The City of Mesa joins with its Falcon Field Airport partners in celebrating the arrival of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as a new, emissions-reducing fuel option.
Avflight Mesa, one of the airport's fixed based operators (FBO) that provides aviation fuel and ground handling support, partnered with its sister company, Avfuel Corporation, a leading independent supplier of aviation fuel and services, to establish consistent supply of SAF on the airfield.
The FBO received its first truckload delivery of SAF, specifically, Neste MY Sustainable Aviation FuelTM, on Aug. 28. Every truckload carries approximately 8,000 gallons of the sustainable fuel. This volume reduces carbon emissions by 19 tons compared to petroleum-based jet fuel from the time the SAF is created to the time its burned. That provides the same environmental benefit as taking 4.5 passenger vehicles (personal cars, vans, SUVs, trucks) off U.S. roads for a year.
The introduction of a consistent SAF supply elevates Avflight Mesa, and by extension, the airport, as a leader in eco-conscious aviation operations, enabling its customers to immediately and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Avflights Mesa location is the first of its 26 FBOs situated around North America and Europe to adopt SAF. (https://mesanow.org/news/public/article/3377?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery)
Notice of Intent- Tribal Funding Opportunity
Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy issued two Notices of Intent (NOIs) to release a combined $30 million in Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) later this summer.
The first NOI will support Tribal clean energy planning and development, and the second NOI will support Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) planning to transition to clean energy.
Through these planned FOAs, the Office of Indian Energy will continue its effort to advance Tribal energy sovereignty and maximize the deployment of clean, reliable, affordable, and local energy solutions.
DOE anticipates issuing the following two Tribal energy funding opportunities in late summer 2024.
Tribal Clean Energy Planning and Development NOI (DE-FOA-0003400)
This planned FOA will solicit applications for the planning, assessment, and development of clean energy projects on Tribal buildings or Tribal lands, to:
Conduct Tribal clean energy planning
Comprehensively assess the feasibility and viability of deploying clean energy technology on Tribal lands, or
Conduct clean energy project design and development activities for deployment on Tribal buildings or Tribal lands.
Under the planned FOA, the Office of Indian Energy anticipates making approximately $25 million available with awards that range from $100,000 to $2,500,000.
A 10% recipient cost share is anticipated to be required under the planned FOA. However, the Office of Indian Energy may provide an opportunity for eligible applicants to request a cost share reduction from 10% to 0% based on poverty rate and median household income of the Tribal community relative to the statewide median household income.
Download the NOI (DE-FOA-0003400) for Tribal Clean Energy Planning and Development – 2025.
TCUs Planning for Clean Energy Transition NOI (DE-FOA-0003402)
This planned FOA intends to provide financial support to TCUs to plan the transition of their campuses to clean energy.
Under the planned FOA, the Office of Indian Energy anticipates making approximately $5 million available with awards that range from $100,000 to $250,000 for planning grants.
No recipient cost share is anticipated under the planned FOA.
Download the NOI (DE-FOA-3402) for Tribal Colleges and Universities Planning for Clean Energy Transition – 2025.
Breaking Down Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Costs Article
Check out this article by “School Bus Fleet” on the costs and benefits of different alternative fuel infrastructure. School Bus Fleet talked to experts on several alternative fuels and has a basic breakdown of what pupil transportation providers can expect to pay when making the switch. Use the link below to read this informative article.
Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Funding Round Two Open
The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation (Joint Office) last week opened applications for a historic $1.3 billion funding opportunity for electric vehicle (EV) charging and alternative fueling infrastructure—including hydrogen fueling infrastructure—in urban and rural communities and along designated highways, interstates, and major roadways.
This funding opportunity is made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program and funds from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program that are set aside for strategic grants to states and local governments. Supported by unifying guidance and technical assistance from the Joint Office, the CFI program is administered by the Federal Highway Administration and is open to state, regional, Tribal, and local government entities. The CFI program is divided into two distinct grant funding categories and requires that 50% of the funding over five years is made available for both communities and corridors:
Community Charging and Fueling Grants: This program will strategically deploy publicly accessible EV charging infrastructure and hydrogen, propane, and natural gas fueling infrastructure in urban and rural communities.
Alternative Fuel Corridor Grants: This program will strategically deploy publicly accessible EV charging infrastructure and hydrogen, propane, and natural gas fueling infrastructure along designated alternative fuel corridors.
Eligible applicants include states, metropolitan planning organizations, local governments, port authorities, Indian Tribes, U.S. territories, and more. Applications are due by August 28, 2024.
Read more about this funding opportunity.
Tribal and Territory Grants: Diesel Emissions Reduction Act
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s 2024 DERA Tribal and Territory NOFO is now open! The NOFO announces the availability of grant funding available to Tribal governments and eligible territories to implement projects aimed at reducing diesel emissions from older diesel engines. Eligible activities include the retrofit or replacement of existing diesel engines, vehicles, and equipment with the EPA and California Air Resources Board (CARB) certified engine configurations and verified retrofit and idle reduction technologies.
Applications will be accepted from federally recognized Tribal governments (or intertribal consortia), Alaska Native Villages, or government agencies of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, which have jurisdiction over transportation or air quality. The EPA anticipates awarding a total of approximately $9 million under this NOFO: $8 million for Tribes and $1 million for territories.
Application packages must be submitted electronically to the EPA through Grants.gov (www.grants.gov) no later than Friday, December 6, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) to be considered for funding.
Applicants are encouraged to review the Questions and Answers document posted at the DERA Tribal and Territory grants website for further clarification of this NOFO. For the most up to date information on eligibility criteria, application resources, and Q&As; applicants are encouraged to reference the DERA Tribal and Territory grants website (www.epa.gov/dera/tribal-and-territory) for further clarification of this NOFO.
Applications Due: Friday, December 6th, 2024 at 11:59 PM ET
Informational Webinars
Webinar 1: Wednesday, May 22, 2024 (2:00PM – 3:00PM ET)
Meeting ID: 264 046 810 742
Passcode: GvhmpH
Webinar 2: Tuesday, June 18, 2024 (7:00PM – 8:00PM ET)
Meeting ID: 266 234 269 447
Passcode: kMZQny
Webinar 3: Thursday, August 15, 2024 (2:00PM – 3:00PM ET)
Meeting ID: 285 414 464 963
Passcode: W6QmuJ
Webinar 4: Wednesday, October 16, 2024 (7:00PM – 8:00PM ET)
Meeting ID: 291 384 886 803
Passcode: DSqnHY
Webinar 5: Wednesday, November 13, 2024 (2:00PM – 3:00PM ET)
Meeting ID: 291 547 815 906
Passcode: Aq95gi
