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December 2018 Edition
Our New Intern: Zaya!, Regional Clean Fuel Standard, Member Updates, Clean Diesel Truck Training, Volkswagen Mitigation Plan Finalized
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Charged Up: Infrastructure Expo in February
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Our region is moving toward a zero-emission transportation future. How will all of our cars and trucks charge up on electricity?
Join King County and Western Washington Clean Cities on the afternoon of
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
, for an in-depth look at today's available electric vehicle charging equipment. A variety of charging equipment providers will be participating, allowing attendees to learn more how charging equipment works, better understand the siting conditions required for charging stations, and talk with experts about what makes each set-up unique.
Save the date on your calendars now -- more information to come soon!
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New Clean Cities Team Member -- Zaya!
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We're excited to welcome Zaya Tumurkhuyag to the Clean Cities team as our 2018-2019 Intern!
Zaya is a fourth-year undergraduate student pursuing a degree in Environmental Science (with a minor in Statistics) at the University of Washington. Having grown up in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, a city that suffers from poor air quality, Zaya is committed to learning ways to alleviate air pollution.
She developed a passion for equity and resilience after getting involved with a local nonprofit in the Puget Sound region for half a year. Zaya also spent a summer as a field research assistant at a copper and gold mining company site in the Gobi desert where she explored effects of mining activities on the environment and the human health.
For Clean Cities, she is creating a Climate Action Toolkit, assisting with events, and learning as much as she can about alternative fuels and technologies.
Welcome to the team, Zaya!
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A Regional Clean Fuel Standard
The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is considering a regional clean fuel standard to address air and climate pollution.
Last month, the Agency hosted a webinar and public forum to provide an overview of a potential Clean Fuel Standard and to hear questions and comments from interested parties. A recording of the webinar, the public forum presentation, and a summary of public comments received are available
on the Agency's website
.
The Agency's Board of Directors will now consider public input received and determine whether the Agency should start developing the policy at the regional level. For more information, email
CleanFuels@pscleanair.org
.
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Find out who is paving the way in the field of alternative fuels.
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Washington State Department of Transportation:
Plug & Play Hybrid Work Truck
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) recently acquired a new vehicle that will help them continue reduce their carbon footprint: a
plug-in hybrid work truck
.
WSDOT's new FORD XL F-150 light-duty trucks will be used in all areas around the state, including maintenance, construction, and project engineering. The truck is expected to get 21 miles per gallon -- a 50 percent increase in MPG compared to a traditional work truck.
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Renewable Energy Group:
Renewing Optimism for Washington Renewable Diesel
Renewable diesel is a drop-in ready fuel
that is chemically equivalent to petroleum diesel, pairs well with biodiesel, and can significantly reduce diesel vehicles' greenhouse gas and air pollution.
Most renewable diesel in the United States is currently consumed in California and Oregon.
“REG is excited to be working with a leading refiner, Phillips 66, on a project that has the potential to significantly expand biofuel production in Washington state and provide low-carbon fuel markets with products that are in significant demand on the West Coast,” said Randy Howard, CEO of REG.
Fuel production is expected to start in 2021. Fuel feedstocks would likely include locally-sourced vegetable oils, waste fats, and used cooking oil.
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United Parcel Service: What Can Cargo Bikes Do For You?
At its original headquarters near downtown Seattle, United Parcel Service (UPS) unveiled a new way for the company to deliver packages:
cargo e-bikes
.
Each custom-designed, battery-assisted electric bike can haul up to 400 pounds (plus their driver) inside a modular cargo box -- 95 cubic feet or about 40 packages. Delivery trucks drop off pre-loaded modules at a designated central location, allowing the e-bikes to quickly hitch up to a new container and start their route.
Most importantly, the bikes eliminate the need for delivery trucks in some urban areas, reducing congestion, pollution, and delivery time. Over the next year, UPS and the University of Washington's Urban Freight Lab will study the bikes to see if it is a viable solution for freight delivery in other urban areas across the world.
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Tacoma Public Utilities: Taking A Hybrid Approach
Not only is Tacoma Public Utilities (TPU) talking the talk by
promoting electric vehicles
, but they're also walking the walk within their own fleet.
TPU now has three types of XL Hybrid products in their fleet: a Ford F-150, F-250, and a Ford Transit van. Depending on the plug-in hybrid vehicles' performance, TPU plans to continue to add more over time.
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Clean Diesel Truck Training
Although today's diesel trucks (with 2007 or newer engines) are ten times cleaner than older diesel trucks, they also have much more complicated pollution control systems. This can lead to engine problems and repairs if not maintained correctly.
The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency has put together a video training course to guide drivers through the differences between today's clean diesel trucks and older diesel trucks. The training videos are available in seven languages, including Somali, Russian, Spanish, Punjabi, Oromo, and Amharic.
Truck drivers who participated in the
ScRAPS program
at the Port of Seattle and Port of Tacoma are eligible for a $500 voucher towards a diesel particulate filter (DPF) cleaning after watching the videos and taking a short test.
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Volkswagen Mitigation Plan Finalized
The Washington State Department of Ecology has finalized Washington's
mitigation plan
for the Volkswagen Federal Settlement, from which the state will receive $112.7 million.
The mitigation plan initially prioritizes the electrification of on-road heavy-duty vehicles (particularly transit buses) and marine vessels. It also allocates 15% of the mitigation funds for installing electric vehicle charging equipment. Ecology expects funding opportunities within these sectors to be available in spring of 2019.
As part of the settlement, Ecology is now gauging potential interest for grants that would help repower publicly owned ferries and harbor vessels. Interested parties are asked to submit information by the end of 2018. Contact
Brett Rude
at Ecology for more information.
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Season's Greetings! From all of us at Western Washington Clean Cities, we wish you a safe and happy holiday and a kickin' gas New Year.
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