December 2024

In This Issue

  • Sedona EV Ride and Drive

  • Transportation and Energy News and Resources

  • Funding Opportunities and Webinars

  • Happy Holidays!

Sedona EV Ride and Drive

Top: VSCCC Director Don Covert with board member Larz Garcia and Co-Director Brenna Covert. Middle Left: Participants of Community Ride and Drive talk with DEAZ and other vendors. Middle Right: Zach Schwarz from City of Sedona Office of Sustainability poses with city EV. Bottom: Electric Vehicles on display and ready for test drives at Sedona Posse Grounds Park.

Valley of the Sun Clean Cities was thrilled to be able to participate in two EV Ride and Drive events this month in the beautiful city of Sedona. Our friends at Drive Electric Arizona and the City of Sedona’s Sustainability Department worked together to hold these successful EV Ride and Drives. The first event on Dec. 15th was for community members, while the second event on Dec. 16th was specifically for city of Sedona and neighboring municipal employees.

Both events were well attended and featured many types of EV’s on display and available for test drives. There were even Tesla Model Y’s and a Cybertruck that had been specially up-fitted as police vehicles courtesy of the company UPFIT. Police officers from Sedona and nearby cities were able to test drive these up-fitted vehicles during the employee event. The employee ride and drive event also saw participants come from the cities of Flagstaff, Clarkdale, and Cottonwood as well as from Northern Arizona University.

We were happy to man a booth at both of these events and share information on Clean Cities and Communities, EV’s, and alternative fuels with the participants. We were also excited to introduce the ChargeWest Project to the public during the community ride and drive event. The ChargeWest Project is an 8 state collaborative that is committed to improving electric corridors across the western United States, with a focus on scenic byways, rural and gateway communities and routes along national parks. The city of Sedona was a perfect place to introduce this project since it sits along the Red Rock Scenic Byway.

We just want to thank and congratulate Drive Electric Arizona and the City of Sedona for putting on two great Ride and Drive events! We were so glad our coalition could participate and we look forward to helping with more events like this in the future.

Read more about the Sedona Ride and Drive event here: https://valleyofthesuneva.org/sedona-ride-drive-2024

Transportation and Energy News and Resources

2025 Fuel Economy Guide Now Available

DOE and EPA’s recently released 2025 Fuel Economy Guide provides detailed fuel economy estimates for model year 2025 light-duty vehicles, along with estimated annual fuel costs and other information for prospective car buyers. The 2025 guide is available in electronic format only, which you can download at FuelEconomy.gov.

Today, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) published new questions and answers to the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program Q&A and announced slight revisions to the Fully Built Out Certification of its NEVI guidance.  

NEVI Formula Program - Fully Built Out Certification Revisions

The Federal Highway Administration has announced slight revisions to the Fully Built Out Certification of its NEVI guidance. The revisions provide more flexibility so states can begin working on EV charging infrastructure beyond their Alternative Fuel Corridors—accelerating progress in building out their EV charging networks. The revisions expand criteria for “creditable” electric vehicle charging stations for States to qualify for fully built out certification; and clarify eligibility for Level 2, medium- and heavy-duty, and off-corridor EV charging infrastructure projects after achieving fully built out certification. 

Hydrogen-Powered Heavy-Duty Truck Establishes New Threshold by Traveling 1,800 Miles on a Single Fill

Accelera by Cummins, funded in part by the U.S. Department of Energy, has set a new Guinness World Record. The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO) announced a recent groundbreaking achievement in hydrogen-powered transportation: a prototype H2Rescue truck, built and powered by Accelera with funding support from DOE and other federal agency partners, has established a new world record by traveling 1,806 miles on a single fill of hydrogen fuel. Powered by a Cummins Accelera fuel cell engine and a 250-kilowatt traction motor, the truck drove through California carrying 175 kilograms of hydrogen and consumed 168 kilograms while navigating rush hour traffic between 50 to 55 mph, on public roads, and operating in temperatures varying from 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Accelera researchers confirmed that over the 1,800-mile trip, the hydrogen-filled truck emitted zero pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2), a stark contrast to the 664 pounds of CO2 a standard internal combustion engine vehicle would have emitted over the same distance. Learn More.

Funding Opportunities

2024 EPA Clean School Bus Rebate

The 2024 Clean School Bus Rebate Program is accepting applications through January 9th, 2025, at 4PM ET. The EPA anticipates awarding up to $965 million to fund new, zero-emission and clean school buses.

Clean Bus Planning Awards Program

The Clean Bus Planning Awards (CBPA) program is open and accepting applications from school and transit bus fleets.

CBPA recipients receive free assistance to help create customized bus electrification transition plans. Fleets eligible for the EPA Clean School Bus & FTA Low-No funding programs are generally eligible to apply.

Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas FY24

$400 million
Concept papers due Feb. 27, 2025.

This funding opportunity will include federal awards from $2 million to $50 million to help communities lead in developing tailored clean energy projects best suited for their unique needs.

Eligible projects must address at least one of the following:

  • Improving overall cost-effectiveness of energy generation, transmission, or distribution systems; siting or upgrading transmission and distribution lines

  • Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from energy generation in rural or remote areas

  • Providing or modernizing electric generation facilities

  • Developing microgrids

  • Increasing energy efficiency. 

Transmission Acceleration Grants Program

$10 million
Apply by Jan. 21, 2025.

This program will support state and Tribal efforts to accelerate and improve transmission siting and permitting and strengthen transmission planning for critical transmission lines (100 kV or greater) in any area of the country.

Eligible participants are state or Tribal entities or entities working with them, such as regional transmission planning organizations, regional-state committees, or not-for-profit organizations.

Tribal Clean Energy Planning and Development—2025

$25 million
Applications due Jan. 23.

Under this funding opportunity announcement (FOA), the Office of Indian Energy is soliciting applications from Indian Tribes, which include Alaska Native Regional corporations and Village corporations, intertribal organizations, and Tribal energy development organizations, to:

  1. Conduct clean energy planning

  2. Comprehensively assess the feasibility and viability of deploying clean energy technology

  3. Conduct clean energy design and development activities.

DOE expects to make approximately $25 million of federal funding available under this FOA, with approximately 20–40 awards that range from $100,000 to $2,500,000.

VSCCC strives to provide alternative fuel information to all people within our region. In order to increase our outreach abilities we are working with local agencies to share our newsletter and clean fuel resources with an even greater audience. We are proud to partner with the Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona's Air Quality Department, ASU's Sustainable Cities Network and Maricopa County Air Quality Department.

OUR NEWSLETTER IS ALSO AVAILABLE IN SPANISH

Translations done by Diego Montemayor- Diego@cleanairaz.org

November 2024

In This Issue

  • Clean Cities & Communities New Director Training

  • Funding Opportunities

  • ChargeWest Electric Highway Project

  • Events

  • Member Spotlight: ASU Sustainable Cities Network

VSCCC Director Don Covert and Co-Director Brenna Covert

VSCCC board members and members on panel. From left to right, Scott Chandler (City of Phoenix), Andy Rhea (Southwest Gas), Tim Tiger (Southwest Gas), Scott Brandeberry (Lancer Energy)

Clean Cities & Communities New Director Training

Last month, Valley of the Sun Clean Cities Coalition was proud to help host The Clean Cities and Communities New Director Training Conference here in Phoenix. The 2 day event brought new Clean Cities directors and co-directors together to learn the basics of running a coalition and to network and learn from their peers.

We started the event with a tour of the Li-Cycle Battery Recycling Facility for the event organizers. Representatives from the National Energy Labs, Department of Energy and other fellow Clean Cities Coalitions got a personal tour of the state of the art facility. Our board Chairman, Mike Heath from SRP, was kind enough to provide transportation for our whole group. Thank you Mike!

After the tour, we were happy to be one of several peer presenters at the event. We had a wonderful time sharing how we run our coalition and giving the new directors helpful tips and tricks. We were also lucky to be able to bring some our board members and stakeholders with us to the event. Our board members Scott Chandler from the city of Phoenix and Andy Rhea from Southwest Gas, each gave a presentation explaining what their organizations are doing with alternative fuels.They also graciously agreed to sit on a panel with our other members and talk to the participants about their work with our coalition. Thank you so much to our panel members, Andy Rhea, Scott Chandler, Tim Tiger, and Scott Brandeberry for volunteering your time to give your insight to our new directors!

The event was a success and participants left with new knowledge, useful insights and contacts that will help them as they begin work in their own coalitions. Every time we attend these kind of events, we are reminded just what an amazing group of people the Clean Cities and Communities Network is made up of. Everyone in the organization is incredibly supportive of each other and passionate about what they do. VSCCC couldn’t ask to be a part of a better group of people and we look forward to participating in more Clean Cities events in the future.

Learn more about the National Clean Cities and Communities Network by visiting the website. https://cleancities.energy.gov/coalitions/

Funding Opportunities

Transmission Acceleration Grants Program

The Transmission Acceleration Grants Program will support state and Tribal efforts to accelerate and improve transmission siting and permitting and strengthen transmission planning for critical transmission lines (100 kV or greater) in any area of the country. Eligible participants are state or Tribal entities, or entities working with them such as regional transmission planning organizations, regional-state committees, or not-for-profit organizations.

Applications due by Jan. 21, 2025.

Community Microgrid Assistance Partnership

The Community Microgrid Assistance Partnership technical assistance and funding opportunity is focused on electrically isolated and underserved communities in Alaska, Hawaii, as well as on Tribal lands in the Great Plains and Southwest. Participants can plan a resilient microgrid system, make improvements on an existing system, build workforce capacity, or add renewable energy.


Applications due by Dec. 20, 2024

Tribal Clean Energy Planning and Development


Under the Tribal Clean Energy Planning and Development FOA, the Office of Indian Energy is soliciting applications from Indian Tribes, which include Alaska Native Regional Corporations and Village Corporations, Intertribal Organizations, and Tribal Energy Development Organizations, to:

  1. Conduct clean energy planning

  2. Comprehensively assess the feasibility and viability of deploying clean energy technology

  3. Conduct clean energy design and development activities.

DOE expects to make approximately $25 million of federal funding available under this FOA, with approximately 20–40 awards that range from $100,000 to $2,500,000.

Utility and Grid Operator Technical Assistance

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is offering utilities and grid operators four new opportunities to accelerate clean energy and transmission deployment in communities nationwide. With support from top national laboratories, including the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), utilities and grid operators can access a range of support options, from informational webinars to multi-year guidance from subject matter experts, along with exclusive access to national lab facilities. Four new custom technical assistance opportunities are now available: 

1. Key Assist: up to $1 million in technical assistance over 2 years. Applications are due by Nov. 26, 2024. 

2. Interconnection Assistance: $100,000–$150,000 per project for 1 year, focusing on short to medium-term solutions. Applications are due by Nov. 26, 2024.  

3. Rolling Technical Assistance: up to 100 hours of subject matter expertise from NREL and other DOE labs. Applications are accepted at any time. 


4. Utility Planning Resources for Energy Transition webinar series: Starting in November, weekly presentations will be offered to address challenges in the evolving energy landscape, complete with expert discussions and Q&A. Sign up to receive email invitations for upcoming webinars.

APS EV Fleet Advisory Service Program

APS recently started a new Fleet Advisory Services program specifically to support qualifying commercial and municipal fleets in APS territory. This is a no-cost advisory service that provides insightful information for consideration, whether cities are actively looking into EVs or just interested in understanding their potential to convert their fleet at some point in the future. There is no obligation to make the conversion post-service – program participation provides an opportunity to gain information and custom-tailored recommendations for your fleet.

SRP Electric Vehicle Chargers & Fleet Electrification Program

Salt River Project (SRP) offers a comprehensive Fleet Electrification Assessment program. SRP fleet electrification experts will review current fleets, help develop an EV conversion roadmap, create a custom analysis, discuss recommendations on EV’s and provide rebates.

ChargeWest Electric Highway Project

VSCCC is pleased to announce that we are participating in the Department of Energy funded ChargeWest project. ChargeWest is an EV corridor collaborative across eight states in the Intermountain West region. Project participants are committed to improving electric corridors throughout rural gateway communities, state and national parks, and scenic byways. The states involved are Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. This project aims to significantly reduce carbon emissions along heavily traveled routes while enhancing access to scenic byways and national parks. We look forward to working with our western state neighbors to improve electric charging infrastructure along the routes that connect our states as well as along our state’s beautiful scenic byways.

Events

Clean Fuels Conference

January 20-23, 2025. San Diego, California

The Clean Fuels Conference connects key players of the biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel industry for one can’t-miss event. Clean fuels for land, sea and sky come together for a week of expert sessions, exhibits and showcases. Attendees include clean fuels producers and marketers, distributors, feedstock providers, fleet managers, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), ESG officers and members of the media.

Valley of the Sun Clean Cities Coalition is proud to have ASU’s Sustainable Cities Network as a partner. The ASU Sustainable Cities Network connects ASU’s research and technical capabilities in sustainability with the challenges facing cities, towns, and Tribal communities across Arizona. The network is a way for communities to share knowledge, identify best practices, and coordinate efforts to better understand and solve local issues. Learn more about ASU’s Sustainable Cities Network on their website. https://globalfutures.asu.edu/sustainable-cities/

VSCCC strives to provide alternative fuel information to all people within our region. In order to increase our outreach abilities we are working with local agencies to share our newsletter and clean fuel resources with an even greater audience. We are proud to partner with the Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona's Air Quality Department, ASU's Sustainable Cities Network and Maricopa County Air Quality Department.

OUR NEWSLETTER IS ALSO AVAILABLE IN SPANISH

Translations done by Diego Montemayor- Diego@cleanairaz.org

September 2024

In This Issue

  • Clean Cities and Communities National Workshop

  • Maricopa County Awarded CFI Grant

  • National Drive Electric Week

  • Member Spotlight: Maricopa County Air Quality Department

National Clean Cities and Communities Training Workshop

This September 10-12th was the Clean Cities and Communities National Training Workshop. This annual meeting brings the national network of Clean Cities Coalition Directors together with DOE and National Laboratory representatives to network and learn from each other. Both VSCCC’s Director and Co-Director were happy to be able to attend the 3 day workshop held in St. Paul, Minnesota. The workshop was filled with informative break out sessions and stories of successful alternative fuel projects from our fellow coalitions. The event was a wonderful way for directors to share ideas and solutions with each other and a great opportunity to connect with friends both old and new. The Clean Cities and Communities network is full of amazing and dedicated individuals that are all working hard to help their regions achieve clean energy goals. We at the Valley of the Sun Clean Cities Coalition are proud to be a part of this great network and we look forward to another successful workshop next year!

Maricopa County Air Quality Awarded Grant for Electric Vehicle Infrastructure

Maricopa County Air Quality Department has been awarded a $15 million as part of the Department of Transportation’s Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program. This program provides funding to strategically deploy publicly accessible electric vehicle charging infrastructure and other alternative fueling infrastructure. Maricopa County Air Quality Department will use the awarded funds to support its Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Improvement Project. The project will increase the number of EV charging stations throughout Maricopa County to make charging more accessible and encourage the adoption of electric vehicles. The project will also include extensive community education and outreach to inform consumers on the importance clean transportation technologies. Find electric vehicle resources on Maricopa County Air Quality Departments website.

National Drive Electric Week - Sept 27-Oct 6, 2024

National Drive Electric Week, Sep 27-Oct 6, 2024, is a nationwide celebration to raise awareness of the many benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. As part of National Drive Electric Week, the city of Phoenix’s Office of Sustainability is hosting several informational webinars as well as a large EV Ride and Drive Event in partnership with Drive Electric Arizona. Event and webinar details below.

Phoenix EV Ride and Drive Event

Saturday, September 28, 2024

8 AM-12PM

North Phoenix Baptist Church

5757 North Central Avenue

Phoenix AZ 85012

Come drive an electric vehicle for yourself and learn all about EV’s from vehicle owners. There will be many EV’s on display and a large variety available for ride and drives. Additionally, there will be informational displays from event organizers and sponsors, including Valley of the Sun EVA, SRP, Wells Fargo, Electrify Arizona, Streamline Solar, San Tan Ford, American Lung Assocation and others. This is a great way to become informed about what you can do as a consumer and resident to improve the quality of life for your family and community. This free Ride and Drive is presented by DRIVE Electric Arizona, Valley of the Sun Electric Vehicle Association, City of Phoenix Office of Sustainability, Salt River Project (SRP), and Valley of the Sun Clean Cities Coalition.

Electric Vehicle Webinars

Overcoming Range Anxiety Webinar

October 1, 2024

6:00 PM Arizona Time

Are you an electric vehicle (EV) owner or considering becoming one? Worried about long-distance travel? Join this free webinar to learn how to overcome range anxiety and make your road trips a breeze!

Ev ownership- cost benefits and incentives webinar

October 3, 2024

6:00 PM Arizona Time

Curious about owning an electric vehicle (EV)? Wondering how much you can save and what incentives are available? Join this free webinar to get insights from experienced EV owners and learn everything you need to know about making the switch!

Maricopa County Air Quality Department works to improve air quality of Maricopa County through multiple different incentives and programs. One of these is the Arizona Clean Diesel Program which utilizes the EPA’s DERA (Diesel Emissions Reduction Act) to provide grants for the updating or replacing of old diesel vehicles with new cleaner versions.  

VSCCC strives to provide alternative fuel information to all people within our region. In order to increase our outreach abilities we are working with local agencies to share our newsletter and clean fuel resources with an even greater audience. We are proud to partner with the Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona's Air Quality Department, ASU's Sustainable Cities Network and Maricopa County Air Quality Department.

OUR NEWSLETTER IS ALSO AVAILABLE IN SPANISH

Translations done by Diego Montemayor- Diego@cleanairaz.org

August 2024

In This Issue

  • Hydrogen as an Alternative Fuel

  • ADOT NEVI EV Charging Sites Awarded

  • Funding and Webinars

  • Member Spotlight: City of Phoenix

Hydrogen as an Alternative Fuel

Hydrogen is an emerging alternative fuel that has the potential to drastically cut transportation emissions. When used as the source of energy in fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) hydrogen produces only air and water as byproducts, so these vehicles emit zero harmful tailpipe emissions. Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles are also two to three times more efficient than an internal combustion engine running on gasoline.

Hydrogen is an abundant element and can be found stored in water, hydrocarbons such as methane, and other organic materials. In order to use hydrogen as a fuel it must be extracted from these sources.

Currently the most common and cost effective source of hydrogen is natural gas. The hydrogen is extracted from the natural gas in a process called steam reforming. This process uses the reaction of natural gas with high temperature steam to create a mixture of gases that includes hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and a small amount of carbon dioxide. The hydrogen is then extracted from this mixture of gases. Natural gas reforming using steam accounts for the majority of hydrogen produced in the United States annually. Hydrogen can also be produced from water through a more energy intensive process called electrolysis. In this process, an electric current splits water into hydrogen and oxygen.

While hydrogen has the potential to be an emission free transportation fuel, it has yet to become cost effective for this use. This is due to the high cost of its extraction, production and distribution. Currently almost all the hydrogen produced in the United States each year is used for refining petroleum, treating metals, producing fertilizer, or processing foods. Extensive research and development projects are being conducted by government and industry to try to improve extraction techniques and technology and reduce the production and distribution cost of hydrogen. Once costs are reduced, hydrogen could become a viable fuel option for vehicles.

To learn more about hydrogen, visit the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office website.

Awards Announced for ADOT Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment Plan

The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) has announced awards for the construction or upgrading of EV charging stations at 18 sites along Arizona’s designated interstate highways. These awards are part of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program and ADOT’s 2022 EV Charging Infrastructure Deployment Plan.

The objective of NEVI is to create a nationwide network of fast chargers along the highways to facilitate long-distance travel for electric vehicles. Stations must be placed up to 50 miles apart and must be located within one mile of the highway. Each station must include at least four DC level 3, 150kW fast chargers, which will charge electric vehicles in approximately 30 minutes or less.

The 18 sites awarded are along I-10, I-8, I-40, I-17 and I-19. ADOT will ensure the stations meet NEVI requirements but will not own the stations. Additional EV fast charger stations will be constructed on other designated EV corridors in Arizona in the future. ADOT expects to issue requests for proposals for stations identified in their 2023 and 2024 EV plans by Spring 2025.

For more information about the EV plan visit AZDOT.gov/EVPlan.

Funding

Notice of Intent for Tribal Clean Energy Funding

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. DOE anticipates issuing the following two Tribal energy funding opportunities in late summer 2024.

  1. Tribal Clean Energy Planning and Development

This planned FOA will solicit applications for the planning, assessment, and development of clean energy projects on Tribal buildings or Tribal lands, to:  

  1. Conduct Tribal clean energy planning

  2. Comprehensively assess the feasibility and viability of deploying clean energy technology on Tribal lands, or

  3. 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.

2. Tribal Colleges and Universities Planning for Clean Energy Transition

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. 

Battery Technology Funding Opportunity

EERE’s Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) is offering $43 million to fund projects that advance battery improvement. The funding will drive breakthroughs in low-cost electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing, improve battery safety, and strengthen the domestic EV supply chain. Concept papers due by September 9 and full applications are due by October 30.

Webinars

EV Incentives with Utilities

Thursday, September 12, 2024

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM MST

In this presentation, representatives from Arizona utility companies will discuss the various incentives available for electric vehicle (EV) owners. They will highlight rebates, charging infrastructure support, and other benefits designed to encourage the adoption of EVs in the state. This session is an opportunity for attendees to learn how they can save on costs while supporting sustainable transportation.

VSCCC is proud to have the City of Phoenix as a member of our coalition. As one of the largest and fastest growing cities in the USA, Phoenix is a great place to live, work and visit. The city is also a leader in alternative fuel use and sustainable practices. The City of Phoenix was awarded the Top Green Fleet of 2023 Award from the National Association of Fleet Administrators (NAFA). The City’s fleet includes vehicles that run on a variety of alternative fuels including CNG, RNG, Biodiesel, Ethanol and Electricity.

VSCCC strives to provide alternative fuel information to all people within our region. In order to increase our outreach abilities we are working with local agencies to share our newsletter and clean fuel resources with an even greater audience. We are proud to partner with the Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona's Air Quality Department, ASU's Sustainable Cities Network and Maricopa County Air Quality Department.

OUR NEWSLETTER IS ALSO AVAILABLE IN SPANISH

Translations done by Diego Montemayor- Diego@cleanairaz.org

July 2024

In This Issue

  • What is Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)

  • Funding and Webinars

  • Member Spotlight: Salt River Project

Sustainable Aviation Fuel

People everywhere, including groups like VSCCC, are working to lower harmful emissions across the transportation sector. While most of the focus of these efforts has been on ground transportation, it is also important to consider emissions from air transportation. Air transportation accounts for 2% of all carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and 12% of all CO2 emissions from transportation worldwide. One solution to reducing these emissions is Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

Sustainable Aviation Fuel is an alternative fuel made from non-petroleum, bio based renewable feedstocks. These feedstocks can include food waste, municipal and agricultural waste, fats, greases and oils. SAF can be blended with conventional jet fuel at different levels between 10% and 50%, depending on the feedstock and can be used in existing aircraft and infrastructure. It can also reduce CO2 emissions by up to 80% when compared to conventional jet fuel.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel is currently being adopted by airlines and airports throughout the USA and Europe. SAF is even being used here in Arizona by Sedona Airport and Scottsdale Airport. According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), over 360,000 commercial flights have used SAF at 46 different airports. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), approximately 24.5 million gallons of SAF was used in 2023.

Research on different SAF feedstocks, production techniques and blends are still being conducted but the future of sustainable aviation fuel looks promising. If you would like to learn more about what SAF is as well as research and studies check out the DOE’s Alternative Fuels Data Center.

Funding

Connected Communities 2.0 Funding Announcement

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced up to $65 million for Connected Communities 2.0, a funding opportunity announcement (FOA) to drive innovation to manage growing building, transportation, and industrial electric loads on the grid. This FOA seeks to validate grid-edge technology innovations in real-world situations and provide new tools for utilities, grid planners and operators, automakers and smart charge management service providers, and the communities they serve. The goal is to foster development of new technologies to ensure that the grid is flexible, resilient, and sized correctly to accommodate increasing loads from vehicle charging, data centers, and building and industrial electrification. Examples include managed EV charging, low-power appliances, smart panels, energy storage, energy efficiency, and rooftop solar, as well as innovative distribution and grid planning strategies.

Required concept papers are due Aug. 20, 2024, and full applications are due Oct. 10, 2024.

Join an informational webinar on July 29.

Smart Manufacturing for Clean Energy Transition Funding

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO) released a $33 million funding opportunity to accelerate the advancement of smart manufacturing technologies and processes necessary to develop and deploy the innovative technologies and materials needed for the nation’s clean energy transition.Recipients of funding from this opportunity will support research to develop smart manufacturing technologies that improve the efficiency and economics of circular supply chains; advance sustainable transportation manufacturing; accelerate the development of high-performance materials for the clean energy transition; and create more sustainable, safe, and competitive mining in the United States. 

Deadline for Concept Papers: Aug. 22, 2024, at 5 p.m. ET

Full Applications Due: Nov. 18, 2024, at 5 p.m. ET

Intertribal Organization Opportunity: Support for Tribal Clean Energy Communication and Engagement

The “Intertribal Organization Opportunity: Support for Tribal Clean Energy Communication and Engagement” funding opportunity is focused on enhancing outreach and engagement to improve federally recognized Tribes’ navigation and access to DOE clean energy funding and technical assistance.  

Eligible non-profit regional intertribal organizations may request up to $300,000 annually for up to 3 years. Funding will support communication, internal organizational capacity-building, and engagement activities with the goal of building long-lasting effective working relationships between Tribal elected leaders and staff, and DOE.

Apply by 3 p.m. ET on Sept. 24, 2024.

CHARGING AND FUELING INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT (CFI) ROUND 2

Round two of the CFI Grant Program is now open. New applicants can apply by August 28, 2024 for this funding opportunity. Previous applicants can request to reapply by July 1, 2024. The grant program is divided into two 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 AFCs.

Eligible applicants include states, metropolitan planning organizations, local governments, port authorities, Indian Tribes, U.S. territories, and more. Projects for both categories are outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.

Tribal and Territory Grants: Diesel Emissions Reduction Act

Applications are being accepted for the 2024 DERA Tribal and Territory Funding Opportunity. This funding is meant to incentivize and accelerate the upgrading or retirement of the nation’s legacy diesel engine fleets. 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. This funding has no mandatory cost share requirement.

CLEAN BUS PLANNING AWARDS

The Clean Bus Planning Awards (CBPA) program reduces barriers to zero-emission bus deployment by providing school and transit bus fleets with free technical assistance to develop comprehensive and customized fleet electrification transition plans.

CBPA is managed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and funded by the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation (Joint Office). CBPA connects transit and school bus fleets with technical experts to support planning for bus electrification. Fleets also have the option to receive free deployment assistance from NREL at the completion of their plan. Applications accepted on rolling basis.

Webinars

EPA Clean School Bus Program and NREL Clean Bus Planning Awards Webinar Series

1. July 31, 2024 10:00 AM MST: Battery Overview, Recycling/End-of-Life Options

2. August 28, 2024 10:00 AM MST: Building a Case For ESBs in your Fleet including Benefits, Total Cost Of Ownership (TCO), and Emissions Calculators

3. September 25, 2024 10:00 AM MST – Electrification Process, a Step-by-Step Guide for New Adopters

EPA’s Clean School Bus Program provides $5 billion over five years to replace school buses with low- and zero-emission school buses. Additionally, NREL’s $5 million Clean Bus Planning Awards Program provides free technical assistance to create comprehensive and customized bus electrification plans for fleets. This webinar series co-hosted with the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation will cover technical assistance topics related to clean school buses.

Salt River Project (SRP), is a not-for-profit organization that provides water and power services to more than 2 million people in central Arizona. The organization is also committed to sustainability and is working to reduce carbon emissions and improve water and grid resiliency.

In addition to this, SRP provides residential and business customers with resources to help them take advantage of new energy technologies such as EV’s. Customers with EV’s can qualify for a home EV charger rebate and take advantage of their Electric Vehicle Time of Use Price Plan. SRP also offers fleet electrification assessments and charger rebates for its business customers.

VSCCC is proud to have SRP as a member of our coalition and even more grateful for SRP Fleet Specialist, Mike Heath, who serves as Chair of our board of directors.

VSCCC strives to provide alternative fuel information to all people within our region. In order to increase our outreach abilities we are working with local agencies to share our newsletter and clean fuel resources with an even greater audience. We are proud to partner with the Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona's Air Quality Department, ASU's Sustainable Cities Network and Maricopa County Air Quality Department.

OUR NEWSLETTER IS ALSO AVAILABLE IN SPANISH

Translations done by Diego Montemayor- Diego@cleanairaz.org

June 2024

 

In This Issue

  • ACT Expo 2024

  • Webinars, Funding, and Events

  • Member Spotlight: Lancer Energy

Advanced Clean Transportation Expo 2024

Last month VSCCC attended the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo in Las Vegas. The 4 day conference and expo had over 12,000 attendees and 400 companies and suppliers displaying their technologies and products. There were panels of transportation experts and fleets as well as informative presentations from large transportation and alt fuel companies.

We were especially impressed with the presentations given by Ryder, and J.B. Hunt, who shared how their companies are taking realistic, cost effective approaches to transitioning their fleets to electric and other alternative fuel technologies. Both companies stressed the importance of adopting multiple alt fuel technologies into fleets, the expansion of EV infrastructure, and improved, lower cost EV technology. Ryder also shared their recent cost analysis report “Charged Logistics: The Cost of Electric Vehicle Conversion for US Commercial Fleets” that broke down the costs of transitioning a commercial fleet to electric.

All in all the ACT expo was a great experience that left us feeling optimistic about the future of transportation and excited about the many EV and alt fuel technologies that are being developed. Read more about the ACT Expo HERE.

Webinars

Leveraging Opportunities to Bring Tribal Clean Energy Projects Online

Wednesday, June 26 | 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m. MT

Join the Office of Indian Energy for the latest updates on the Low-Income Bonus Credit Program, which is now accepting applications for investment tax credits for solar and wind energy facilities on Indian land.

Additionally, learn how the Independent Power Producer (IPP) framework is being used to bring clean energy projects online in Alaska with Northwest Arctic Borough.

Guest speakers will also share technical assistance resources available to Tribes for navigating current clean energy policies, along with a case study on how the Seneca Nation leveraged existing partnerships with their providers to bring renewable energy and broadband projects online. 

ADOT Virtual Public Meeting on the Electric Vehicle 2024 Plan Update

July 10, 2024 at 6pm

The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) will host a virtual public meeting July 10 for the 2024 update to the Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Deployment Plan. As part of the 2024 plan update, ADOT is recommending expanding the state’s EV charging network to the following nine additional state highways:

  • US 60: Wickenburg to Phoenix

  • US 60: Phoenix to Globe

  • US 60: Show Low to New Mexico

  • US 93: Wickenburg to I-40

  • US 95: Quartzsite to San Luis

  • US 160: US 89 to Four Corners

  • SR 68: US 93 to Bullhead City

  • SR 80: Bisbee to Douglas

  • SR 90: I-10 to Bisbee

Visit our AZDOT.gov/EVPlan to register for the meeting and receive your link to attend. 

Project staff will provide information about the new proposed station locations on state highways, an update on the status of implementing new stations identified in the 2022 and 2023 plans and answer questions. 

The public can provide feedback on the EV Plan update through July 17 in the following ways:

For more information about the EV plan visit AZDOT.gov/EVPlan.

Funding

Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant (CFI) Round 2

Round two of the CFI Grant Program is now open. New applicants can apply by August 28,2024 for this funding opportunity. Previous applicants can request to reapply by July 1, 2024. The grant program is divided into two 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 AFCs.

Eligible applicants include states, metropolitan planning organizations, local governments, port authorities, Indian Tribes, U.S. territories, and more. Projects for both categories are outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.

Clean Energy Technology Voucher Program Re-Opens for Applications

DOE has announced the reopening of five voucher opportunities (“VOs”) to accelerate clean energy technology adoption and launch two new VOs with $15 million in available funding to support manufacturers via the Voucher Program.  These in-kind resources are provided by 33 supporting organizations, including six National Labs, in the form of DOE-funded vouchers. The program connects technology companies, jurisdictions, and manufacturers with third-party validation (subject matter expertise and testing capabilities) to advance their technologies, businesses, or energy projects to the next level. 

Technology Commercialization Fund Open Vouchers

A new kind of opportunity created by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Technology Transitions and the Technology Commercialization Fund (TCF)—the TCF Open Voucher Call—will connect the public with technical assistance from researchers at DOE National Laboratory Facilities. A select number of $100,000 technical assistance vouchers, which are redeemable at one of eight National Laboratories and must be used within a one-year period, will be awarded to innovators with ideas for advancing energy, sustainability, or other lab-supported initiatives. The selected National Lab will then provide expertise and lab validation capabilities to the awardee to help them advance their concept closer to commercialization. Applications for the call are due October 3, 2024.

Clean Bus Planning Awards

The Clean Bus Planning Awards (CBPA) program reduces barriers to zero-emission bus deployment by providing school and transit bus fleets with free technical assistance to develop comprehensive and customized fleet electrification transition plans.

CBPA is managed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and funded by the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation (Joint Office). CBPA connects transit and school bus fleets with technical experts to support planning for bus electrification. Fleets also have the option to receive free deployment assistance from NREL at the completion of their plan. Applications accepted on rolling basis.

Events and Activities

 
 

Drive Electric Arizona Fleet Survey

Our friends at Drive Electric Arizona are looking for input from fleets about adopting electric vehicles. If you would like to share your fleets experiences with EV’s please fill out the survey linked below. We really appreciate your time and input! https://tinyurl.com/deusa2-fleets

Green Transportation Expo 2024

August 20-22 at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center

The 13th Annual Green Transportation Summit & Expo is the leading event for sustainable transportation, featuring networking opportunities, informative sessions, workshops, vehicle demonstrations, and more. Attend GTSE 2024 for keynotes, workshops, and networking events focused on transportation decarbonization and collaboration in the clean transportation industry.

For over 30 years, the Lancer Energy team has been serving the automotive industry, CNG / RNG industry, emerging Hydrogen industry, EV charging infrastructure, and growing advanced fuels technologies and equipment markets. Lancer's expertise in advanced fueling stations and vehicles provides fleets and advanced fueling operators a turnkey partner for repairs, maintenance, servicing, inspections, safety, and custom CNG, RNG, EV, and Hydrogen solutions.

VSCCC strives to provide alternative fuel information to all people within our region. In order to increase our outreach abilities we are working with local agencies to share our newsletter and clean fuel resources with an even greater audience. We are proud to partner with the Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona's Air Quality Department, ASU's Sustainable Cities Network and Maricopa County Air Quality Department.

OUR NEWSLETTER IS ALSO AVAILABLE IN SPANISH

Translations done by Diego Montemayor- Diego@cleanairaz.org

THANK YOU TO OUR MEMBERS!

City of Phoenix