What’s New
Get a First-Hand Look at Alternative Fuel Vehicles at June 13 Green Fleets Vehicle Showcase
4 years
$40 million in investments
495 vehicles
61 alternative fuel stations
Clean Energy Coalition believes that local actions can drive us into a cleaner transportation era… A nation less reliant on imported oil… A secure and vibrant vehicle future powered by various types of clean, domestic energy sources.
Clean Energy Coalition’s Green Fleets program – funded by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act – has brought together a diverse cross-section of Michigan fleets to deploy alternative fuel and advanced vehicles and supporting infrastructure to work toward these goals.
Join us at Henry Ford Community College to see the vehicles that are operating as a result of Green Fleets. Learn about fleet experiences and the statewide impact that this program has made on growing the use of clean-fueled vehicles.
Protected: Discounted E85 Fuel Available May 22 As Three Metro Detroit Area Gas Stations Officially Open New Ethanol Pumps
Clean Energy Outlet Product of the Month: Eton FRX3 Radio
Severe weather can strike anytime, particularly during the warm summer months. Be prepared wherever you are with May’s Clean Energy Outlet product of the month, Eton FRX3 radio.
This stylish, functional radio receives AM/FM signals and all seven NOAA weather bands. With the alert function activated, the radio will automatically broadcast emergency weather alerts for your area such as severe storms and tornadoes.
No batteries? No problem. This radio can be powered using the hand crank or the sun’s energy using its small solar panel. (AAA batteries also work, and a DC adapter is included as well.)
The radio also functions as a smartphone charger, thanks to the USB port. Simply plug in your phone and it charges automatically, just like plugging it into the wall.
Through May 31, use the coupon code MAYNEWS10 and take 10% off all purchases at the Clean Energy Outlet online store – including this radio.
Every Clean Energy Outlet purchase benefits Clean Energy Coalition and supports the work we’re doing to promote clean energy and reduce the use of fossil fuels.
City of Riverview, Michigan Will Power Vehicles with Renewable Natural Gas
Scheduled for startup in early May 2013, the City of Riverview, Michigan’s Riverview Land Preserve will convert about 100 standard cubic feet per minute of excess landfill gas into about 500 gallons of gasoline equivalent of compressed natural gas (CNG). This new vehicle fueling system is in addition to the existing 6.4 MW landfill-gas-to-energy plant already on site, which produces enough energy to power nearly 4,000 homes (data based on the EPA’s LFG Energy Benefits Calculator).
BioCNG, LLC, is part of a team that is assisting with the development of a BioCNG™ alternative vehicle fuel system for the Riverview site. The City is using the patent pending BioCNG vehicle fuel system to convert a portion of landfill gas into CNG, which will be used to fuel City vehicles. Cornerstone Environmental Group, LLC was the City’s engineer for this work.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, landfills are the third-largest source of human-related methane emissions in the United States. Landfills often flare off these emissions; but in Riverview’s case, the gas will be refined for pipline distribution, increasing the proportion of methane and decreasing the proportion of carbon dioxide and contaminants through absorption, adsorption, membrane separation, or cryogenic separation. Using an EPA emissions calculator developed specifically for projects like this one, 100 standard cubic feet per minute will yield a reduction of 1,372 tons of annual CO2 emissions, the equivelant of 1.3M gallons of gasoline or heating for 340 homes.
The BioCNG system will initally be used to fuel two City pick-up trucks and at least one articulated dump truck, with three or four new dual-fuel pickup trucks to be added next fiscal year. The City also hopes to convert the majority of its fleet including its police interceptors to CNG vehicles. Eventually, the City will make the fuel available to neighboring communities and the landfill’s commercial customers.
Robert Bobeck, director of the Riverview Land Preserve, said, “The City is excited about using our resource to provide the same level of service at lower cost to our citizens, and in a greener fashion.”
DTE Energy Announces New CNG Price Structure for Michigan Fleets
On Monday, April 22, DTE Energy announced volume discount pricing for compressed natural gas (CNG) at all of its public fueling stations in Michigan.
Through the end of 2014, Michigan fleets that purchase more than 25,000 gallons of CNG annually will receive the discount. At the lowest tier pricing (more than 100,000 gallons), fleets will pay $1.75 per GGE, more than $2 less than the current average retail price of diesel per gallon in Michigan.
For more information, please contact:
Mary Weston
DTE Energy
616-299-6686
westonm@dteenergy.com
Robert Bacyinski
DTE Energy
313-608-1463
bacyinskir@dteenergy.com
Alternative Clean Transportation Expo to Celebrate 20th Anniversary of Clean Cities
With a move to the Washington, DC, the 2013 Alternative Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo will help commemorate the 20th anniversary of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities program. The expo takes place June 24-27 at Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
This annual event is North America’s largest alternative fuels and advanced clean vehicles conference and expo — representing electric, hybrid, hydrogen, natural gas, propane autogas, and renewable fuels.
ACT Expo brings together more than 3,000 stakeholders — Clean Cities coalitions, public and private fleets, technology companies, OEMs, fuel providers, infrastructure developers, and policymakers — for a real world look at the exciting and rapidly evolving clean transportation industry.
Now in its third year, ACT Expo provides strong educational content, hands-on access to new technologies, and valuable networking opportunities to progressive transportation professionals worldwide.
Free Expo Hall Pass
As an Endorsing Organization for the event, Clean Energy Coalition is offering supporters and email subscribers a free expo hall pass to the event. To redeem this offer, simply complete the linked form and bring it with you to the event – no advance registration is required.
Clean Cities Question of the Month: CAFE Standards and New EPA Tier 3 Emissions and Fuel Standards
Question of the Month: What are the federal emissions and fuel economy standards for current and future on-road vehicles? Have any related emissions and fuel regulations been passed recently?
Answer: Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards and the associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards set requirements for new light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicle models with the goal of improving the overall fuel efficiency and environmental impact. Fuel economy standards for light-duty vehicles were introduced in the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) of 1975; regulations were established for on-road vehicles beginning with Model Year (MY) 1978. EPCA grants the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) the authority to regulate CAFE standards, with the requirement that new standards may not be proposed more than five model years at a time.
In 2010, NHTSA partnered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue the first joint program that includes both fuel economy requirements under NHTSA’s CAFE program and emissions standards under EPA’s GHG emissions program. Starting with MY 2012 vehicles, manufacturers are required to improve fleet-wide fuel economy and reduce fleet-wide GHG emissions by approximately 5% each year. By 2016, vehicles must meet an estimated combined average emissions level of no more than 250 grams of carbon dioxide per mile. If the industry met this carbon dioxide standard solely through fuel economy improvements, vehicles would have an average fuel economy of 35.5 miles per gallon (mpg). For more information, see the EPA fact sheet.
NHTSA and EPA established the CAFE and GHG emissions standards for MY 2017 through MY 2025 passenger cars and light-duty trucks in 2012 in two phases, which are broken down as follows:
| Model Years | Average Fleet-Wide Fuel Economy |
|
| Phase 1 | MY 2017- MY 2021 |
40.3-41.0 mpg (by MY 2021) |
| Phase 2* | MY 2022- MY 2025 |
48.7-49.7 mpg (by MY 2025) |
*Proposed, pending final rule
For more information, refer to the EPA fact sheet.
In 2011, NHTSA and EPA set the first-ever standards to reduce GHG emissions and improve fuel efficiency of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 10,000 pounds). The standards cover MY 2014 through MY 2018 on-road vehicles and are tailored to each of three main regulatory subcategories:
- Combination tractors (also known as semi trucks)
- Heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans
- Vocational vehicles (such as delivery, refuse, and tow trucks; transit, shuttle, and school buses; and emergency vehicles)
The requirements provide flexibility through an emissions and fuel consumption credit system to help reduce the overall costs of the program and to allow manufacturers time to make necessary technological improvements.
For more information on fuel economy and GHG emissions standards, refer to the NHTSA CAFE – Fuel Economy, EPA Transportation and Climate, and FuelEconomy.gov websites.
On March 29, 2013, EPA announced their Tier 3 Vehicle Emission and Fuel Standards Program, which includes more stringent tailpipe emissions standards for non-methane organic gas (NMOG), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter (PM); more stringent evaporative vehicle emissions; and lower sulfur content of gasoline. This proposal aligns vehicle standards with the GHG emissions standards outlined above, as well as the California Low Emission Vehicle Program, allowing automakers to sell the same vehicle models in every state. The standards would apply to light-duty trucks, medium-duty passenger vehicles, and some heavy-duty vehicles and include different phase-in schedules based on vehicle class from MY 2017 to MY 2025. The proposed gasoline sulfur standard would make emission control systems more effective for both existing and new vehicles. For more information, refer to the proposed rule and the EPA Tier 3 Vehicle Emission and Fuel Standards Program website.
For more up-to-date information about federal and state vehicle standards, refer to the Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) Federal Incentives and Laws website.
Source: Clean Cities Technical Response Service Team, technicalresponse@icfi.com, (800) 254-6735
Ann Arbor Celebrates Earth Day at Annual Festival
On Sunday, April 21, more than 3,600 Ann Arbor community members gathered at Leslie Science & Nature Center to celebrate our natural environment at the 2013 Earth Day Festival.
Clean Energy Coalition coordinated a tent at the event, assembling a collection of exhibitors to showcase clean energy resources and ways to reduce energy use. Exhibitors included:
- a2energy/City of Ann Arbor Energy Office
- Ann Arbor Automotive
- Ann Arbor Transit Authority and get Downtown
- Appropriate Technology Collaborative
- Architectural Resource
- Cardea Construction Company
- Current Motor
- Dunning Toyota
- Renewal by Andersen
Clean Energy Coalition exhibited at the festival as well and spoke to area residents about the bike sharing program, slated to launch in Spring 2014, we’re creating in conjunction with City of Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, AATA, and Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority.
In collaboration with Recycle Ann Arbor, Earth Day Festival was a zero waste awareness event. Exhibitors and food vendors were encouraged to only distribute materials that were locally recyclable, compostable, or reusable. 92% of the waste from the event was diverted from the landfill.
Thanks to everyone who attended 2013 Earth Day Festival. See you next year!
Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.
Apply Now for Program Director Position
Clean Energy Coalition is hiring!
We’re seeking someone to fill the Program Director role, which is a senior leadership position with responsibility for the management and oversight of program supervisors, project managers, project associates, part-time interns, and volunteers, as well as responsibility for the direct management of identified projects as needed.
This leader will assist team members in the development and implementation of building- and transportation-related clean energy projects and programs.
Please see the linked position description for details and information on how to apply.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore to Deploy Alternative Fuel Vehicles This Summer
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is teaming up with Clean Energy Coalition to reduce the environmental impact of its fleet by about 15% and share information about alternative fuels and fuel-efficient driving habits with the 1.3 million visitors who visit the national park each year.
Sleeping Bear Dunes will deploy three Chevrolet Volt plug-in electric vehicles, two liquefied petroleum gas-fueled pick-up trucks, and four electric vehicle charging stations. The park will also implement a public awareness campaign to communicate fuel-efficient driving behaviors to park visitors and staff. These measures will reduce the environmental impact of the national park’s fleet and encourage visitors to reduce the environmental impact of their own vehicles.
Clean Energy Coalition and Sleeping Bear Dunes staff will review new materials developed by the U.S. Department of Energy and National Park Service before they are introduced to parks across the country. This “Green Rides Toolkit,” developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, will support training and outreach programs to educate staff, concessioners, volunteers, and visitors about the benefits of alternative fuel vehicles, as well as idle reduction and other efficient driving habits.
“This project is an important step toward using alternative fuel technologies in our fleet and complements our plan to become a Climate Friendly Park by reducing our impact on the environment and operating more efficiently,” said National Lakeshore Superintendent Dusty Shultz. “Our new alternative fuel vehicles will emit fewer greenhouse gases, reducing air pollution and helping preserve the park’s natural environment.”
The partnership is made possible through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities National Parks Initiative, which was developed to demonstrate how technologies and expertise from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities program can help complement the mission of the National Park Service, promoting the use and enjoyment of national parks while preserving natural and historic resources. Clean Energy Coalition manages three Clean Cities coalitions in Michigan: Ann Arbor, Detroit Area, and West Michigan.
