Advancing Alternative Fuel Use Through Outreach, Collaboration and Research.
In This Issue
ADOT Seeking Bids for EV Charging Stations
Arizona Communities Awarded CFI Grant Funds
Love’s Gas Stations in AZ Receive Funds to Upgrade Ethanol Dispensers
Upcoming Events, Webinars and Funding
ADOT Accepting Bids FOr Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is now seeking bids for private entities to build 21 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations along designated interstate highways. The construction of these stations will be funded through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program.The goal of the program is to deploy a network of EV fast chargers along the nation’s highways and encourage the adoption of electric vehicles.
Arizona is set to receive $76.5 million in federal dollars over 5 years to establish publicly accessible EV charging stations along Arizona’s designated Alternative Fuel Corridors which currently include the interstate highways. This first round of charging station construction will be focused on these interstate highways.
There are specific requirements for NEVI funded charging stations. For example, they need to be spaced no more than 50 miles apart, and must be within a mile of a freeway interchange. Each station must also include at least four chargers that can charge a typical electric vehicle within 20-30 minutes. Charging stations will be privately owned and operated, with federal NEVI funds covering 80% of construction costs. Bids are due April 19, 2024.
Visit https://azdot.gov/ev-infrastructure-implementation for more information.
Arizona Communities awarded CFI grant Funds for EV charging Infrastructure
Three communities in Arizona have been awarded funds through the $2.5 billion Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Grant Program. The CFI grant program provides funds for EV charging and other alternative fuel infrastructure projects.
Arizona awardees from this round of funding include the city of Mesa along with Cochise County and the San Carlos Apache Tribal Council. The city of Mesa has been awarded $12 million to build 48 electric vehicle chargers for a variety of vehicle sizes, charging docks for e-bikes and e-scooters, and solar canopies to support electricity generation at the stations.
Cochise county will receive $500,000 for the addition of six solar-powered Level-2 EV chargers in Sierra Vista, Bisbee, and Willcox, with stations to be located near major highways or public transport stops.
The San Carlos Apache Tribal Council will also receive $500,000 to install 4 EV charging station sites within the San Carlos Apache Reservation as well as one additional charging station in Safford.
In all, this round of the CFI Discretionary Grant Program will fund 47 EV charging and alternative-fueling infrastructure projects in 22 states and Puerto Rico, including construction of approximately 7,500 EV charging ports.
Love’s Travel Stops Receives Funding to Upgrade Dispensers at 6 Gas Stations in Arizona for E15 Fuel Use
Love’s Travel Stops Inc has been awarded $340,000 in funding through the U.S Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program. The Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) provides grants to fueling station and distribution facility owners, including marine, rail, and home heating oil facilities, to expand access to domestic biofuels, and increase sales and use of higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel.
The USDA’s Higher Blends program is expanding renewable fuel infrastructure and helping business owners to install and upgrade fuel pumps, dispensers and storage tanks for higher blends of biofuels. Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores Inc. will be using funds from the program to retrofit dispensers at six gas stations across Arizona including ones in Eloy, Chandler, Gila Bend, Williams, Benson, and Joseph City to be compatible with E15.
E15 is a blend of gasoline and 15% ethanol. The use of ethanol in gasoline improves engine function and reduces emissions. E15 can be used in flexible fuel vehicles as well as conventional vehicles model year 2001 and newer. Biofuels such as ethanol are a clean and affordable source of energy and have the added benefit of being made right here in the USA. Using biofuels helps reduce harmful emissions and improves air quality.
EVENTS
DERA Grant Writing Workshop
FEBRUARY 14, 2024
10:00 AM ARIZONA TIME
Applications for the Arizona State Clean Diesel or DERA Grant Program are now open. The goal of the DERA grant program is to reduce diesel emissions from older diesel vehicles and improve air quality in the state. To accomplish this, the grant provides funding for local fleets to replace, repower, or retrofit older higher emitting diesel engines with newer diesels or for the purchase of new alternative fuel vehicles.
Please join Larz Garcia, grant program administrator at Maricopa County Air Quality Department, for an informational Grant Writing Workshop this February 14th at 10 am. The workshop will explain the details of the DERA grant program and walk participants through the application process.
Southwest Gas CNG “Lunch and Learn”
February 27, 2024
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: 5705 S. Kyrene Rd, Tempe AZ 85283
Southwest Gas is hosting a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) “Lunch and Learn” event this February 27, 2024. Join CNG industry representatives and other fleet operators to learn more about CNG vehicles and their uses in fleets. This is a great opportunity to learn about the benefits of natural gas vehicles and network with local professionals! Lunch will be provided.
Please RSVP by email to Timothy.Tiger@swgas.com
Webinars
Permitting and Site Selection Strategies for EV Charging Infrastructure Webinar
Feb. 13, 2024, 2-3 p.m. ET
Join the Joint Office for the first of a two-part webinar series planning for permitting, zoning, and building code considerations for EV charging infrastructure.
Navigating Zoning for EV Charging Infrastructure Webinar
Feb. 15, 2024, 2-3:30 p.m. ET
Join the Joint Office for the second in a two-part webinar series on planning for permitting, zoning, and building code considerations for EV charging infrastructure.
Curbside EV Charging Strategies webinar
Feb. 27, 2024, 2-3 p.m. ET
The Joint Office will host a webinar on best practices, challenges, and strategies for effectively planning, deploying, and operating EV curbside charging projects.
Funding
EPA Clean School Bus Rebate Program Deadline Extended
With funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the EPA’s Clean School Bus (CSB) Program provides $5 billion over five years (FY 2022-2026) to replace existing school buses with zero-emission and low-emission models. The rebate program application deadline has been extended to February 14, 2024. The program guidance and application process differs from prior EPA school bus rebate programs, use the button below to learn more.
Member Spotlight
We just wanted to give a quick shout out to our Coalition Chair, Mike Heath for his recent award from his home city of Wickenburg. This month, Mike was presented with the “Tip of the Stetson” award from the Wickenburg Chamber of Congress in recognition of his community involvement. Congratulations Mike!
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
