DOE to award $11M to 20 new Clean Cities projects for alt fuel cars and trucks
20 November 2012
The US Department of Energy (DOE) is http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/progress_alerts.cfm/pa_id=807 about $11 million to 20 new projects to help states and local governments to develop the infrastructure, training, and regional planning needed to help meet the demand for alternative fuel cars and trucks, including vehicles that run on natural gas, electricity, and propane.
Through the Department’s Clean Cities initiative, these projects address a range of community infrastructure and training needs, such as providing safety and technical training for fleet operators, mechanics, first responders, and code officials; streamlining permitting and procurement processes; and helping public and private fleets integrate petroleum reduction strategies into their operations. Projects include:
| AWARD TABLE | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Project lead | Description | Funding | ||||
| American Lung Association in Minnesota | The Accelerating Alternatives for Minnesota Drivers project will provide safety and technical assistance and training related to Plug-in Vehicle (PEV) and natural gas fueling infrastructure; establish the Minnesota Natural Gas Vehicle Workgroup and create a strategic plan for statewide natural gas vehicle implementation; establish a Minnesota green fleet recognition program; and create the DriveElectricMN.org website as an online resource for electric vehicle (EV) users (and potential EV users) in Minnesota. | $248,788 | ||||
| Bay Area Air Quality Management District | The California Fleets and Workplace Alternative Fuels Project is a statewide effort to develop templates and best practices for permitting AFV refueling infrastructure, collaborate with colleges on first responder training, promote workplace EV charging, and work with fleets to implement petroleum reduction strategies. | $1,000,000 | ||||
| Center for Transportation and the Environment (Atlanta) | The Southeast Regional Alternative Fuels Market Initiatives Program, which includes Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and Tennessee, will provide first responder and vehicle maintenance technician training; develop Alternative Fuels Readiness Workbooks to guide alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) deployment readiness; assist municipalities with AFV readiness; and create and provide procurement policies and incentive models. | $500,000 | ||||
| City of Austin, Austin Energy | The Central Texas Fuel Independence Project will expand an interagency agreement to include alternative fueling infrastructure procurement; deliver electricity and natural gas vehicle safety training; host electric vehicle and natural gas workshops to educate potential fleet users in the Austin and San Antonio region; and hold training seminars regarding multifamily housing and workplace electric vehicle charging. | $500,000 | ||||
| Clean Energy Coalition | The Michigan Fuel Forward project will work with a wide range of partners to convene an Alt-Fuel Task Force; include alternative fuels in regional and state transportation plans; recommend changes to codes, regulations, and permitting; develop alternative fuel signage; help public and private fleets evaluate AFV options; and partner with community colleges to train Michigan's first responders, mechanics, and electricians. | $500,000 | ||||
| Clean Fuels Ohio | The Fast Track to Ohio AFV Adoption project will streamline local and state processes for alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) procurement; incorporate AFVs into local Transportation Improvement Programs (TIPs); create a compressed natural gas (CNG) cylinder tracking system and Renewable Natural Gas Credit Purchase system; deliver technical and safety workshops on various fuels; and expand the Ohio Green Fleets program and the Ohio Natural Gas Vehicle and Propane Partnerships. | $499,918 | ||||
| Colorado Energy Office | The project REFUEL COLORADO, A Roadmap to Increase Alternative Fuel Use in Colorado will work to add alternative fuel vehicles to State Purchasing Agreements; train and deploy Energy Coaches who will work directly with public and private fleets to assess and successfully implement opportunities for alternative fuel vehicle use; conduct an audit of the State fleet to identify options for alternative fuel vehicle use; and create a stakeholder-driven policy and regulatory roadmap for alternative fuels in Colorado. | $500,000 | ||||
| Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission | The Pennsylvania Partnership for Promoting Natural Gas Vehicles project will provide education and outreach to municipal and school district decision-makers to encourage the procurement and retrofitting of natural gas-fueled school buses and solid waste collection vehicles and develop a strategic plan for natural gas vehicle and infrastructure inspection training. | $319,038 | ||||
| Gas Technology Institute | The Lake Michigan Corridor Alternative Fuel Implementation Initiative, which includes Southeastern Wisconsin, greater Chicago and Northern Indiana, will work to make existing municipal fueling stations available to other fleets; create vehicle conversion inspection criteria; and train and educate fuel retailers, first responders, vehicle mechanics, code officials, measurement agencies, and fleet operators. | $764,266 | ||||
| Greater Portland Council of Governments | The project Removing Barriers, Implementing Policies and Advancing Alternative Fuels Markets in New England will work to diversify the availability of transportation fuels across Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Project activities include: harmonizing alternative fuel vehicle permitting, regulations and safety protocols between northern New England states; evaluating regulations that inhibit the use of alternative fuels; and coordinating standards for fuel quality assessment and labeling. | $725,703 | ||||
| Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition, Inc. | The Advancing Alternative Fuel Markets Adoption and Growth project in the District of Columbia, Maryland and northern Virginia will develop recommendations for uniform fire and building codes for alternative fueling infrastructure; establish signage for each alternative fuel that is uniform across the project region; conduct workshops and webinars to disseminate alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) information to fleets; and provide a platform for sharing of best practices among AFV users and potential users. | $500,000 | ||||
| Houston-Galveston Area Council | The Recipe for Fueling Diversity in the Energy Capitol of the World project will work to expand access to natural gas, propane and biodiesel transportation fuels across the eight-county Houston-Galveston area. Key activities of the project include: conducting an assessment of current alternative fueling infrastructure in the region and creating a plan for increasing the future infrastructure to meet demand; incorporating planning for alternative fuel vehicles into the Transportation Improvement Program and State Implementation Plan; and creating a program with the region’s community colleges to train fleet managers and mechanics, first responders, and permitting and code officials. | $500,000 | ||||
| INCOG Tulsa Area Clean Cities | The I-40 Collaboration of Clean Cities, a partnership across Arkansas and Oklahoma, will recommend building codes to accommodate alternative fueling stations; create a guide for building compressed natural gas and propane alternative fueling infrastructure and electric vehicle charging installation; and develop and conduct training programs regarding alternative fuel vehicle conversions, equipment safety, and fueling infrastructure inspection. | $750,000 | ||||
| Metropolitan Energy Center, Inc. | The Mid-America Collaborative for Alternative Fuels Implementation project will focus diversifying transportation fuel options in Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and Missouri. These efforts include: developing an alternative fuel policy model; recommending an AFV procurement policy and best practices toolbox; safety and operations training for first responders, fleet managers, code officials, fire marshals, and key decision makers; vocational training at local colleges and technical schools; and establishing a Green Fleet Technical Assistance and Certification program. | $815,000 | ||||
| National Association of State Energy Officials | The Unlocking Private Sector Financing for Alternative Fuel Vehicles and Fueling Infrastructure project will produce comprehensive state energy planning guidelines to support alternative fuel vehicle and infrastructure use; produce a technical reference manual for utilities and policy makers to evaluate electric vehicle charging; and provide outreach to state energy officials regarding the benefits of alternative fuel use. | $500,000 | ||||
| New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, Energy Conservation and Management Division | The Advancing New Mexico’s Alternative Fuels project will work with the Governor’s office and other appropriate entities to address alternative fuel vehicle road signage issues; provide recommendations to streamline alternative fuel infrastructure construction regulations, including zoning, codes and permitting restrictions; help fleets across the state develop petroleum reduction plans; and expand compressed natural gas and propane vehicle safety and training initiatives. | $500,000 | ||||
| North Carolina State University, North Carolina Solar Center | The Alternative Fuel Implementation Team (AFIT) for North Carolina project will develop petroleum reduction toolkits for fleets; collaborate with neighboring states on uniform road signage to indicate alternative fuel availability; and disseminate best practices among potential fleets and alternative fuel vehicle users by hosting a Southeastern alternative fuels symposium. | $500,000 | ||||
| North Central Texas Council of Governments | The Moving North Texas Forward by Addressing Alternative Fuel Barriers project will focus on educating policy-makers; updating the State Implementation Plan (SIP); creating an alternative fuel vehicle parking program; holding fuel-specific deployment workshops and first responder training; educating fleet managers, decision makers, businesses and schools about alternative fuels and advanced technology vehicles; and developing a fleet recognition program. | $500,000 | ||||
| University of Central Florida | The Advancing Alternative Fuel Markets in Florida project will develop model codes, ordinances, purchasing guidelines and incentives; conduct safety and training programs for first responders, service technicians, mechanics, code officials, fleet managers, and key decision makers; and develop a strategic plan for the coordinated deployment of alternative fueling infrastructure across Florida. | $500,000 | ||||
| Wisconsin Department of Administration, State Energy Office | Forwarding Wisconsin’s Fuel Choice will expand highway road signage to include available alternative fueling stations; work with the Wisconsin Technical College System to offer training for first responders, public safety officers, and permitting officials; and assist public fleets in developing and implementing petroleum reduction strategies and policies. | $500,000 | ||||
Since 1993, the Energy Department's Clean Cities initiative has supported community-led efforts to deploy vehicle and infrastructure technologies across a broad portfolio of alternative fuels from biofuels and natural gas to propane and electricity.
less pollution, less oil
Posted by: SJC | 23 November 2012 at 03:50 PM
To level the playing field, international free trade agreements should impose what hand outs, credits, loans etc can be given to the local industries.
Financial assistance should be limited to international loans at a standard interest rate (2%...?) for xx years. Industries who received more should not be allowed to export their products.
Posted by: HarveyD | 25 November 2012 at 07:38 AM