May 2018 Edition

How Can We Better Serve You?, DERA Funding, EV Roadmap, Member Updates, Tool Time, Biodiesel Basics, Fleet

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Celebrating Green Transportation
It was wonderful to see many of you at last month's Green Transportation Summit & Expo in Tacoma. Our Clean Cities members showed up strong! Multiple members presented on a variety of alternative fuel topics, from electric vehicles and propane autogas to fleet procurement and utilities going green.

If you missed the event, or just would like to take another look, all the presentations from this year's sessions are now available online .

Thanks to everyone who took a few moments to stop by our booth to chat (and take our Green Transportation quiz). Looking forward to next year!
We'd Love Your Thoughts!
We're starting to plan our next (fiscal) year of activities. But before we do so, we'd welcome your input.

To better serve you, we want to know what you value the most about Western Washington Clean Cities, what kind of learning opportunities you'd like to see us put together, and how we can assist with any alternative fuel challenges you're facing.

Take our five-minute survey so we can keep kickin' gas.

Roadmap 11

Enthralled by electric vehicles? Roadmap is the event for you!

The Roadmap Conference is the nation's leading electric and smart mobility. Taking place this summer, June 19-20, in Portland, Oregon, Roadmap includes nearly 100 national and international speakers, dozens of exhibits, regional smart mobility tours, and high-energy interactive breakout sessions. With over 600 participants in 2017, Roadmap continues to be the premier forum to explore emerging industry trends and best practices with a diverse mix of industry, utility, and government leaders.

Even better: Clean Cities members can save $75 off registration. Use code 'WWCC' or click the link below.  

DERA Funding Available

Want to make our region's trucks, boats, and equipment cleaner? Multiple state and federal grants are currently available for fleets to upgrade their diesel vehicles.

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is also looking for partners to apply for Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) funding this year.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will award $40 million in grant funds, including up to $900,000 per proposal in EPA Region 10 -- Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. The DERA Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program is intended to fund projects that significantly reduce diesel emissions and exposure, especially in areas with poor air quality. 

Member Updates

Find out who is paving the way in the field of alternative fuels. 
Waste Management: Reaping RNG Rewards

Waste Management is now serving Seattle with a new collection of 144 vehicles powered by Cummins' near-zero emission natural gas engines and fueled with renewable natural gas (RNG). This new green fleet will reduce nitrogen oxide pollution (NOx) by over 90% compared to the company's existing compressed natural gas (CNG) fleet. Renewable natural gas is almost 15% cleaner than fossil fuel-based CNG and 70% cleaner than petroleum diesel in terms of greenhouse gas emissions.

The best part? The RNG that powers Waste Management's trucks is created "in-house!" The company captures methane at Waste Management landfills, processes it to a high purity standard, and places it into the natural gas pipeline for transportation use.

In addition to the RNG vehicles, Waste Management will soon use two electric-powered Class 6 box trucks and eight battery-electric route manager pickup trucks.
Port of Seattle: Aviation Biofuels Taking Flight

The Port of Seattle and airlines at Sea-Tac International Airport announced a new goal: replacing 10 percent of petroleum jet fuel with biofuels by 2028.

In all, 13 airlines will work with the Port to find pathways to using low-carbon aviation fuel over the next decade. Switching to biofuels could save over 600,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions. The partnership calls for increasing the amount of biofuel use by airlines to 50 percent by 2050.
REG: Renewable Diesel + Biodiesel = Ultra Clean Diesel

Renewable Energy Group (REG) recently released a new fuel that's low in emissions but high in demand.

REG's Ultra Clean Diesel combines renewable diesel with biodiesel, unlocking some of the performance benefits (cetane for renewable diesel, increased lubricity for biodiesel) that each biomass-based fuel offers. Ultra Clean Diesel is available at the Targa Sound terminal in Tacoma, and across the West Coast.
Recology: Cleaning Up With Clean Fuels

Recology is transforming their fleet! At least half of their trucks serving Seattle will be fueled by a 20,000 gallon tank of renewable diesel derived from animal fat renderings. The other portion of the fleet will use renewable natural gas (RNG). "We are thrilled to continue our partnership with the City of Seattle and work together towards a more sustainable future in the Pacific Northwest," said Kevin Kelly, Recology's General Manager.

Recology is also looking more deeply at electrification. In addition to investigating the viability of electric collection trucks, the company will utilize 100% electric vehicles for administrative staff.
Puget Sound Clean Air Agency: A Bolt Of Inspiration

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency recently purchased a Chevrolet Bolt EV -- the Agency's first ever all-electric vehicle.

After a staff-wide naming contest, the new EV was christened "Sparky" (Second place: "Wattson"). The Bolt's 240+ mile range is perfect for staff travel, such as off-site meetings, outreach events, and even inspection tours.
The Agency's executive director, Craig Kenworthy, loves the car because it's "clean, quiet, and very fun to drive."
Washington State Department of Transportation: Expanding Electrification Across The State

This week a group of private and public organizations officially unveiled a brand new electric vehicle fast charger in Kennewick . The new charging station is the first of 15 new chargers statewide made possible by grants from the Washington State Department of Transportation's Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Partnership Program (EVIPP) . In addition to the DC fast charger -- which can power up an electric vehicle (EV) in 30 minutes -- the station has a Level 2 charger that recharges EVs in two to four hours. Charging stations will also be installed in Yakima and Ellensburg this summer.

The new EV infrastructure is intended to fill the gap of charging locations along eastern Washington highways, making it easier than ever for EV owners to travel throughout the state. It’s a prime example of a successful public-private partnership with multiple utilities, governments and businesses contributing to the program, along with funding from a portion of Washington’s annual electric vehicle registration fees. 

“I’m thrilled to be part of this transportation milestone,” said Tonia Buell, EVIPP manager. "The new Kennewick charger is an important link in the statewide West Coast Electric Highway network of fast chargers along our major corridors. This will help fill the charging gap and make EV travel affordable, convenient, and energy independent for local residents and visitors to the Tri-Cities.”
City of Seattle: All About That Action

The City of Seattle is driving forward several transportation-related initiatives as part of the City's new climate action plan .

The City announced last month that it will continue to make its municipal fleet one of the greenest in the country by phasing out fossil fuel use and reducing fleet emissions by 50 percent by 2025. At the same time, Seattle is aiming to improve electric vehicle readiness by requiring new buildings to build infrastructure for future or current EV charging stations. Lastly, the City intends to look more closely at congestion pricing on certain areas or streets to reduce overall traffic and pollution.
Workhorse: Electric Van Exhibit

Workhorse, the makers of a plug-in hybrid pickup truck, recently showed off their latest product -- an all-electric delivery van.

The N-GEN delivery vehicle has a range of nearly 100 miles with an optional range extender. The van's floor is also low to the ground, maximizing storage and safety. Workhorse expects to make the delivery van available for order later this year.
EVolution Consumer Choice Tool

We all know that electric vehicles are good for the climate and reduce fuel and maintenance costs. But which one's the right choice?

Argonne National Laboratory's Consumer Choice Tool shows you the many electrifying options out there -- hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and all-electric vehicles.

It then takes you step-by-step through finding out your vehicle needs and allows you to make an in-depth comparison of similar vehicle types. For instance, what's the real difference between a Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in hybrid and a Toyota RAV4 hybrid? The tool even outlines your choice vehicle's total cost of ownership based on how often it's driven and how frequently it's refueled.

How Much Do You Really Know About Biodiesel?

Biodiesel -- and more specifically, biodiesel blends -- is a widely used alternative fuel choice, but how clean is it really?

According to a study earlier this year, biodiesel reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 72-80 percent! Clean Cities member Renewable Group, Inc (REG) put together a list with this and six other (maybe surprising) facts about biodiesel and its impressive benefits.

Clean Vehicle Procurement Opportunity

Fleets for the Future (F4F) is a national partnership between regional councils, Clean Cities coalitions, and industry leaders led by the National Association of Regional Councils. F4F is designed to increase the deployment of alternative fuel vehicles and infrastructure in communities across the nation.

By using the F4F contracts, you can count on opportunities that have been competitively solicited to a national ecosystem of vendors. This satisfies many local governments’ procurement by-laws and enables public agencies to save time on vehicle procurement, receive turnkey vehicle solutions, and receive national volume pricing through these purchasing cooperatives.

F4F has launched a national public fleet procurement program through a partnership with the National Joint Powers Alliance® (NJPA) to aggregate demand and reduce upfront costs for alternative fuel vehicles and infrastructure. Participants will be able to purchase and lease discounted vehicles and supply equipment using NJPA's wide variety of contracts.

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