June 2016 Edition EV Roadmap Conference in July, What's Next for the West Coast Electric Highway, Who Made the 100 Best Fleets List?, WWCC Member Updates, Updates to WA's Alt Fuel Tax Incentive News  |  Events  |  Blog  |  Home

Calculating Your Greenhouse Gases

Most of us know that the majority of Washington's climate-impacting greenhouse gases come from the transportation sector. But figuring out our own footprint can be tricky, especially for fleets. Each transportation fuel's different pathway to market can radically transform their overall greenhouse gas "score." Our new and easy-to-use calculator (and accompanying guide) simplifies the complex math and provides an important decision-making tool for fleets and policymakers alike.  Miss our recent webinar showcasing the tool? Check it out for yourself -- and tell us how you end up using it! Learn More

Member Discount To EV Roadmap Conference The EV Roadmap Conference is one of the leading electric vehicle conferences in the United States. Widespread electric vehicle adoption requires a supportive ecosystem of stakeholders, from utilities and local governments to vehicle OEMs, charging providers, interest groups, and drivers. EV Roadmap will bring all of these stakeholders together in a highly interactive format to explore emerging trends and share best practices. We'll be in attendance and we hope you will be too! Our members are eligible for a $75 discount on the price of the conference. Use the promo code 'WWCC' during your event registration. Register

Taking On The Challenge: WA & Workplace Charging

Washington State is the latest entity to sign up for the U.S. Department of Energy's Workplace Charging Challenge. The Challenge encourages employers to provide electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) at the workplace to incentivize EV use and ownership. The State is well on its way to providing charging access at their many buildings -- and the list of available EVSE continues to grow. Here's a snapshot of a few departments' progress: Department of Transportation WSDOT now has 19 Level 2 charging stations (with 31 charging ports) across the state including Olympia, Tumwater, Shoreline, Union Gap, Spokane, and Vancouver, with plans to install another station in Wenatchee later this year.  Department of Ecology Ecology has eight EV charging ports at their Lacey headquarters building and another four in Union Gap, saving them nearly 7,000 gallons of gas annually. Amazingly, all of the above stations are available to visitors and employees at no cost! Curious about how workplace charging access could benefit you? Take a look at the resources we've collected and get started!

Expanding the West Coast Electric Highway As well as providing EV charging stations of their own, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is currently developing a new pilot program to strengthen Washington's portion of the West Coast Electric Highway. To expand electric vehicle infrastructure, WSDOT will award grants to cities, counties and tribes along the state's key transportation corridors.  On July 12,  WSDOT will hold a public hearing on the program's draft rules. A request for proposals is expected later this summer. Awards for pilot projects will then be announced in the fall. We'll keep you updated as we learn more.  Public Hearing Details: Tuesday, July 12, 8:30 a.m. Transportation Building (310 Maple Parke Ave SE), Olympia, WA  Learn More

Our Members Taking Over The 100 Best Fleets List  Four of our member fleets made the final list of North America's top 100 public fleets! The 100 Best Fleets Awards are based on a set of criteria ranging from accountability and performance to the use of technology and stewardship of resources. Congratulations to our members who made it into the final 100 (out of 38,000!) -- way to represent Western Washington! Washington State Department of Transportation -- #9 City of Olympia -- #12 University of Washington -- #30 King County -- #31 See the full list

WWCC Member Updates Many of our members are making the switch to cleaner fuels and technologies. Check out a few of Western Washington's latest alternative fuel successes:

City of Seattle: Camera Ready The City of Seattle's decision to use biodiesel as a way to reduce pollution is highlighted in a new video from the National Biodiesel Board. The City now uses a B20 blend (20% biodiesel, 80% petroleum diesel) to fuel a variety of vehicles, from fire and utility trucks to off-road equipment, such as loaders and lawnmowers. All of the biodiesel used by the City is made from used cooking oil.

Frito-Lay: Celebrating CNG A new compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station is now up and running in Vancouver, Washington -- the first CNG station we know of south of Puget Sound. Frito-Lay and their fleet of CNG-powered trucks are located a short distance away from the new station, giving them a reliable source of the fuel for many years to come!

Kitsap County: Piloting Propane Autogas Kitsap County is currently employing six bi-fuel propane autogas vehicles as a pilot project for their fleet. The vehicles -- four Ford F-150 trucks, one Ford F-250 truck, and one Ford E-450 van -- are used primarily for the Roads & Traffic Division, as well as the sewer and stormwater departments.

Snohomish County PUD: Boosting Their Biodiesel Blend Snohomish County Public Utility District (SNOPUD) is planning to take their biodiesel use to the next level by shifting from ultra-low sulfur diesel and a 5% biodiesel blend to B20.  SNOPUD anticipates using over 130,000 gallons of the B20 blend every year, saving at least 150 metric tons of greenhouse gas pollution -- the equivalent of taking 30 sedans off the road for an entire year!

WSDOT: Volt-ing into the Future The Washington Department of Transportation is now employing at least seven 2017 Chevrolet Volts! Seven more are expected by the end of the summer. The second-generation Volts will be put to work across the state, including in WSDOT's offices in Olympia, Shoreline, Spokane, and Union Gap.

Question of the Month What is the AFLEET Tool, how can I use it to make decisions about alternative fuels, and what are the recent improvements? Answer

From Our Blog

Take 2: Washington's Tax Incentives For Alt Fuel Vehicles Right now, anyone purchasing an eligible new alternative fuel vehicle in Washington can skip the sales tax – potentially knocking several thousand dollars off the price. Combined with the federal tax credit of up to $7,500, this can result in some sizable savings. The state legislature recently approved some adjustments to the sales tax incentive, which go into effect next month. Here’s what you need to know. Read More

Where & When You Charge Your Electric Vehicle Matters   A new study from the National Renewable Energy Lab suggests reducing fossil fuel use in the electricity sector and encouraging workplace charging are two important factors in achieving the greatest electric vehicle pollution reduction. Read More

STAY CONNECTED:

w w c l e a n c i t i e s . o r g