|
|
|
News and Events:
Upcoming Events:
Upcoming Funding Opportunities:
Resources and Guides:
| |
|
First Rivian Solar-Powered EV Charger in Tennessee Goes Live
Automaker and charging infrastructure manufacturer Rivian has partnered with solar company Clearloop to debut its first solar-powered EV charging station in Tennessee. The new Rivian Waypoint charger in Paris utilizes Clearloop’s 1 MW Paris Solar Farm-Puryear project to power the Level 2 station. This solar farm is apart of a larger 6.75 MW project aimed at covering electricity used by Rivian Waypoint chargers at Tennessee State Parks and other clean energy projects in the region.
| |
|
Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency Acquires First All-Electric Shuttle Bus in Tennessee
The Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency, which offers a number of transportation services and programs to low-income and vulnerable populations in a 14-county area in the Upper Cumberland region, is the first organization to debut an all-electric shuttle bus in Tennessee. The bus, which will reduce emissions and offer noise reduction and increased comfort for passengers, was purchased through the U.S. DOE-funded “Upper Cumberland EV Testbed” project led by Tennessee Tech University. This project seeks to acquire widespread adoption of EVs to enhance economic growth, improve energy efficiency, and increase access to affordable transportation options in the region. By encouraging and enabling organizations to adopt all-electric vehicle technology, the project can assist residents in continuing to utilize safe transportation with reduced fuel consumption and cleaner energy.
| |
|
EV Battery Manufacturer Invests in R&D in Knoxville
In January, Safire Technology Group, Inc., a company that develops and manufactures lithium-ion battery safety technology, announced its expansion to Knoxville with the opening of a new laboratory at the University of Tennessee Spark Innovation Center. The new location is strategically chosen to allow the company to build on its existing partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, with which it has announced an exclusive licensing agreement for the company to commercialize the ORNL-invented SAFIRE additive to improve EV battery safety and reliability.
| |
|
Nominations Open for 2022 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards
TDEC is inviting Tennesseans to submit nominations for the 2023 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards, which honor outstanding accomplishments that support the protection and enhancement of Tennessee’s natural resources. Nominations are currently being accepted for the 2023 awards, which include the following categories: Agriculture and Forestry, Building Green, Clean Air, Energy and Renewable Resources, Environmental Education and Outreach, Materials Management, Natural Resources, Water Quality, Sustainable Performance, and Lifetime Achievement.
Any individual, business, organization, educational institution, or agency is eligible for nomination, provided the entity is located in Tennessee and their associated environmental project was completed during the 2022 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 17, and winners will be announced during the summer. Contact Kathy Glapa at (615) 253-8780 or Kathy.Glapa@tn.gov with any questions.
| |
|
|
Upcoming TRB Webinars
TRB Career Series – Sustainable Mobility: New and Expanding Opportunities
There exists a need for action in advancing greater workforce diversity and development, innovation and continuous learning, and “people-readiness” at all levels given the critical role of transportation careers in community-building and achieving equity-centered and sustainable outcomes. On February 22 from 1:00 PM-2:30 PM Eastern, the Transportation Research Board (TRB) will host a webinar that will focus on the concepts of sustainable mobility and transport and all that it encompasses. Presenters will discuss the importance of the transportation workforce’s role in equity-centered sustainability, environmental justice considerations, and the Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) program. Click here to register.
Advancing Transportation Equity—Key Insights from 2021 and Looking to 2024
The 2021 TRB Conference on Advancing Equity featured presentations from those working on the front lines of transportation equity and justice within community-based and non-profit organizations. This webinar on March 9 from 2:00 PM-3:30 PM Eastern will provide key insights from the conference. Click here to register.
| |
|
Upcoming Green Transportation Summit & Expo Webinars
Fleet Acquisitions: Sustainability
Fleet managers play a major role in influencing how the country works toward achieving net-zero emissions and adopting a range of clean technologies and vehicles. In this roundtable hosted by GTSE on February 22 at 3:00 PM Central, participants will discover how fleet managers have integrated sustainability goals into decisions, strategies, and innovations that have kept their fleets efficient and effective
Among the questions panelists will be able to address are: the impact of top-down goals, budgeting, and evaluating available technology. Click here to register.
Advancing Alternative Fuels in a Corridor Near You
At the helm of transportation decarbonization sits a national network of over 75 Clean Cities Coalitions. These coalitions are pivotal players in transportation projects across the nation, such as the build out of interconnected alternative fuel corridors. Alternative fuel corridors feature strategically positioned infrastructure and resources to create a national network of plug-in electric vehicle charging stations as well as hydrogen, propane, and compressed natural gas fueling infrastructure along the U.S. highway system. By way of partnerships between businesses, fuel providers, vehicle fleets, and state and local government agencies, examples of these accomplishments can be found in almost every state.
A session hosted by the Green Transportation Summit & Expo (GTSE) on March 2 at 12:30 PM Central will feature leaders from Utah Clean Cities, Drive Clean Colorado, and Columbia-Willamette Clean Cities Coalition. Participants will find out how partnerships with Clean Cities Coalitions can be leveraged to develop and launch projects that have community, regional, and national impacts. Click here to register.
| |
|
Save the Date: EVs@Scale Bi-Annual Stakeholder Meeting
U.S. DOE’s Electric Vehicles at Scale Lab Consortium (EVs@Scale) bi-annual stakeholder meeting will be held April 5-6 at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. EVs@Scale brings together national laboratories and key stakeholders to conduct infrastructure research and development addressing challenges and barriers for high-power electric vehicle charging infrastructure that enable greater safety, grid operation reliability, and consumer confidence. Learn more about EVs@Scale.
| |
|
2023 National Shared Mobility Summit
The 2023 National Shared Mobility Summit, hosted by the Shared-Use Mobility Center, will be held May 2-4 at the Merchandise Mart Plaza in Chicago, IL. At this event, attendees will participate in summit sessions that will explore how to make shared mobility more reliable, equitable, accessible, and sustainable through a number of different topics including:
- Funding & Affordability
- Tools & Incentives
- Infrastructure
- Metrics & Outcomes
Keynote speakers will include Veronica Vanterpool, Deputy Administrator for the Federal Transit Administration and Alison Sant, Co-founder of the Studio for Urban Projects. Click here to register.
| |
|
2023 Forth Roadmap Conference
The 2023 Forth Roadmap Conference, an annual event which convenes leaders in the electric transportation space, will take place from May 15-17 in Portland, OR. The conference will allow attendees to forge relationships and gain valuable insights in a highly interactive format from industry and community leaders including utilities, local governments, vehicle original equipment manufacturers, charging providers, technology startups, public interest groups, communities and drivers.
The Forth Roadmap Conference will explore topics such as:
- Improving the EV charging experience
- Federal EV infrastructure funding
- Building better batteries
- Ensuring electric transportation and new mobility services reach communities that need them most
- How utilities can maximize benefits for the areas they serve with charging
- How repowered school buses will change the landscape for transporting students
| |
| UPCOMING FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
| |
|
U.S. DOE Announces $25.5 Million to Improve Biofuels and Bioproducts
U.S. DOE recently announced $25.5 million in funding to enable the sustainable use of domestic biomass and waste resources, such as agricultural residues and algae, to produce low-carbon biofuels and bioproducts. This funding will advance federal goals of delivering an equitable, clean energy future, and put the United States on a path to achieve net-zero emissions, economy-wide, by 2050.
The "Reducing Agricultural Carbon Intensity and Protecting Algal Crops” funding opportunity will improve the production of environmentally sustainable feedstocks for bioenergy through two topic areas:
- Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices for Low-Carbon Intensity Feedstocks, and
- Algae Crop Protection
This funding opportunity focuses on improving climate-smart agricultural practices that reduce the carbon intensity of biomass feedstocks used for biofuel production, and cultivating and protecting algae crops, an abundant and renewable biofuel source. Both topic areas support DOE’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Grand Challenge goal of furthering the production of 35 billion gallons of SAF annually by 2050.
The concept paper deadline is March 20 at 5:00 PM Eastern, and full applications are due by May 16 at 5:00 PM Eastern. View the full funding opportunity announcement and register to apply on EERE Exchange.
| |
|
FTA Low or No Emission Grants and Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities
The Federal Transit Administration recently announced the availability of nearly $1.7 billion to support state and local efforts to modernize aging transit fleets with low- and no-emission buses, renovate and construct bus facilities, and support workforce development. Made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which included historic funding to support public transportation, this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is for two programs that help transit agencies replace old buses, provide good-paying jobs, improve transit affordability and reliability, invest in community health and environmental justice, and contribute to the federal goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.
FTA’s Low or No Emission (Low-No) Program helps transit agencies buy or lease U.S.-built zero-emission and low-emission transit buses along with charging equipment and supporting facilities. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $5.5 billion over five years for the program – more than six times greater than the previous five years of funding. For Fiscal Year 2023, approximately $1.22 billion will be available for grants under this program.
FTA’s Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program supports transit agencies in buying and rehabilitating buses, vans, and related equipment and building bus facilities. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides nearly $2 billion over five years for the program. For Fiscal Year 2023, approximately $469 million for grants will be available. Both programs support buses that reduce air pollution and help meet President Biden’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.
FTA will hold an informational webinar on February 28 from 2:00 PM-3:30 PM Eastern to provide information to potential applicants and to include an interactive Q&A session. Click here to access the webinar. Instructions for applying and eligibility information can be found here for the Low-No Program and here for the Bus and Bus Facilities Program. Complete proposals must be submitted electronically through grants.gov by April 13. For any questions concerning this NOFO, contact ftalownobusnofo@dot.gov.
| |
|
Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies (ARISE)
Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies (ARISE) is a new Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) initiative that aims to drive large-scale, regional economic transformation through multi-state collaborative projects across Appalachia. With the additional funding provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, ARC launched ARISE to strengthen Appalachian business and industry, and to grow and support the development of new opportunities across multiple states.
ARISE encourages the region’s 13 states to think beyond local and state lines and to spearhead initiatives that encourage states to work together as one, united Appalachia to advance ARC’s strategic investment priorities. Applicants must highlight partnerships across multiple states and provide a plan that showcases the economic impact of proposed project as well as how it addresses one or more of ARC’s strategic investment goals:
- Building Appalachian Businesses
- Building Appalachia’s Workforce Ecosystem
- Building Appalachia’s Infrastructure
- Building Regional Culture and Tourism
- Building Community Leaders and Capacity
This Request for Proposals (RFP) includes two types of grants: Planning Grants and Implementation Grants. Project eligibility spans a wide variety of category sectors which includes planning and implementation for transportation, infrastructure, and built environment proposals.
Eligible applicants include local development districts; States, counties, cities, or other political subdivisions of a state; institutions of higher education; and public or nonprofit organizations. Projects must serve and benefit a minimum of two states within a portion of the area served by ARC, which includes certain counties in Tennessee. Concept papers and applications are currently being accepted on a rolling basis. ARC held a series of two webinars, including a pre-application workshop and an event aimed at assisting prospective applicants with developing and designing multi-state partnerships and projects. Click here to access the webinar recordings. Click here to access the full RFP to see concept paper and application requirements, additional eligibility requirements, funding caps and other funding information, and more.
| |
|
U.S. Joint Office Issues Notice of Intent for Ride and Drive Electric Funding Opportunity
The U.S. Joint Office of Energy and Transportation released a Notice of Intent (NOI) to issue a funding opportunity for its Ride and Drive Electric research and development program. This program will help address discrete barriers toward realizing a convenient, accessible, and equitable EV charging network through focused investment in EV charging reliability, resiliency, equity, and workforce development. This funding opportunity aims to advance research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D) in several areas critical to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050, including: reduction of weight and cost of batteries, reduction in life cycle emissions of advanced lightweight materials, reduced costs and advanced technologies for both on- and off-road vehicle charging and infrastructure, innovative public transit solutions, and training to increase deployment of these technologies among diverse communities. Click here to access the full NOI.
| |
|
Coming Soon: FHWA Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program
The Federal Highway Administration’s Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program (CFI Program) is a new competitive grant program created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to strategically deploy publicly accessible electric vehicle charging and alternative fueling infrastructure in the places people live and work – urban and rural areas alike – in addition to along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs). CFI Program investments aim to make modern and sustainable infrastructure accessible to all drivers of electric, hydrogen, propane, and natural gas vehicles.
This program will provide two funding categories of grants: (1) Community Charging and Fueling Grants (Community Program); and (2) Alternative Fuel Corridor Grants (Corridor Program). The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $2.5 billion over five years for this program. This round of funding will open soon, making $700 million from Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023 funding available to strategically deploy EV charging infrastructure and other fueling infrastructure projects in urban and rural communities in publicly accessible locations, including downtown areas and local neighborhoods, particularly in underserved and disadvantaged communities.
Eligible applicants will include States, metropolitan planning organizations, local government, special purpose districts or public authorities with a transportation function, Indian tribes, and U.S. Territories. Click here to see more information including details on the two different funding categories and more detailed project eligibility.
| |
|
Electric Transportation Toolkit for Local Governments
Developed by Electrify the South, a program of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, the Electric Transportation Toolkit aims to assist decision-makers in identifying cost-effective, sustainable, and equitable solutions and successful strategies to accelerate electric transportation. The Toolkit curates best-practice local government EV policies and actions from around the country with links to real-world examples.
The Toolkit covers electrification planning, light-duty municipal fleet deployment, electric bus and medium- and heavy-duty truck deployment, EV charging infrastructure, funding for vehicles and infrastructure, establishment of education and outreach initiatives, economic development, equity considerations, local utility engagement, support of state initiatives, and case studies. Click here to download the full Toolkit.
| |
|
E85 and Propane Fueling Trends Reports
| |
|
Past Monthly Newsletters:
| |
|
|
|
|
