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| Technical Assistance, Incentives, and Funding Opportunities:
Upcoming Events and Activities:
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| Better Fuel Resiliency: Summer Blend Fuel Requirement Relaxed for Middle Tennessee EPA published a final rule on June 7, 2017 (82 FR 26354) that relaxed the 7.8 psi federal Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) requirement for Nashville (Middle Tennessee counties of Davidson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson, and Wilson Counties). The final rule approves the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s (TDEC) request to change the summertime gasoline RVP standard for Middle Tennessee from 7.8 psi to 9.0 psi. Previously, these counties were required to use 7.8 psi gasoline from June 1 to September 15 as part of an EPA-approved maintenance plan for Middle Tennessee to meet the 1997 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). Similar relaxations have been approved for cities in Alabama, North Carolina, Florida, and Louisiana. TDEC Air Pollution Control successfully demonstrated that relaxing the standard to 9.0 psi would not interfere with the air quality in Middle Tennessee. In the final rule, EPA states: EPA evaluated the impacts on air quality associated with the change in RVP requirements and determined that any such impacts will not interfere with attainment or maintenance of any NAAQS or with any other applicable requirement of the Clean Air Act (82 FR 11517, 11520-11522, Feb. 24, 2017). What this action means: Effective June 7, 2017, these counties are no longer subject to the 7.8 psi federal volatility requirement to use the 7.8 psi as the summer blend gasoline from the period of June 1 to September 15. What this means for you: Improved fuel security for Tennessee The change to 7.8 psi summer blend fuel in mid-May and then back to 9.0 psi in mid-September created vulnerability in the fuel supply chain for Nashville. The last two major fuel shortages in Nashville in 2008 and 2016 both occurred during September when inventories were lower than normal due to the need to deplete the summer blend stock. With this change, Nashville is more resilient to disruptions to its fuel supply. “With this final rulemaking, the gasoline sold in the Middle Tennessee Area can be identical to the fuel sold now in most of the rest of Tennessee. For motorists, the change in summertime gasoline volatility specifications will be virtually unnoticed,” said U.S. EPA in their official Regulatory Announcement on Relaxing the Standard: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2017-06/documents/420f17011.pdf
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| Organizations to Bring New Bike Share Program to Memphis On June 9, Memphis-based Explore Bike Share announced that they have partnered with B-Cycle and plan to bring 600 bikes to the City of Memphis, creating the largest bike share system of its kind in the nation. B-Cycle currently operates 1,250 bike share stations and over 10,000 bikes in 43 communities. For more information, click here.
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| Road Rally across America Stops in Dickson and Knoxville From June 5-16, the National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) sponsored a Road Rally Across America along with NGVAmerica, the American Public Gas Association, and the American Gas Association. The second annual From Sea-to-Shining-Sea NGV Rally highlighted the variety of vehicles available today operating on compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), and renewable natural gas (RNG). This year’s 18-stop, 4,825 mile journey started in Long Beach, California, and concluded in Washington, DC. Within Tennessee, the rally stopped at the Greater Dickson Gas Authority’s CNG station in Dickson as well as at the Knoxville Utilities Board’s newly opened CNG station in Knoxville. For more information on the rally, click here.
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| Tesla Charging Stations Installed in Bristol
The Pinnacle retail development, off Interstate 81’s Exit 74 in Bristol, has teamed up with Tesla to open eight individual Supercharger stations for Tesla drivers. The stations are Tesla’s first to open in the area. For more information on the new stations, click here.
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| TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, INCENTIVES, AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
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| The Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) program focuses on funding transportation projects or programs that will contribute to the attainment or maintenance of National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter (both PM2.5 AND PM10). The CMAQ program supports two main goals of the U.S DOT: improving air quality and relieving congestion. On June 15, TDOT released the 2017 RFP for CMAQ competitive funding. Applications may be submitted by government entities, nonprofit organizations and for-profit companies located and operating in Tennessee air quality non-attainment and/or maintenance areas. Projects must be transportation projects that have an emissions reduction benefit and must be located in (or benefit) either a non-attainment or maintenance area. Letters of intent are due by July 21 and full proposals are due by August 25. For more information and to view the 2017 RFP, click here.
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| The Green Fleet Awards by 100 Best Fleets recognize the top green fleets in America each year. The Government Green Fleet Award is open to all federal, state, and local government fleets in North America, whereas the Commercial Green Fleet Award is open to all commercial fleets in North America. Fleets are evaluated based on a comprehensive set of criteria and categories including fleet composition, fuel and emissions, policy and planning, fleet utilization, education, executive and employee involvement, and supporting programs. Applications for 2017 awards are due by August 21. For more information and to apply, click here.
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| PERC Expands Propane Autogas Nozzle Incentive
The Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) is expanding its Quick-Connect Nozzle Incentive Program availability to fleets and doubling the incentive amounts for applicants, effective immediately through the end of June. Private fleets and public refueling stations are now eligible to apply for the incentive program, which will provide $100 per tank-side connector and $1,000 per hose-end connector. Unlike older nozzle designs, quick-connect nozzles can be operated with one hand and do not require the user to wear protective eyewear or gloves, making the experience much like a conventional fuel nozzle. For more information and to apply for the incentive, click here.
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| TRB Funding for Transit Innovators
The Transportation Research Board (TRB) is accepting proposals for the Transit Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) Program. The Transit IDEA Program provides financial support of up to $100,000 for the early stage development and testing of innovative and unproven concepts and methods for advancing transit practice. The due date for submitting Transit IDEA proposals is November 1. For more information and to view the full funding opportunity announcement, click here.
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| UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
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| ETCF Coalition Meeting in Sevierville
On July 13 at 12:00 pm Eastern, the East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition will host a coalition meeting at the Sevier County Utility District (SCUD) office in Sevierville. The meeting will include discussion of funding opportunities and alternative fuel vehicle projects around the State. The meeting will also include a tour of SCUD’s CNG station and vehicle maintenance facility. Lunch will be provided, courtesy of Sevier County Utility District. Please RSVP by July 10. To RSVP, email Melissa Goldberg at Melissa@etcleanfuels.org.
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| Webinar: What's New in the Alternative Fuel Life-Cycle Environmental and Economic Transportation (AFLEET) Tool
On July 25 at 2:00 pm Eastern, Andrew Burnham from Argonne National Laboratory will discuss updates to the AFLEET Tool, including the addition of idle reduction, renewable diesel, and low-NOx alternative fuel vehicle engines to the tool. The AFLEET Tool allows stakeholders to estimate the environmental and economic impacts of alternative fuel vehicles. To access the AFLEET Tool spreadsheet and user manual, click here. To register for the webinar, click here.
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| Southeast Greenways and Trails Summit
The East Coast Greenway Alliance will hold its first-ever Southeast Greenways & Trails Summit in Durham, North Carolina, on October 1-3. The Summit will bring together transportation planners, elected officials, trail and public health advocates, and others who are working to improve active bicycle and pedestrian networks. For more information and to register, click here.
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| Sustainable Fleet Technology Conference and Expo
The Sustainable Fleet Technology Conference showcases the latest and greatest in advanced vehicles, fuels, and technologies. The conference, which will be held from October 11-13 at the Raleigh Convention Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, is a source of on-the-ground experience for increasing fleet efficiency and sustainability, while reducing emissions and costs. For more information and to register, click here.
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| Scrap to Profit Conference
The seventh "Scrap to Profit" conference, an initiative co-sponsored and hosted by the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA), will be held on October 25-26 in Nashville. Innovation to drive new and improved scrap tire markets will be a key theme for the conference, which is also supported by the Scrap Tire Research and Education Foundation (STREF), and TDEC’s Office of Sustainable Practices and Division of Solid Waste Management. For more information and to register, click here.
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| Global Street Design Guide
The Global Street Design Guide by the Global Designing Cities Initiative is a resource that aims to set a global baseline for designing streets and public spaces while redefining the role of streets in a rapidly urbanizing world. The Guide broadens how to measure the success of urban streets to include access, safety and mobility for all users, environmental quality, economic benefit, public health, and overall quality of life. For more information and to access the Guide, click here.
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| Archived Webinar: Measuring and Visualizing Multimodal Networks
Measuring bicycle and pedestrian connectivity can help transportation agencies identify projects and strategies to build connected networks, close key gaps, and make bicycling and walking safer and more attractive transportation options. On May 17, the Pedestrian Bicycle Information Center (PBIC) hosted a webinar on measuring and visualizing multimodal networks. During the webinar, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) staff members presented early findings and examples from a guidebook that FHWA is producing to help transportation agencies select connectivity measures based on the data and technical tools available, the scale of the analysis, and the point in the planning process at which measures are applied. A recording of the webinar as well as a copy of the presentation slides can be accessed here.
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| Report on Transforming the Urban Space through Transit-Oriented Development
The World Bank recently released a report that develops a methodology called the 3 Value Framework, which outlines a typology to facilitate transit-oriented development implementation at the metropolitan and urban scale in various contexts. The report provides examples of approaches taken by cities to align their economic, land use, and transport planning to generate jobs and high value. For more information and to access the report, click here.
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| Adopting and Adapting: Report on States and Automated Vehicle Policy
The Eno Center for Transportation has recently released a report that provides guidance on how states could prepare for an automated vehicle future by adapting their approach to regulations, infrastructure investment and funding, and research and workforce training. The report seeks to understand the current state of the industry, review existing and pending policies, and create actionable recommendations for states around the country. To access the report, click here.
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| Report on Jobs Supported by Fuel Economy Standards
Over 288,000 American workers are employed building technologies for the auto industry to reduce pollution and improve gas mileage, according to a new report from the Natural Resources Defense Council. The report finds that these Americans are employed in 1,200 manufacturing and engineering facilities across 48 states to build the technologies that help automakers meet vehicle fuel efficiency standards. The report also highlights that emissions standards save consumers money (more than $36 billion since 2012) in addition to reducing air pollution. American drivers are expected to further save over a trillion dollars in fuel cost over the lives of vehicles made under the current standards, which extend to 2025. For more information and to access the report, click here.
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