Hybrid School Bus Joins Fleet in Bardstown

(Bardstown, KY) August 23, 2011 - Bardstown Independent Schools in Bardstown, Ky. took delivery of their first new hybrid electric school bus last week, and expect to reap fuel savings benefits throughout the new school year and beyond.

“We want to do our part and help with air quality, and we saw based on some preliminary fuel mileage savings reports how the hybrid bus could be a benefit to us,” says Transportation Director Todd Hood. 

The new bus, manufactured by International Bus, was delivered to Superintendent Brent Holsclaw and other school representatives on Friday.  District bus drivers, mechanics, and first responders were all trained highlighting best operational practices for the hybrid-electric system. 

The bus uses an Eaton Hybrid System, a regenerative system that puts power back into the hybrid battery when the driver applies the brake.  Stop and start routes that generally do not exceed 50 mph provide the best performance for the hybrid system.  Hybrid electric buses already in operation across the state are seeing 30% or greater fuel savings. 

Mr. Hood reports that, as long as the hybrid bus meets district needs, it is likely Bardstown Independent Schools will purchase additional hybrid buses as part of future bus procurement plans.  The new hybrid bus is one of twenty school buses in the district.

Thirty-two school districts across Kentucky currently operate 125 hybrid electric buses. Kentucky is home to the largest hybrid electric school bus fleet in the nation.  Over 200 hybrid buses will be purchased with a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy awarded in December 2009. 

Performance data for these hybrid school buses is being gathered by the Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition, a non-profit organization that administers the grant with the Kentucky Department of Education.

Find data at http://www.kentuckycleanfuels.org/.

Cellulosic Ethanol Plant Planned in Kansas

Abengoa Bioenergy is following through on its commitment to commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol production, having secured a conditional approval for a $133.9 million loan guarantee from the DOE to build a plant in Kansas. The Abengoa Bioenergy project, which will be located in Hugoton, about 90 miles southwest of Dodge City, is expected to convert approximately 300,000 tons of corn stover into 23 million gallons of ethanol per year, using what the company calls an "innovative enzymatic hydrolysis process." The project maximizes the use of agricultural crop residues that would otherwise not be utilized and uses feedstock that does not compete with feed grains. Annually, the project is expected to displace more than 15.5 million gallons of gasoline, avoiding more than 139,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. The facility will be closed-loop, using unconverted biomass to generate 20 megawatts of electricity to power the cellulosic ethanol plant. Abengoa has entered into an ethanol offtake agreement to sell ethanol produced by the facility and expects more than 90% of the project‘s sourced components to be produced in the United States. Company officials say the project will create approximately 300 construction jobs and 65 permanent jobs. The Abengoa announcement follows June plans from DuPont Danisco to build a cellulosic ethanol plant near Nevada, Iowa, and POET's announcement last year to build a 25-million-gallon-per-year facility near Emmitsburg, Iowa.

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport Issues CNG Request

The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport issued a Request for Proposals on Friday August 19th in an initiative to locate public compressed natural gas refueling near the facility. The RFP can be viewed at the address below.

http://www.cvgairport.com/biz/concessions/current.html

LaRue County Schools Notes Significant Savings with Hybrid Buses

Hodgenville, Kentucky - August 10, 2011 – The LaRue County School District continues to see significant savings from the first hybrid electric school bus in the state of Kentucky.

The district took delivery of the state’s first hybrid electric school bus in July, 2010 and has since saved 515 gallons of fuel and about $1500 compared to the traditional diesel powered school bus. 
The hybrid electric system is a regenerative system that puts power back into the hybrid battery system when the driver applies the brake. 

“The bus is used on the hilliest route we have to take advantage of the start and stop braking” says Phil Fulkerson, Director of Transportation & Maintenance for the LaRue  County School District. 
In addition, reduced brake wear, and continued support from ThomasBuilt Buses, Whayne Power Systems, and Eaton – the bus and hybrid system manufacturers – are credited with LaRue’s successful hybrid performance results.

“It makes a lot of sense from my perspective,” says LuRue Superintendent Sam Sanders, “We can be more green, buy less fuel, decrease carbon emissions, and do what we can for future generations.“  Three additional hybrid electric buses have been added to the LaRue fleet.  All are expected to be on the road by the end of September, and Superintendent Sanders is interested in buying more.

Thirty-two school districts across Kentucky currently operate 125 hybrid electric buses.  Kentucky is home to the largest hybrid electric school bus fleet in the nation.

A total of 215 hybrid buses will be purchased with a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy awarded in December 2009.  The Kentucky Department of Education and the Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition, a non - profit organization, administer the grant.

For more information about the program, visit http://www.kentuckycleanfuels.org/resources/hybridhorsepower.htm

Ferrellgas Goes Pink for Breast Cancer Cause

KCFC Board of Directors member Eddie Coleman stands in front of a Ferrellgas truck in downtown Pikeville. The truck has been painted pink to bring awareness to the Susan G. Komen Foundation work toward the fight against breast cancer. Find out more

$610 Million in Grants Available for Energy Projects

Nearly $610 million in current or upcoming funding opportunities for state, local, and tribal governments from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) can be used to support climate and energy initiatives, including energy efficiency, regional planning, and renewable energy. View the list - http://www.kentuckycleanfuels.org/resources/doegrants.pdf

KCFC Takes Part in Leadership Louisville Luncheon

KCFC was well represented today when Lexington Mayor Jim Gray and Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer announced the Bluegrass Economic Advancement Movement. Twelve hundred filled the room including Frank Lewis, Whayne Supply, Merritt Becker, Cummins Crosspoint, Bill Jacob, UPS, Mike Mulheirn, Jefferson County Public Schools, Fred Byrd, U of L/KPPC, Eddie Coleman, Green Fuels Holding, and Tracey Thurman, Lexington Fayette Urban County Government.

 

The BEAM initiative has an 18-month timeframe in which a business plan will be developed with the Brookings Institute highlighting advanced manufacturing and new technologies for the region.

Hybrid School Bus Program Earns National Attention - Again!

KCFC Executive Director Melissa Howell has been invited to present at the 37th Annual National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) Summit Conference & Trade Show, October 22 – October 27, 2011 in Cincinnati, Ohio. She will provide information on the Hybrid Horsepower for Kentucky Schools bus program and the real-world performance data KCFC is collecting. Kentucky has the largest hybrid-electric school bus fleet in the nation and is serving as a model for future school bus fleets.

Kentucky Corn Growers Up the Ante for E85 Pump Installation

The Kentucky Corn Growers Association announced this week that they will be doubling their E85 fuel dispenser incentive to $5000 per pump to any retailer that wants to install the pumps in the state. The goal is to see more E85 ability in more areas of the Commonwealth. (E85 is a 85 percent ethanol/15 percent gasoline fuel blend for flexible fuel vehicles.)

Thorntons has taken full advantage of the program in the last year and a half, installing several dispensers in Louisville and one in Lexington.

"We’re very happy to have partnered with KyCGA," said Thorntons financial analyst Chris O'Bryan. "Our past success is the result of us teaming together to achieve our shared goal of promoting more biofuel in the marketplace."

If you would like more information, please visit http://www.kycorn.org/aboutkycga/ethanolpumps.htm.

New Federal Fuel Economy Standards for Heavy Duty Vehicles

For the first time, heavy-duty vehicles will be subject to federal fuel economy standards. The new Heavy-Duty National Program pertains to medium-and heavy-duty vehicles and engines over 8,500 pounds, including semi trucks, pickup trucks, vans, and buses.

Vehicle model years 2014-2018 will be required to achieve 10-20% reduction in fuel consumption, depending on vehicle type, as well as a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants. After market improvements such as advanced combustion engine systems, fuel-efficient tires, efficient auxiliary power units, and aerodynamic modifications will contribute to fuel economy achievements.

These new heavy-duty standards are part of a multiple phase effort to raise overall fuel economy standards in the transportation sector, and follow recent new requirements for raised fuel economy in passenger cars and light-duty vehicles.