Drive Clean Indiana Attended 2023 Work Truck Week & Fleet Managers Reception |
Work Truck Week® 2023 was back to full strength as a verified 14,885 industry professionals gathered at Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis March 7–10 for North America’s largest work truck event. Attendance returned to pre-pandemic levels, setting a new record with a 17% increase over the 2022 event. Green Truck Summit, NTEA’s full-day advanced fuels and vehicle technology conference, was sold out for the second year in a row, with nearly 1,000 attendees.
Work Truck Week, which includes The Work Truck Show®, Green Truck Summit and Ride & Drive, has been produced annually by NTEA – The Association for the Work Truck Industry since 2000. The event was held virtually in 2021.
In conjunction with with Work Truck Week, Drive Clean Indiana hosted the Fleet Managers Networking Reception. Hosted at Best Equipment Company, attendees were able to hear from a few speakers to find out information on funding opportunities. They were also able to see vehicles on display, visit sponsor booths, speak to reps and enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres!
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Indiana Clean School Bus Consortium Webinar Series
April 11, 2023 - 10am CST
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Drive Clean Indiana, Indiana’s only U.S. Department of Energy designated coalition, is hosting the second Indiana Clean School Bus Consortium (ICSBC) Webinar in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program.
The goal of this consortium is to educate Indiana schools on the benefits of cleaner fuels, reduce emissions and operation cost savings. The ICSBC will also provide schools with information on the various upcoming funding opportunities and safe transportation options for school children.
DCI has developed a series of working group meetings that will offer insights on training, best management practices, provide updates on funding opportunities, and much more. School districts can utilize this statewide working group to reduce barriers towards the implementation of cleaner school bus technologies.
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The School Town of Munster
Receives First Blue Bird Electric School Bus in Northwest Indiana
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Munster, IN — The School Town of Munster welcomed the first Blue Bird all-electric school bus to Northwestern Indiana as a key component of its initiative to move to clean student transportation, project partners announced.
This zero-emission school bus is manufactured by Blue Bird Corporation, the only U.S. owned and operated school bus builder with more than 900 electric school buses in operation today and powered by a Cummins PowerDrive system. Fully powered by electricity, this school bus emits zero harmful substance emissions such as nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and volatile organic compounds/hydrocarbons. Both students and community members of Munster, Indiana look forward to a reduction in harmful emissions and an overall safer environment with the continuation of this green initiative.
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EV BOOT CAMP
APRIL 6, 2023
9a.m. - 11a.m. CST
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Do you have questions about Electric Vehicles? We have answers! Join us on April 6, 2023 from 9-11 a.m. at NIRPC (Lake Michigan Room, 6100 Southport Road, Portage, IN) to learn the basics of electricity used as an alternative fuel, electric-drive vehicles, and charging infrastructure. We will also go through some of the items to consider before implementing electric-drive vehicles in your fleet, as well as resources and tools for additional information.
The event is free, but space is limited and registration is required.
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2023 NWI Partners for Clean Air Annual Luncheon &
Awards Ceremony
May 5, 2023 - 11:30am CST
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We invite you to join us to congratulate our scholarship and award winners and learn more about what you can do to protect the air in Northwest Indiana through voluntary actions.
There is no cost to attend, but space is limited so be sure to RSVP early. Registration opens at 11:30 a.m. CDT with the event kicking off at 12:00 p.m. CDT.
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First Round of Funding Announced for Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program (CFI)
The multi-billion-dollar program will fund electric vehicle (EV) charging and alternative-fueling infrastructure in communities across the country and along designated highways, interstates, and major roadways.
This program, established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will provide $2.5 billion over five years to a wide range of applicants, including cities, counties, local governments, and tribes. The CFI Discretionary Grant Program builds on the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, for which the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) published finalized minimum standards earlier this month.
This first round of funding makes up to $700 million from Fiscal Years (FY) 2022 and 2023 funding available to strategically deploy EV charging and other alternative vehicle-fueling infrastructure projects in publicly accessible locations in urban and rural communities, as well as along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs).
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EERE’s Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office announced a $156 million funding opportunity to advance high-impact projects that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the U.S. industrial sector. This opportunity focuses on cross-sector approaches to industrial decarbonization and advances the goal of advances the goal of the Industrial Heat Shot™, which aims to develop cost-competitive industrial heat decarbonization technologies. Concept papers are due April 17.
EERE’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office announced the availability of $750 million for research, development, and demonstration efforts to dramatically reduce the cost of clean hydrogen. This funding represents a crucial step in accelerating the widespread use of clean hydrogen and plays a vital role in achieving commercial-scale hydrogen deployment this decade.
DOE announced $14 million in funding to optimize the production of affordable biofuels and biochemicals while reducing carbon emissions. This opportunity will accelerate the growth of the bioeconomy by supporting the development of high-impact technologies that convert domestic biomass and waste resources into affordable biofuels and bioproducts. Concept papers are due April 21.
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MEMBERSHIP PRICING
UPDATED FOR 2023
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Effective immediately, membership rates will be increasing for new members. Current members will not be impacted by the rate increase until January 1, 2024.
Advanced levels of membership yield greater benefits, including increased marketing for your organization on our digital platforms and in our publications and the addition of grant development hours. Grant development provides one of the greatest opportunities for return on investment in your Drive Clean Indiana membership. We hope that you see the value in the services we offer and will continue to support our mission by maintaining your current membership level.
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30 Years Ago, in 1993 Clean Cities Coalition Was Founded!
DID YOU KNOW????
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U.S. Department of Energy Clean Cities dates back to the Alternative Motor Fuels Act of 1988 and the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.
These laws, which encouraged the production and use of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) and the reduction of vehicle emissions, led to the creation of the Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) in 1991.
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The Michiana Area Council of Governments is a voluntary organization of local governments that studies and attempts to resolve, for the benefit of each member and the region, areas of interlocal issues, which includes but is not limited to transportation, transit, economic development, environment, and other issues that impact the region.
The Michiana Area Council of Governments contributes to the advancement of the Region’s economic vitality, enhanced quality of life, strong sense of place, and expanded opportunities that attract and retain talented individuals and organizations to the Michiana Region.
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Board Member Spotlight:
DCI Board Secretary
Brian Houston
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This month Brian Houston is the board member spotlight. Below are some professional questions/answers and fun facts.
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PROFESSIONAL QUESTIONS
How long have you been a board member of Drive Clean Indiana?
14 Years
Why did you join the Drive Clean Indiana Board?
I believed in what they are trying to do by getting us off foreign oil. They are champions for all alternative fuels.
What’s your favorite part of being a DCI board member?
By far, interacting with Carl. Carl is an honest, caring and hardworking executive director.
Do you currently sit on one of DCI committees? If so, which one?
Yes executive
What do you enjoy most about volunteering?
It allows me to try to make a difference in this world.
Fun Facts & Questions
What’s something about you (a fun fact) that not many people know?
I played college baseball.
What’s the last book you read?
Re-read the Zen and the art of Motorcycle Maintenance
What is your favorite hobby?
Reading, fishing and golfing.
What’s the first concert you ever attended?
The Rolling Stones
What’s the next place on your travel bucket list?
Israel, Jordan, Egypt
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Featured Fuel: Natural Gas
Natural gas is a domestically produced alternative fuel that is readily available to end-users through the utility infrastructure. It can produce significantly fewer harmful emissions than gasoline or diesel when used in natural gas vehicles.
Natural gas is a mixture of hydrocarbons, predominantly methane (CH4). As delivered through the pipeline system, it also contains hydrocarbons such as ethane, propane and other gases such as nitrogen, helium, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and water vapor.
Natural gas has a high octane rating and excellent properties for spark-ignited internal combustion engines. It is non-toxic, non-corrosive and non-carcinogenic. It presents no threat to soil, surface water or groundwater.
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Drive Clean Indiana's Annual Conference & Expo
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
Blue Chip Casino
Michigan City, IN
Details Coming Soon!
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11th Annual Clean Air Golf Outing
September 19, 2023
White Hawk Country Club
Crown Point, IN
Details Coming Soon!
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