KCFC Members Tour ThomasBuilt

A few KCFC members enjoyed a field trip to HIgh Point, North Carolina recently to tour the ThomasBuilt School Bus manufacturing plant.

Brian Bane (Cummins Crosspoint0, David Huff (LG&E/KU), Marie Burnett (Waste Management), Jeff Jacobs (Eaton), Barry Zink and Frank Lewis (Whayne Power) and Melissa Howell (KCFC), not only toured the manufacturing facility where 33 busses come off the line daily but also got a first hand look at CNG busses bound for California and the solar panels on site that were provided by Duke Energy. Due to growth in production demand, the plant has brought back 250 laid off workers from last year and is hiring an additional 100.

America's Natural Gas Highway Coming to Kentucky Thanks to Clean Energy

Clean Energy will be building a public LNG/CNG refueling site in Walton, Ky. (Flying J's) as part of America’s Natural Gas Highway. They expect to complete the project this summer. The station will feature the latest state-of-the-art technology for natural gas vehicle fueling. They will initially deploy LNG at the station to service big rig heavy-duty trucks. They may add CNG to the station at any time when needed by the market.

Read more about the Clean Energy program - http://www.kentuckycleanfuels.org/resources/naturalgashighway.pdf.

Westport LD Works with Kentucky Ford Truck Plant to Offer Select CNG Trucks

By Lawrence McBride, NGVi Staff 

I recently chatted with Craig Duffy, Fleet Sales Marketing Manager of Westport LD about some good news on the road for Ford pick-up trucks and CNG.   

I understand that Westport LD is working with a certain house-hold name to convert select pick-up trucks to be available to an even wider audience?
Craig: Westport LD is working directly with Ford Motor Company to begin offering compressed natural gas (CNG) bi-fuel power systems.

Can you share what models you’re beginning with?
Ford Super Duty F250/ F350 pick up models. Like Ford, Westport LD will be doing thorough testing (crash, drive-ability, high altitude, steep grade, towing, shaker, hot, cold, EPA and CARB certified emissions) to assure that the durability and reliability of this system matches the Ford product itself. The system (we call it WiNG) will carry the exact warranty as the Ford pickup that it powers and will be installed on vehicles in Louisville, Kentucky, adjacent to the Ford assembly plant. Vehicles will arrive at authorized Ford Dealers on regular Ford transport trucks.

This is kind of exciting, and great for the industry.  Can you tell me how this new option will be executed?
It is exciting. In addition, Westport LD is offering Ford dealers an opportunity to increase their business by selling natural gas powered Ford pick up trucks. This will allow them to sell vehicles to the ever-increasing market demand for vehicles that operate on an alternative fuel.  And compressed natural gas is both less expensive than gasoline and it is domestically produced.  So it’s a real win-win.

For those new to the Westport brand, can you give a brief review of your offering?
Westport Innovations has over 15 years in the gaseous industry, and is the global leader.  Westport Innovations offers solutions in three distinct areas:

• Westport HD, which makes over the road tractor trailer engines
• Cummins-Westport, which is a joint partnership with Cummins, and makes transit bus engines and vocational truck engines, and then
• Westport LD, this new division.

Westport LD’s first offering, the WiNG power system, will be available beginning in the second quarter on the Ford Super Duty F250/F350.  Westport is the only CNG installer that utilizes a ship-thru code.

Units go from the Ford Louisville Truck Plant to the Westport facility, the power system is installed, and then returned to Ford for shipment directly to the ordering dealer.  

We do all the same testing that Ford does, including crash, altitude, hot and cold start, shaker, wind tunnel, and water-fording.  Pricing for the unit is $9,750 MSRP with the standard 18.4 GGE fuel cylinder (an optional 24 GGE tank is available for an additional $1,200).  Our entire business model calls for us to be as close to OEM as possible.

Aside from this innovation, what role does Westport LD intend to play?
Westport LD is inviting Ford Dealers across the country to become a Westport Authorized Distributor to sell and service these vehicles. Each Westport Authorized Distributor will complete specific Sales Training, Service/Parts Training and Facilities Requirements Training, enabling seasoned shops to get the necessary tools to be successful in selling Ford Super Duty pickups equipped with the WiNG power system.
 
How does a Ford Dealer become a Westport Distributor?
To become a distributor:

• A representative from the dealership is required to attend our sales training

• 
  
  

  The next training will be held February 21st in Detroit, MI

  
  
  
  
  

  To help offset the cost, Westport LD will issue a $500 credit toward the cost of the first WiNG power system sold.

  
  
  
  

• Vehicle Service Training is also required, and will be held at the dealership location
• No parts stocking is required, as any necessary parts will be overnighted directly to the dealership
• Some special tools may be required
• Facility upgrades may be required in order to meet Federal laws, and the local fire marshal has the responsibility to confirm that the dealer’s maintenance facility complies with those laws  

 

Is there a specific person an interested dealership should contact to begin the process?
Dealers who are interested should contact me:

Craig Duffy
Fleet Sales Marketing Manager
cduffy@westport.com
(734) 233-6871 (office)
(248) 686-9223 (cell)

UPS No. 1 Shipper on ‘Climate Counts’ Scorecard for Third Year in a Row

For the third year in a row, UPS has earned the top score in the consumer shipping sector on the annual “Climate Counts” scorecard. UPS also shared the 11th highest score across all industries alongside Sony, Nokia and AB Electrolux among 144 ranked companies.

UPS ranked No. 1 in the consumer shipping sector with a score of 80, remaining ahead of competitors Deutsche Post World Net/DHL, the U.S. Postal Service and FedEx, which ranked second, third and fourth, respectively.

Climate Counts, an organization that works to bring consumers and companies together in the fight against global climate change, ranks the world's largest companies based on 21 criteria that focus on measuring and reducing climate impact, corporate support of public policy initiatives on climate change and openness and transparency in reporting.

Climate Counts issues a shopping guide to help consumers “support companies that take climate change seriously and avoid those that don't,” according to the non-profit organization.

“This recognition is significant because Climate Counts rigorously evaluates performance rather than corporate marketing claims,” said Scott Wicker, UPS’s chief sustainability officer. “The Climate Counts shopping guide provides consumers with a signpost for companies that are truly committed to environmentally-responsible business practices.”
           
The Climate Counts ranking is just the latest in a long list of honors for environmental leadership awarded to UPS. Other recent honors include: Highest score in the Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index (tied with three others); No. 1 in the Carbon Disclosure Project S&P 500 and tied with three others in the Global 500; Interbrand Top 50 Best Global Green Brands, and Fortune’s Most Admired Companies list.
           
“UPS’s repeated and consistent top ranking in the shipping segment highlights our efforts to measure, manage and reduce our carbon footprint while offering consumers more choices that support their commitment to the environment,” Wicker added.

The Climate Counts scorecard can be found at http://www.climatecounts.org/. More information about UPS’s sustainability initiatives is available at http://ups.com/responsibility.

KCFC Elects 2012 Officers and Board of Directors

KCFC board members elected the following officers at their December 7 meeting:

2012 Officers
President  - William Jacob, UPS
Vice President - Thomas Clark, Eaton
Secretary  - Len Dunman, Mercer Transportation
Treasurer  - Vic Peek 

The following directors were approved by the membership:

2012 Board of Directors
Jimmy Carter, Ferrellgas 
John Lyons, Kentucky Division of Air Quality
Laura Knoth, Kentucky Corn Growers
Mike Mulheirn, Jefferson County Public Schools
Steve Workman, University of Kentucky
Tim Hughes, Kentucky Department of Energy Development and Independence   
Dickie Turner, Murray State University
Greg Davis, Forever Resorts/Mammoth Cave Hotel
Bob Hook, Bob Hook Chevrolet 
David Huff, LG&E/KU 
Dr. Jagannadh Satyavolu, Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research, University of Louisville
Marie Burnett, Waste Management of Kentucky
Past President Tracey Thurman, Lexington Fayette Urban County Government

Meet Kentucky's Greenest Fleets

 The Pioneer Fleets of the Green Fleets of the Bluegrass Program were announced December 7 at the KCFC Winter Meeting. Each are working to improve the environmental performance of their vehicle fleets by reducing petroleum fuel use:



Breathitt County Board of Education
Jefferson County Public Schools
Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection
Kentucky Division of Fleet Management
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government
Louisville Regional Airport Authority
Mammoth Cave National Park
Mercer Transportation Company
Murray State University
Transit Authority of River City
UPS
Waste Management of Kentucky

Learn more about each Pioneer Fleet Member's fleet greening efforts and the Green Fleets of the Bluegrass Program

The Pioneer Green Fleets members proudly display their certificates.

View photos from the awards ceremony on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/kycleanfuels

Kentucky Companies Benefit from a Portion of $44 Million Advanced Biofuel Bump from USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced in October $44.6 million in payments for 156 advanced biofuel producers across the country to support the production and expansion of advanced biofuels.

"This funding will help local producers increase the production and availability of renewable energy and thus help our nation begin to reduce its reliance on foreign oil," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "Just as importantly, USDA's support will help to further develop the nation's growing biofuels industry and generate green jobs and economic growth."

The funding is being provided through USDA's Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels program, which makes payments to eligible producers to support and ensure the expanding production of advanced biofuels. Payments are based on the amount of biofuels a recipient produces from renewable biomass, other than corn kernel starch. Eligible examples include biofuels derived from cellulose; crop residue; animal, food and yard waste material; biogas (landfill and sewage waste treatment gas); vegetable oil, and animal fat. Through this and other programs, USDA is working to support the research, investment and infrastructure necessary to build a biofuels industry that creates jobs and conserves natural resources across America, officials say.

For example, in Dubuque, IA, Western Dubuque Biodiesel LLC received a $487,871 payment. This biodiesel production facility produces 30 million gallons per year using soybean oil, canola oil and tallow esters as feedstock. And in Kinsale, VA, the Potomac Supply Corporation received a $36,530 payment for producing two types of advanced biofuels: fuel pellets and dry kiln. Both are made from clean pine chips, sawdust and shavings feedstock. The department says the payment to the two facilities helped save a total of 28 jobs.

Kentucky companies that will receive USDA funding:

•     Griffin Industries, Inc.: $86,099.81 for Biofuel From Waste Products.
•     Owensboro Grain Company, LLC: $1,026,463.07 for Biodiesel Trans Esterification.
•     Somerset Hardwood Flooring: $49,449.09 for Pellets.
•     Southern Kentucky Pellet Mill, Inc. : $6,572.64 for Pellets.

For more information, visit the USDA's news release web page.