Clean Cities Funding Opportunity

The DOE Clean Cities Program has posted the Clean Cities Community 

Readiness and Planning for Plug-in Electric Vehicles and Charging 

Infrastructure Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to FedConnect.  

The FOA can be accessed at www.FedConnect.net by using the "Search 

Public Opportunities" button on the home page and searching for 

DE-FOA-0000451.  A button has also been added to the Clean Cities 

homepage (www.cleancities.energy.gov) to assist you in locating this 

information.

President Obama has a goal of putting 1 million advanced technology

vehicles on the road in the United States by 2015. In support of this

goal, and emphasizing electricity as a transportation fuel, this Funding

Opportunity Announcement seeks projects to plan and implement policies,

procedures, and incentives that facilitate that development. The

planning and policy activities will prepare communities for successful

deployment and implementation of plug-in electric drive vehicles.

Overall, this effort will help to decrease the nation's dependence on

petroleum and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by accelerating the

deployment of plug-in electric drive vehicles and electric vehicle

supply equipment (EVSE). This FOA will serve as a pilot program to

stimulate community based electric vehicle infrastructure readiness

planning and implementation activities in anticipation of larger

electric vehicle deployment efforts in the future. It does not address

the broader electric vehicle deployment initiative that was included in

the President's 2011 State of the Union Address and is not the $200M

electric vehicle deployment program included in the President's FY2012

budget request.

The deadline to submit an application is June 13, 2011.

There are several one-time actions you must complete in order to submit

an application in response to this Announcement (e.g., obtain a Dun and

Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number, register with

the Central Contractor Registration (CCR), and register with

Grants.gov). Applicants who are not registered with CCR and Grants.gov

should allow at least 21 days to complete these requirements. It is

suggested that the process be started as soon as possible. Applications 

must be submitted through Grants.gov to be considered for award.  

For more information, use FedConnect and refer to Sol# DE-FOA-0000451.

Also, please note that your DOE Regional PMCs and the DOE HQ Staff will

NOT be able to answer any individual FOA-related questions.  All

questions pertaining to this FOA must be submitted through the official

mechanism described in the FOA so that all potential applicants have

access to any responses provided.

Questions regarding the content of the announcement must be submitted

through the FedConnect portal. You must register with FedConnect to

respond as an interested party to submit questions, and to view

responses to questions.  It is recommended that you register as soon

after release of the FOA as possible to have the benefit of all

responses.  DOE will try to respond to a question within 3 business

days, unless a similar question and answer have already been posted on

the website.

Questions relating to the system requirements or how an application form

works must be directed to Grants.gov at 1-800-518-4726 or

support@grants.gov.

Governor Beshear announces Clean Diesel funding for Louisville Metro Government

Project will reduce emissions of air pollutants in Jefferson County
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Gov. Steve Beshear announced Wednesday that the Kentucky Division for Air Quality has awarded Louisville Metro Government $235,000 to reduce diesel emissions from its waste-hauling fleet. The funds were made available through the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s Diesel Emission Reduction Act.

“I commend Louisville Metro for working to achieve cleaner air in Kentucky’s largest city,” said Gov. Beshear.  “Reducing diesel emissions is a win-win for public health and economic development.”

The project will retrofit 13 refuse haulers with diesel particulate filters (DPFs) and closed crankcase ventilation systems (CCVs), reducing emissions of particulate matter by nearly 90 percent. Particulate matter is linked to increased risk of stroke, heart attack, and other serious health problems.
A diesel particulate filter replaces the muffler of the vehicle, trapping most of the fine particulate pollution before it can escape out the tailpipe.  CCVs reduce emissions from the crankcase into the engine compartment.
"We are excited about this award and the opportunity to take another step toward a more air-friendly fleet," said Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer. "Sanitation trucks are on the roads nearly every day throughout our community, so reducing emissions from these vehicles will benefit us all. Metro Government must set an example when it comes to improving Louisville's air quality, and this project is a big step in the right direction."
Retrofitting waste-hauling equipment generates net benefits for a large number of an area’s inhabitants, as those vehicles travel on a large percentage of the area’s roads.  Waste haulers also make frequent stops and starts, which increase emissions. This combination of DPF and CCV is desirable as it ensures the greatest possible level of emission reductions to the ambient air and is most protective of the vehicle operators’ health.
With an average useful life expectancy of at least 11 years, these trucks will remain in heavy use for many years to come; making the emission reductions achieved by these retrofits a long-term benefit for the community.

Greening Your Fleet Conference - June 8-9

Join the KCFC and the Greater Indiana Clean Cities Coalition for a conference that focuses on alternative transportation fuels and advanced technologies. It will be held at Belterra Resorts in Florence, Ind.

Industry experts from across the country will be on hand for one and one-half days to provide fleet operators with timely, credible information, including best practices for reducing emissions and foreign oil dependency.

"No matter your fleet size or core business, we guarantee you will take away something from your participation that will benefit you in the operation of your fleet." Kellie Walsh, Executive Director, Greater Indiana Clean Cities.

Find out more

UPS Installs Biodiesel Tanks for Ground Support Equipment

UPS installed two biodiesel storage tanks on the Worldport property in Louisville, on Monday, April 11.  The installation was part of UPS’s goal to reduce their carbon footprint 20% by 2020.  Bill Jacob, Vice President of Air Group Ground Support Equipment and Jaime Vincent of the Kentucky Soybean Association were on hand to talk with the media.

The 30,000 and 5,000 gallon tanks will enable UPS to provide biodiesel usage in ground support equipment.

Kentucky Hybrid Diesel/Electric School Buses (Cycle 3) RFA Now Available

The Kentucky Department of Education has received approximately $12.98 million in funding for project proposals from school districts to purchase approximately 213 diesel/electric hybrid school buses. The grant is to achieve maximum dispersal of school buses across the Commonwealth to test the practicality of hybrid technology in all geographic regions and pupil densities as this technology applies to Kentucky. Projects funded through this grant will assist in documenting the effectiveness of this technology for increasing fuel economy without increasing down time for maintenance.

The mission of Kentucky’s Pupil Transportation Program is to support school districts in providing safe and economical transportation for all students. Funds from this grant will support a number of school districts as they provide safe transportation while reducing emissions and lowering fuel consumption.

To access the RFA, click on the link below:
http://www.education.ky.gov/KDE/Administrative+Resources/Grant+Information/Competitive+Grants+from+KDE/

The deadline to submit an application is 4:00 p.m. (EDT) on Wednesday, April 20, 2011.
Questions regarding the Kentucky Hybrid Diesel/Electric School Buses RFA can be directed to Leah Settle in KDE’s Procurement Branch at the following email address: Leah.Settle@education.ky.gov. The deadline to submit questions is 12:00 noon (EDT) on Tuesday, April 12, 2011.

KCFC Members Shine at Mid-America Trucking Show

KCFC members Eaton and Mercer Transportation made a fabulous showing at the 40th Mid-America Trucking Show this week in Louisville, Ky.

Mike Romine. whop represents Eaton's Roadranger System, listens intently to a visitor at the show.

Thomas Clark of Eaton works with Kiley and Kelsey from kyGREENtv as they gather footage and interviews for an internet television special.

Len Dunman of Mercer Transportation works on driver recruitment at the show.

President Visits UPS to Highlight Private Sector Energy Solutions

UPS Becomes Charter Member of National Clean Fleets Partnership

Speaking to a crowd of more than 300 employees and representatives of major American companies at the UPS (NYSE: UPS) facility here, President Barack Obama praised efforts to reduce the environmental impact of corporate trucking fleets, noting the potential of alternative fuel vehicles to lower the nation's dependence on oil and drive savings both from an environmental and business standpoint.
"If you're a business that needs to transport goods, I'm challenging you to replace your old fleet with a clean energy fleet that's not only good for your bottom line, but good for our economy, good for our country and good for our planet," said Obama.

Chairman and CEO Scott Davis welcomed President Obama to UPS, which with its "rolling laboratory" of nearly 2,000 alternative fuel vehicles was chosen to host the event. Pepsi-Frito Lay, Verizon and AT&T also showcased their alternative fuel fleets for the President. Those companies joined UPS and FedEx today in becoming charter members of the National Clean Fleets Partnership.

As members of the partnership, the companies - operators of more than 275,000 vehicles combined- pledged to support the Administration's energy security efforts and to develop new alternative fuel technologies in tandem with the government. The combination of private sector innovation with public sector support is seen as a way to drive efforts to lower America's dependence on foreign oil while growing the domestic economy and contributing a significant cost-savings to companies.

Making the transition to a clean energy economy will help us... in two very important ways," Obama added. "First, it reduces the chance that our families, our businesses and our economy will be held hostage to the whims of the oil market. Second, investments in clean energy have the potential to create an untold number of new jobs and new industries right here in the United States."

During today's event, UPS Chief Sustainability Officer Scott Wicker guided President Obama, Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood on a tour of UPS vehicles, including plug-in all-electric and compressed natural gas trucks. Those technologies make up only a fraction of an alternative fuel fleet that includes hydraulic hybrid, electric hybrid, propane and liquefied natural gas for heavy trucks.

"Though many hurdles still remain and the path to success will not be easy, the sustainable business benefits of alternative fuels cannot be under-emphasized," said Davis. "We must deal with the short-term problems of cost differentials and infrastructure to prepare for our long-term future."

UPS's alternative fuel fleet recently hit a milestone of 200 million miles traveled since 2000 and for the first time, there now are alternative fuel and technology choices for virtually all forms of trucks on the ground. As Wicker noted to President Obama during their tour, there is no one-size-fits-all solution currently available for every situation. Investment in a broad spectrum of choices is vital to ensuring long-term program viability and to making real reductions in foreign petroleum consumption.

Obama's focus on private-public interaction may bode well for companies that approach energy security and sustainability campaigns as a natural part of business planning. Though technologies like liquefied natural gas can help to conquer even the most demanding conditions at a significant cost-savings, government incentives are still important to offset the initial high cost of vehicle and infrastructure investment. Economies of scale will develop over time as demand increases, making it a win-win situation for all parties involved.

On Wednesday, Obama urged Congress and members of the American business community to embrace a series of long-term energy security goals. Obama's strategy is closely aligned with many initiatives already underway at UPS and if achieved, would result in more alternative fuel vehicles on the road as well as additional fuel-efficiency standards.

From the introduction of its first electric vehicles in 1935 to the establishment of the industry's first sustainability report in 2003, UPS has consistently paved a path of innovation and growth potential in the environmental arena. The company pursues a balance of economic prosperity, social responsibility and environmental stewardship. This integrated approach guides the company as it develops strategy, sets goals, measures performance and takes action.