DOE Recognizes Coordinator Accomplishments

Three coordinators were recognized for their outstanding efforts during the Clean Cities leadership retreat at Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the 2007 accolades consisted of Coordinator of the Year, Mentor of the Year, and Apprentice of the Year.

The Coordinator of the Year award recognizes all-around excellence, Mentor of the Year acknowledges coordinator contributions to other coalitions, and Apprentice of the Year recognizes the exceptional efforts of coalitions working toward Clean Cities designation.

Winners were nominated by DOE and chosen based on 2006 performance data and other coalition accomplishments. Clean Cities' Technology Deployment Manager Dennis Smith presented the honors to the 2007 award recipients on Sept. 26.

"With so much talent and dedication amongst our coordinators, choosing three to receive the awards was a tough job," says Smith. "DOE not only recognizes these three individuals' efforts, it celebrates the accomplishments of all its coordinators."

Coordinator of the Year

Sam Spofforth, Clean Fuels Ohio
(Columbus, Ohio)

Sam Spofforth has led Clean Fuels Ohio for seven years and grown his stakeholder membership to more than 100. An active member of the Coordinator Council, Spofforth is known for taking a statewide approach to coalition activities rather that staying within the borders of his Columbus chapter. Accordingly, Spofforth hosts the Cincinnati coalition as a subchapter of Clean Fuels Ohio and mentors other coordinators throughout the state.

Public education is a priority for Spofforth. In 2006, he organized several seminars and outreach events promoting biodiesel to drum up business for the state's 21 B20 sites, conducted teacher seminars at Ohio State University's Center for Automotive Research, and partnered with General Motors to host six flexible fuel vehicle dealer training workshops.

He also played a significant role in convincing grocery giant Kroger and other mainstream retailers to sell E85, growing the number of ethanol stations in Ohio to more than 40. In addition, Spofforth was instrumental in persuading the City of Columbus Sanitation Division and several private fleets to expand their idle reduction efforts.

As a result of Spofforth's endeavors, Clean Fuels Ohio displaced 7.2 million gallons of petroleum in 2006 and received $190,000 in funding for coalition activities.

Mentor of the Year

Tobin Freid, Triangle Clean Cities
(Raleigh-Durham, N.C.)

Tobin Freid has been coordinator of Triangle Clean Cities (TCC) since 2004. A natural mentor, Freid is regarded as a passionate advocate for her fellow North Carolina coalitions and those going through the designation process.

A member of the Coordinator Council, Freid serves as liaison for her neighboring coordinators and their regional Project Management Center (PMC). She also helps organize PMC regional calls by writing agendas, identifying and scheduling guest speakers, planning meeting logistics, and more.

Partnering with fellow state coalitions is a priority for Freid. For example, she teamed with Centralina Clean Fuels Coalition (CCFC) and the North Carolina Solar Center (NCSC) on the Clean Fuels Advanced Technology Program, a $2 million, three-year initiative that provides funding for projects promoting the use of alternative fuels, hybrids, idle reduction equipment, and diesel retrofits using funding from federal and state sources. So far, the program has funded 18 projects throughout the state.

Freid teams with state coalitions to hold public outreach events. In conjunction with CCFC and NCSC, Freid organized the Mobilizing North Carolina conference in Greensboro in April, an event that attracted more than 350 attendees, featured 40 displays, and demonstrated 28 vehicles in a ride-and-drive. In addition, Freid received a National Biodiesel Foundation/DOE grant to conduct three biodiesel quality workshops in partnership with CCFC.

Freid plays an active role in writing alternative fuels-related bills for the State of North Carolina. In 2006, she celebrated the passing of three pieces of legislation: one established the North Carolina Biofuels Center, an effort to grow the state's biofuels industry; the second set up a green business fund to support biofuels infrastructure projects; and the third removed barriers to the home brewing of biodiesel. In addition, she helped pass a mandate that requires 2% of all diesel used in state school buses be B20.

Finally, Freid manages the Southeast Ethanol and Biodiesel Infrastructure Project, a program that will fund 21 E85 and 14 B20 projects in four states over three years.

Apprentice of the Year

Mark Bentley, Alabama Clean Fuels Association
(Birmingham, Ala.)

Mark Bentley leads the Alabama Clean Fuels Association (ACFA), a soon-to-be designated coalition in Birmingham. Since joining ACFA, Bentley has been helping local fleets install alternative fuel infrastructure. His accomplishments include working with Auburn University to obtain B20 to fuel the school's 42 "Tiger Transit" buses, assisting the City of Birmingham with the installation of four B20 stations to support the community's 600 diesel vehicles, playing a role in the building of an E85 site at the State Motor Pool in Montgomery, and helping the Birmingham/Jefferson County Transit Authority install a compressed natural gas public-access station.

To educate the public, Bentley hosted well-publicized grand openings for several of the new fueling sites. These events often featured speeches by local political figures who touted the benefits of alternative fuels.

Also accomplished on Bentley's watch:

• The Alabama Department of Transportation (DOT) Mobile Division began fueling with E85; other DOT divisions will soon follow.
• Mower fleets in Gadsden and Birmingham switched to propane equipment to reduce pollution and petroleum consumption.
• A "grease to biodiesel" program was implemented in Hoover and Montgomery.
• A "clean corridor" project was started in partnership with Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee to provide public access to E85 and B20 along I-65.

Alabama Clean Fuels Association is expected to be designated an official Clean Cities coalition soon.

Central Texas Pushes Propane Mowers and Electric Vehicles

About 100 attendees watched demonstrations and test drove electric utility vehicles (pictured) and propane mowers at a spring event hosted by CTCC. CTCC

This summer, Central Texas Clean Cities (CTCC) launched a new program that promotes the use of electric utility vehicles and propane-powered mowers by Austin-area landscapers and maintenance contractors. The goal of the initiative is to replace gasoline-powered commercial mowers and utility vehicles with those that run on alternative fuels.

According to Stacy Neef, CTCC coordinator, propane mowers are well suited for parks, universities, school campuses, military bases, and businesses because they allow staff to mow on high-ozone days that could normally disrupt regular maintenance schedules in some areas. Commercial propane mowers cost less to operate and reduce the chance of fuel spillage and theft because the propane is containerized. In addition, Neef says electric utility vehicles are beneficial because they have zero emissions, are quiet, cost pennies to refuel and operate, and help mandated fleets meet petroleum reduction targets.

In May 2007, CTCC touted the benefits of this propane and electric equipment at a half-day event it held for landscapers and maintenance contractors and managers. About 100 attendees showed up to learn about alternative fuel technologies, ask questions, and participate in a ride-n-drive showcasing more than 35 vehicles and pieces of equipment. The event was co-sponsored with CTCC stakeholders.

Neef deems the event a success. "As a direct result of maintenance contractors testing the equipment, Camp Mabry National Guard base purchased four electric utility vehicles, Shepherd Air Force Base is demonstrating two electric vehicles, Austin Independent School District purchased six propane mowers, and the City of Austin Parks and Recreation District purchased two propane mowers."

East Tennessee Welcomes First Public E85 Station

On June 6, Knoxville, Tenn.-based Pilot Corp. opened the first public E85 pump in East Tennessee. Located off Interstates 40 and 75 in Knoxville, the pump will be used by the Tennessee Departments of Transportation and Environment and Conservation, area Ford and General Motors dealerships, and local flexible fuel vehicle owners. The E85 is being offered at a lower price than gasoline.

Jonathan Overly, coordinator of the East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition, worked with Pilot on the installation of the new station, which was built using state funds distributed to expand the availability of alternative fuels. According to Overly, sales so far have been good, and the coalition is looking for innovative ways to continue to publicize the availability of E85 in the area.

"Pilot has been a great partner to work with. They've been open-minded to ideas and suggestions and have gone beyond the call of duty to get this station going," says Overly. "They let us provide input on potential locations and are great communicators. We are fortunate to have station owners like Pilot as we move forward in making alternative fuels available to the masses."

With 287 locations in 40 states, Pilot Corp. is the largest operator of travel centers in the United States. The company operates 46 locations in East Tennessee--32 in Knoxville alone. The company has been selling low-level ethanol blends since the 1980s when a local company built an alcohol fuel plant.

Birmingham City Fleet Switches to B20

Birmingham Mayor Bernard Kincaid attended an event to celebrate the May 9 opening of four B20 stations that fuel the city's 600 diesel vehicles. ACFC

The City of Birmingham, Ala., is making moves toward operating a "green" fleet. Its efforts started in early May with the opening of four biodiesel refueling sites that dispense B20 to the city's 600 diesel vehicles.

The fueling sites, which are available for use by all city fleet vehicles, are strategically located north, south, east, and west of central Birmingham to make biodiesel use convenient for fleets--including those with emergency response vehicles.

According to Mark Bentley, executive director of the Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition (ACFC), the fleet has used more than 202,000 gallons of biodiesel since the sites' grand opening on May 9. B20 is obtained locally from Birmingham-based Allied Renewable Energy/Rice Oil Co.

Bentley is currently working on Birmingham's second move toward becoming a green fleet: E85. ACFC is finalizing a grant to provide E85 tanks and pumps at the four B20 fueling sites. When complete, the city's 130 FFVs and other area municipal and university fleets will have access to E85. The majority of the 130 flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) are police vehicles, but the city plans to exceed 480 FFVs by 2010.

New Web Sites Offer Updated, Robust Information

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently unveiled the new-and-improved Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) and Clean Cities Web sites. The redesigned sites feature a new look, streamlined organization, and more robust technical data.

Not only did the roughly 400-page AFDC Web site get a new look, it was renamed to embrace the growth of advanced vehicle and fuel technologies. Accordingly, it is now called the Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center. The well-know acronym for the site--AFDC--however, remains the same.

Look for the following new features on the AFDC Web site.

• Comprehensive sections highlighting alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies: Each major fuel now has a "portal" page that takes users to specific information, including fuel production and distribution, benefits, related publications, stations, and more. These sections also feature color-coded U.S. maps showing details of fueling stations and incentives and laws by state.
• A new section called "Data, Analysis, and Trends:" Users can download charts, graphs, information, and maps showing trends and data related to fuels, vehicles, and other topics.
• A custom query to search for incentives and laws: This new tool allows users to combine results for various states, obtain both federal and state results in one query, and search for specific laws or incentives by type of vehicle, fuel, or application.

"The AFDC has always been the most complete source for unbiased alternative fuel information," says Dennis Smith, Clean Cities technology deployment manager. "Now that it includes data on advanced technologies, such as hybrids and plug-ins, idle reduction equipment, and emerging fuels, it is truly the premiere source for all alternative fuel and advanced vehicle information for consumers, fleets, and program stakeholders."

The Clean Cities site also features updated navigation and information. See the "About the Program" section for details on Clean Cities' goals and accomplishments and "Financial Opportunities" for funding options. In addition, the Coordinator Toolbox was reorganized to make it easier for users to find the information they need to recruit stakeholders, plan and publicize events, and develop presentations.

The AFDC and Clean Cities Web sites fall under DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's FreedomCAR and Vehicle Technologies Program. They were last redesigned in 2004.

Medium-Duty Propane Trucks Now Available

The GMC TopKick is one of two models now available as an LPI medium-duty truck through CleanFUEL USA. The Chevrolet Kodiak is another option. GMC

CleanFUEL USA has teamed up with four companies to introduce a line of liquid propane injection (LPI), medium-duty trucks based on General Motors' (GM) 8.1-liter Vortec gasoline engine. These dedicated alternative fuel vehicles are now available at 20 GM dealerships nationwide.

Interested fleets can get the LPI trucks in two models: the GMC TopKick or the Chevrolet Kodiak. An LPI option is also available in a bus chassis.

The LPI system used in the vehicles replaces the gasoline fuel tank, fuel pump, and fuel injector rails with a pressurized system that delivers propane to the engine ports as a liquid. To operate in the trucks, the engine's vehicle control module (VCM) is reprogrammed to run on liquid propane instead of gasoline. The LPI system controls fuel mixing and keeps the propane from vaporizing before injection.

Propane and E85 equipment manufacturer CleanFUEL USA led the charge to get the medium-duty vehicles on the market. The project involved the efforts of GM, Italian propane manufacturer ICOM, and Monroe Industries. GM supplies the engines--an 8.1-liter gasoline engine that's compatible with gaseous fuels--and the vehicle bodies. ICOM supplies the LPI system, which was jointly developed with CleanFUEL USA, and Monroe installs it, reprograms the VCM, and ships the vehicle to the dealer for buyer pickup.

CleanFUEL expects to have 30 dealers ready to distribute the medium-duty vehicles by the end of the year. The company has already sold 200 vehicles since introducing them a year ago; another 150 are currently on order.

The LPI vehicles cost about $10,000 more than their gasoline counterparts--a $6,000 saving from a comparable diesel truck. Taxable entities are eligible for a tax credit that equals 50% of the incremental cost of the vehicle, plus an additional 30% of the incremental cost for vehicles with near-zero emissions under EPAct 2005's Alternative Fuel Motor Credit. The propane used in the vehicles is also eligible for a $.50/gallon credit (regardless of tax status) under the SAFETEA-LU Volumetric Excise Tax Exemption program.

For further information, visit the CleanFUEL USA Web site, which features a calculator that projects how long it will take to recover vehicle costs with fuel savings. It also includes a list of all the dealers offering the LPI medium-duty trucks.

Limo Company Goes Green

Michael Fadis had been running limo company Kalacor Executive Service for about seven years when, in 2004, a client asked for a ride to a Toyota dealership to see the Prius. The visit got Fadis thinking about a new business venture: green limos.

After conducting an informal survey of his customers, he found that about three-quarters of them wanted to make "green" choices. That was enough for him. Less than a year later, Fadis launched a second company: Green Car Limo, a driver service that transports clients in one of its dozen hybrid electric vehicles (mostly Priuses).

Since starting his new company, Fadis thinks of himself as a "green evangelist" because he's converting his customers to be believers in the high-fuel-efficiency, low-pollution hybrids. He spends about $6,000 per car to outfit them with custom leather, extra soundproofing, and quieter tires and uses professional chauffeurs to drive them. The cars are proving popular with his regular customers, and he's attracting new customers all the time. In fact, Fadis says Green Car Limo is hired for Berkeley-area weddings about once every two weeks.

Fadis credits the "chauffeur-style" driving of his highly trained, largely European drivers with helping reach the high fuel economy the hybrids are capable of, as well as helping make the customers feel like they are still in a limo. His hybrid fleet averages about 47 miles per gallon (mpg), compared to about 18 mpg for his conventional Lincoln and Mercedes sedans and 15 mpg for his stretch limos. The original vehicles have logged 50,000 to 60,000 miles in a year and a half, and Fadis provides regular feedback on their performance to Toyota.

The Green Car Limo fleet is mostly comprised of Priuses but also includes a hybrid Toyota Camry and Lexus sport utility vehicle.

Fadis is currently thinking about expanding Green Car Limo to service New York, Los Angeles, and Shanghai.

Contact: Michael Fadis, 650-593-6323.

DOE Publishes NOPR on Private and Local Fleet Determination

On Sept. 6, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) published a Notice of Propose Rulemaking (NOPR) (PDF 151 KB) on the potential implementation of an alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) acquisition mandate for private and local government fleets.

The NOPR is the second part of a compliance obligation DOE must complete under a March 2006 order handed down by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in response to a lawsuit filed against DOE for its January 2004 decision not to implement an AFV mandate for private and local government fleets.

The new Private and Local Fleet Determination NOPR reflects the revised Replacement Fuel Goal (RFG) (PDF 227 KB), which was issued by DOE in March 2007 and fulfilled its first compliance obligation under the Court order. The RFG extends the EPAct 1992 goal of achieving a production capacity for replacement fuels sufficient to replace 30% of the U.S. motor fuel consumption from 2010 to 2030.

DOE will hold a public workshop on the Private and Local Fleet Determination NOPR on October 17. Submitted comments and all information relating to the NOPR will be posted in a docket on the EPAct Web site.

Clean Cities Annual Metrics Report 2006

This comprehensive report summarizes the 2006 program accomplishments of Clean Cities' almost 90 coalitions. It includes the number of alternative fuel vehicles put on the road; amount of alternative fuels used by stakeholders; gallons of petroleum displaced using idle reduction technologies, fuel efficiency measures, and fuel blends; and more. Read the Annual Metrics Report (PDF 440 KB).

Alternative Fuel Price Report

Published quarterly, the Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report provides a list of current prices of alternative and conventional fuels in the United States. Read the Alternative Fuel Price Report (PDF 498 KB).

What Is Clean Cities?

This four-page fact sheet is updated quarterly and provides an overview of the Clean Cities initiative. The document describes Clean Cities' mission, stakeholders, and portfolio of technologies and provides a current list of coalitions and coordinator contact information. Read What is Clean Cities? (PDF 1.5 MB).