Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) under the State Energy Program Award Number DE-EE0009487

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.