H
Volume 10: Summer 2009
The
ubcap
SC's Hub for Advanced Vehicle Technologies
Palmetto State Clean Fuels Coalition • SC Energy Office • SC Budget and Control Board
Green is Good for Business:
Go Green, Drive Clean!
On September 1, Palmetto State Clean
Fuels Coalition will partner with the Green
is Good for Business Conference held
at the Columbia Convention Center to
sponsor a ride and drive event, “Go Green,
Drive Clean.”
The Green is Good for Business
Conference is a partnership between the
City of Columbia’s Climate Protection
Action Campaign and the S.C. Department
of Health and Environmental Control.
General Admission participation will be
limited to 300 attendees.
This year, conference attendees will
have the opportunity to drive and/or ride
in several advanced technology vehicles,
including a Honda Civic GX, a propanepowered Chevy pickup, a natural gas-
powered Chevy truck, an E85 Chevy
Avalanche (FFV) and a plug-in hybrid
Toyota Prius.
Participants will also have the
opportunity to tour and ride the Proterra
Hydrogen Bus, which will be hosted
by Columbia for the next year. Also, a
propane-powered Dixie Chopper will be
available for test-drives. Vehicles will be
located in the circle at the front of the
conference facility.
This portion of the conference will
be aimed at demonstrating first-hand
reasonable and cost-effective alternatives
for businesses wishing to save money
and have a positive impact on the
environment.
Conference Fast Facts
•
•
•
Conference will be
held from 8:30 a.m.
until 5p.m. The Ride
and Drive portion will
last through 2p.m.
Vehicles will remain
on display during the
Columbia Chamber
of Commerce After
Hours, which will take
place in the Exhibit
Hall.
Sessions will include
recycling, green
cleaning and green
landscaping as well
as energy and water
efficiency.
Vehicle Sponsors:
•
•
•
•
•
Larry Strawn,
Hendrick Honda of
Charlotte
Monte McLeod,
Palmetto Gas
Robert Sessa,
Transeco Energy
Jim Coker,
Heritage Propane
Jim Poch,
Plug-In Carolina
Honda Civic GX is powered by Compressed Natural Gas
I
n
this
issue
August
2009
page 1
page 2
page 3
page 4
Go Green, Drive Clean!
Funding Opportunities, In the News
Letter from the Editor, Biofuel Usage in South Carolina
Getting Involved, Calendar, Contact Information
1
In the News...
Exxon Mobil Plans to Grow Algae for Biofuel
Exxon plans to invest $600 million over the
next five to ten years to research and produce
commercial quantities of the algae-based
biodiesel. According to Exxon, algae could
yield up to 2,000 gallons of fuel per acre each
year, compared with only 650 from palm trees,
450 from sugar cane and a meager 250 from
corn.
Air Cargo Carriers Slashing Fossil Fuel Use
UPS plans on cutting its airline fleet’s greenhouse gas emissions 42% from 1990 levels, by
burning fewer fossil fuels. UPS plans on accomplishing this goal and reducing fuel costs
by investing in more fuel-efficient aircrafts,
introducing biofuels, reducing runway idling
and better optimizing flight costs.
FedEx has also announced that it will try to
use at least 30% alternative fuels by 2030. They
will also be switching to more fuel-efficient
planes. New planes will carry more cargo,
therefore allowing fewer trips, while operating
more efficiently with fewer emissions.
Both companies plan to also bring this effort
to their on-land operations by using more fuelefficient and alternative-fueled vans for local
deliveries.
Dixie Chopper Adds Natural Gas Mower
Dixie Chopper has added a CNG-powered
lawnmower to its line of environmentally
friendly lawnmowers. The CNG Dixie Chopper
has a 900cc Generac engine and can mow 8
acres per hour.
Department of Education Receives Grant
The S.C. Department of Education received
a grant award of $553,918 from the EPA to replace 4 old school buses with new, low emission hybrid-electric buses. This grant will also
allow the Department to retrofit 500 existing
buses with crankcase ventilation filtration systems. The overall project is expected to reduce
emissions by 4.7 tons.
Funding Opportunities
SCEO ANNOUNCES COMPETITIVE GRANTS
The South Carolina Energy Office (SCEO) has been working to implement the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Of the funding alloted to the SCEO
through the State Energy Program, $2.817 million has been set aside to create
the Renewable Energy and Advanced Vehicles Technologies grant program.
This program will be available to qualified nonprofit entities within the state,
who unable to take advantage of
state and federal tax incentives which
usually make projects cost-effective.
Eligible projects will include
renewable energy projects such
as solar thermal hot water heating
systems and advanced vehicle
technology projects, such as vehicle
conversions to alternative fuels.
In providing this grant opportunity, the SCEO intends to create a sustainable
foundation to develop a renewable energy and advanced vehicle industry
across the state, to redirect a significant portion of energy expenditures leaving
the state into South Carolina’s economy, and to foster a cleaner, healthier, more
productive environment by reducing the adverse impacts of fossil fuel use.
This solicitation is set to be released the week of August 17h. When the solicitation
is released, it will be posted to the web at www.energy.sc.gov.
Innovative Loan Guarantee Program
On July 29, DOE released its latest solicitation for the innovative loan
guarantee program. DOE will provide up to $30 billion in loan guarantees
for renewable energy projects. This program
paves the way for federal support of clean energy
projects using innovative technologies and spurs
private investment in these advanced technologies.
More information on this program and the current
solicitations can be found on the program’s website:
http://www.lgprogram.energy.gov/index.html.
Current Solicitation Notifications
•
S.C. Ports Authority Receives DERA Grant
SCPA was awarded almost $2 million from
EPA to repower and retrofit cargo handling and
other diesel equipment at the Port of Charleston. These projects are expected to greatly
reduce carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and
particulate matter emissions.
This solicitation can be found on DOE’s Recovery website, along with all
other ARRA solicitations at www.energy.gov/recovery. This application is
due on October 4. Please contact PSCFC if you would like to be involved
in this grant application.
•
To keep up-to-date with the latest news,
please make sure to subscribe to our listserve
by emailing alawrence@energy.sc.gov.
“Recovery Act Funding for Expansion of Infrastructure for Ethanol Blends”
DE-FOA-0000125 On August 4, DOE released the anticipated funding
announcement for expanded ethanol infrastructure. This solicitation has
two topic areas:
1) Refueling Infrastructure for Higher Ethanol Blends
2) Outreach for Higher Ethanol Blends
“Recovery Act Funding of Development of Algal Biofuels and Advanced
Fungible Biofuels through Consortiums” DE- FOA-0000123 This
will fund R&D for algal biofuels and advanced fungible biofuels.
This solicitation closes September 14th.
2
Letter from the Editor - Amy Lawrence
W
hile sitting in the Clean Cities Peer Exchange in June, I
realized that we tend to focus all of our efforts on market
penetration and infrastructure of alternative fuels. However,
the number one alternative fuel is the fuel that is not used—
energy efficiency. Clean Cities is not just about alternative fuels,
but alternatives to transportation in general in order to reduce
petroleum consumption. Energy efficiency in transportation
means both fewer vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and increased
fuel economy. This should be the first step to meeting our goal of
economic, environmental and energy security.
How do we change our culture? What can we do to reduce our
VMT? One such solution is teleworking.
DOE cites that the bulk of employees who could telework choose
to not. Conservative estimates by the University of Maryland
estimate that if all potential teleworkers did so at least twice a
week, then the U.S. could save 1.35 billion gallons of gasoline
annually—equating to 26 billion pounds of carbon dioxide
avoided.
Furthermore, there are real costs to congestion. The Portland
Cement Association estimates that overall negative economic
impact from traffic delays equates to $80 billion dollars annually
for the U.S. The National Science Foundation (NSF) found that
its teleworking program allowed each teleworker to reclaim
an average of 62 hours of their lives back and save over $1,000
annually.
Past barriers to teleworking include management and worker
resistance to change and inadequate technological infrastructure.
However, because of increased traffic and gasoline prices, along
with the crumbling of previous barriers, teleworking is on the rise.
Transparency, flexibility, and communication are the key
components of a successful teleworking program. If you are
unsure if your company offers a teleworking option, ask. This
may provide you with an excellent way to save money, promote
national security and lower your carbon footprint.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
REASONS TO TELEWORK
Commuter traffic delays have increased 41
percent since 1990;
Commuter traffic congestion has tripled in
the last 20 years;
Vehicle efficiency dips to its lowest levels
during stop-and-go traffic;
The rate of vehicle-caused air pollution is
highest in stop-and-go traffic;
Transportation-caused “brown clouds” contribute to sickness and disease;
Commuter traffic time cuts into people’s
lives and reduces business productivity; and
Imported oil used for commuting burdens
our national economy.
Source DOE, EERE
Gallons
BIOFUEL USAGE IN SOUTH CAROLINA
South Carolina has been a leader
While S.C. is seeing tremendous
in the Southeast for both biofuel
growth in the consumption of
consumption and infrastructure.
ethanol, largely due in part to
Over the past several calendar
low-level blends and increasing
years, the state has seen ethanol
infrastructure, the same cannot
consumption increase from a mere
be said for biodiesel consumption
430,259 gallons of E100 in 2004
in the state. In 2004, just over
to over 73 million gallons in 2008.
60,000 gallons of B100 were
In 2009, over 45 million gallons of
sold, increasing to almost 1.5
ethanol were consumed by May 1.
million gallons by the end of
S.C. boasts over 65 E85 stations
2007. However, this trend shifted
across the state.
80,000,000
70,000,000
60,000,000
50,000,000
40,000,000
30,000,000
20,000,000
10,000,000
negatively in 2008, when sales
dropped off to literally zero gallons
sold in December. Total sales
for 2008 were just over 500,000
gallons. Sales continue at only a
fraction of historical sales. This
has been made worse by the recent
suspension of the mandate which
required school buses to use a
biodiesel blend; this budget proviso
remains active for the FY10 school
year, allowing districts to use the
most economical bus fuel.
It is important to note that both
gasoline and diesel sales also
declined from 2007 through 2009.
Ethanol (E100)
Biodiesel (B100)
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
3
About the Palmetto State
Clean Fuels Coalition
The Palmetto State Clean Fuels Coalition
(PSCFC) is part of the U.S. DOE Clean Cities
program and is one of approximately 90
designated coalitions in the United States.
The Department of Energy approved the
application for PSCFC's designation in
2004, recognizing the commitment of our
stakeholders to building an alternative fuels
market in South Carolina. We have just
completed our 5 year redesignation process
and look forward to another great five years.
The PSCFC is dedicated to promoting
alternative fuels, fuel blends, advanced
vehicles, hybrid vehicles, fuel economy,
and idle reduction. As a Clean Cities
organization, the PSCFC strives to advance
the nation's economic, environmental,
and energy security by supporting local
decisions to adopt practices that contribute
to the reduction of petroleum consumption.
Getting Involved with PSCFC
Becoming a stakeholder in the Palmetto State Clean Fuels Coalition is simple. Membership
in this organization is free and will include email updates on grant opportunities, education
& outreach, and promotion of your organization on our website which lists stakeholders
(www.palmettocleanfuels.org/). Stakeholders are asked to complete a copy of our
Memorandum of Understanding which can be found on our website. To join our listserve,
please email Amy Lawrence at alawrence@energy.sc.gov with your contact information.
Upcoming Events
September 1
Green is Good for Business
Go Green, Drive Clean Event
Columbia Metropolitan
Convention Center
Columbia, SC
For more information, call
(803) 545-2722 or email cpac@
columbiasc.net
http://www.coccpac.
com/?pageid=22
October 14-15
EPA Region 4: FREE Biodiesel
Workshop
Atlanta, GA
http://www.epa.gov/region4/
clean_energy/conferences.html
October 19-20
2009 Green Fleet Conference
Hyatt Regency Chicago
http://www.greenfleetconference.
com/
November 2-5
Clean Cities Coordinator
Leadership Retreat
Gatlinburg, TN
Contact Us
Fueling Change
We're On the Road to Cleaner Air
Amy Lawrence
Clean Cities Co-Coordinator
alawrence@energy.sc.gov
Erika H. Myers
Clean Cities Co-Coordinator
emyers@energy.sc.gov
South Carolina Energy Office
1200 Senate Street
408 Wade Hampton Building
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 737-8030 (office)
(803) 737-9846 (fax)
SC Energy Office
www.energy.sc.gov
US Department of Energy
www.energy.gov/recovery
PSCFC
www.palmettocleanfuels.org
4