GBRCCC

RFPs for Diesel Emissions Reduction Projects due June 25, 2013

Don’t miss out on the latest round of DERA funding for diesel emissions reduction projects. As part of the priority counties (parishes) targeted in this funding opportunity – Louisiana applicants will get extra points toward winning this competitive grant (see list of priority parishes at bottom of article). These priority areas include those participating in the EPA’s Ozone Advance program as well as parishes in the EPA’s air quality non-attainment zones.

• Link to RFP: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/diesel/prgnational.htm
• Opened: May 9, 2013
• RFP Due: June 25, 2013
• Average awards for this funding opportunity, per application, may range from $200,000 – $900,000. There is a limit to how many projects an applicant may submit to. For each applicant/entity – you may only turn in a total of 2 applications and there is a limit of one application per region, per entity.
• Webinar Slides - provides a detailed review of FY 2013 DERA RFP
• Recording of Webinar

Eligible Applicants
The following United States entities are eligible to apply for these grants:

• Regional, state, local or tribal agencies/consortia or port authorities with jurisdiction over transportation or air quality
• Nonprofit organizations or institutions that promote of transportation or air quality as their principal purpose or that represent or provide pollution reduction or educational services to people or organizations that own or operate diesel fleets.
• School districts, municipalities, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), cities and counties are all eligible entities under this assistance agreement program to the extent that they fall within the definition above.

Eligible Uses of Funding

• Funds awarded under this program cannot be used to fund emissions reductions mandated under Federal law. Equipment used for testing emissions or for fueling infrastructure is not eligible for funding.
• Buses, medium or heavy duty trucks, marine engines and locomotives may qualify for funding. Non-road engines or vehicles used in construction, cargo handling (including at a port or airport), agriculture, mining or energy production (including stationary generators and pumps) also qualify.

Grant funds may be used for clean diesel projects that use:

• Retrofit technologies that are verified or certified by either EPA or CARB
• Idle-reduction technologies that are EPA verified
• Aerodynamic technologies and low rolling resistance tires that are EPA verified
• Early replacement and repower with certified engine configurations (incremental costs only)

Louisiana Parishes in priority county list:

Ascension, Assumption, Bossier, Breton Wilderness Area, Caddo, Calcasieu, Cameron, De Soto, East Baton Rouge, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany, Terrebonne and West Baton Rouge

The “Question of the Month” is published monthly by The Clean Cities Technical Response Service (TRS) and answers a frequently asked question received by the TRS.

Question: What are the federal emissions and fuel economy standards for current and future on-road vehicles? Have any related emissions and fuel regulations been passed recently?

Answer: Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards and the associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards set requirements for new light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicle models with the goal of improving theoverall fuel efficiency and environmental impact. Fuel economy standards for light-duty vehicles were introduced inthe Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) of 1975; regulations were established for on-road vehicles beginning with Model Year (MY) 1978. EPCA grants the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) the authority to regulate CAFE standards, with the requirement that new standards may not be proposed more than five model years at a time.

In 2010, NHTSA partnered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue the first joint program that includes both fuel economy requirements under NHTSA’s CAFE program and emissions standards under EPA’s GHG emissions program. Starting with MY 2012 vehicles, manufacturers are required to improve fleet-wide fuel economy and reduce fleet-wide GHG emissions by approximately 5% each year. By 2016, vehicles must meet an estimated combined average emissions level of no more than 250 grams of carbon dioxide per mile. If the industry met this carbon dioxide standard solely through fuel economy improvements, vehicles would have an average fuel economy of35.5 miles per gallon (mpg). For more information, see the EPA fact sheet: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/climate/regulations/420f10014.pdf.

NHTSA and EPA established the CAFE and GHG emissions standards for MY 2017 through MY 2025 passenger cars and light-duty trucks in 2012 in two phases, which are broken down as follows:

*Proposed, pending final rule

For more information, refer to the EPA fact sheet: http://www.epa.gov/oms/climate/documents/420f12051.pdf.

In 2011, NHTSA and EPA set the first-ever standards to reduce GHG emissions and improve fuel efficiency ofmedium- and heavy-duty vehicles (vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 10,000 pounds). Thestandards cover MY 2014 through MY 2018 on-road vehicles and are tailored to each of three main regulatory subcategories:

• Combination tractors (also known as semi trucks);
• Heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans; and
• Vocational vehicles (such as delivery, refuse, and tow trucks; transit, shuttle, and school buses; and emergency vehicles).

The requirements provide flexibility through an emissions and fuel consumption credit system to help reduce theoverall costs of the program and to allow manufacturers time to make necessary technological improvements.

For more information on fuel economy and GHG emissions standards, refer to the NHTSA CAFE – Fuel Economy (http://www.nhtsa.gov/fuel-economy/), EPA Transportation and Climate (http://www.epa.gov/otaq/climate/regulations.htm), and FuelEconomy.gov (http://fueleconomy.gov/) websites.

On March 29, 2013, EPA announced their Tier 3 Vehicle Emission and Fuel Standards Program, which includes more stringent tailpipe emissions standards for non-methane organic gas (NMOG), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter (PM); more stringent evaporative vehicle emissions; and lower sulfur content of gasoline. This proposal aligns vehicle standards with the GHG emissions standards outlined above, as well as the California Low Emission Vehicle Program (http://www.afdc.energy.gov/laws/law/CA/6493), allowing automakers to sell the same vehicle models in every state. The standards would apply to light-duty trucks, medium-duty passenger vehicles, and some heavy-duty vehicles and include different phase-in schedules based on vehicle class from MY 2017 to MY 2025. The proposed gasoline sulfur standard would make emission control systems more effective for both existing and new vehicles. For more information, refer to the proposed rule (http://www.epa.gov/otaq/documents/tier3/tier3-nprm-20130329.pdf) andthe EPA Tier 3 Vehicle Emission and Fuel Standards Program website (http://www.epa.gov/otaq/tier3.htm).

For more up-to-date information about federal and state vehicle standards, refer to the Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) Federal Incentives and Laws website (http://www.afdc.energy.gov/laws/fed_summary).

Clean Cities Technical Response Service Team

technicalresponse@icfi.com

800-254-6735

The Greater Baton Rouge Clean Cities Coalition is pleased to announce our participation in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Advance Program, partnering with the Capital Region Planning Commission, the Baton Rouge Clean Air Coalition and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.

In a letter to GBRCCC, the EPA’s director of the Outreach and Information Division, Gregory Green stated that our “participation will offer considerable benefits to the ongoing efforts in the area to improve air quality.”

The Advance Program is a collaborative effort by states and local governments to encourage emission reductions to that will yield continued attainment with National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Participants in the Ozone Advance program are required to submit an action plan that outlines what the areas have done to address emission standards as well as what their plans for ozone reduction are for the future.

Lauren Stuart, Executive Director of the Greater Baton Rouge Clean Cities Coalition, explains the role of transportation in air quality: ”at a time when many areas of the state are becoming more concerned with ozone formation, alternative fuel options for transportation are an important part of addressing the air pollution problem.”

Ms. Stuart will be appearing on WAFB Morning Show, Sunday Morning to discuss GBRCCC’s involvement in the Advance Program through EPA and air quality issues in the  Baton Rouge area. In the Baton Rouge area, please tune in to WAFB, Channel 9 at 8am on April 28th.

On April 29, Ms. Stuart, will speak about alternative fuels and air quality at the Advance Program press conference hosted by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality at 10 a.m in the conference center. The Press conference will be opened by DEQ Secretary, Peggy Hatch. There will be four short presentations by Michael Vince, DEQ; Mike McDaniel, PhD, facilitator, Baton Rouge Clean Air Coalition; Ravi Ponnapureddy, Capital Region Planning Commission; and Lauren Stuart, GBRCCC.

The EPA Advance Program press conference information is as follows:

Monday, April 29, 2013

10 a.m., DEQ Conference Center

Oliver Pollock Room

602 N. 5^th Street,

Baton Rouge

LEED adds new and updated pilot credits

Among LEED’s new pilot credits are points for instituting:

• strict idling limits;
• installing EV charging stations;
• adding preferred parking spaces for “Green” vehicles.

Pollution standards for on-road equipment and idling limits defined in the updates

“On January 24, 2013, the US Green Building Council announced that a Clean Construction Pilot Credit can be used toward Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.

Applicants who earn this credit will reduce the release of diesel emissions during the construction phase of a green building project, minimizing the health impacts to on-site workers and in adjacent communities… A three year transition period allows for newer, cleaner equipment to penetrate the marketplace.”

Source: EPA Clean Diesel News: 1/24/13  www.epa.gov/cleandiesel 
E-mail: cleandiesel@epa.gov

For more information:
LEED Pilot Credit Library

Green Vehicle Credit / LEED

The Clean Cities Technical Response Service (TRS) Question of the Month is back! It provides an answer to a frequently asked question received by the TRS and shares additional resources.

Question of the Month: What strategies are used to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and improve overall transportation system efficiency?

Answer: VMT is a measure used in the transportation planning community and elsewhere to report the number of miles that motor vehicles are driven on the road. It is a representation of how much fuel a transportation system uses, the resources necessary to build and maintain that system, and the amount of time the regions’ inhabitants are spending on the road.

While the focus of Clean Cities is vehicle technology and alternative fuel use, many coalitions also work in their communities to reduce VMT and improve overall transportation system efficiency. Increasing efficiency through transportation demand management can help achieve local and nationwide goals for transportation (reduced congestion), energy (decreased petroleum use), and the environment (reduced emissions). Fleets can also benefit from strategies to reduce VMT through cost and time savings.

Transportation planners, vehicle fleet managers, and corporate decision makers can all play a role in transportation demand management. Strategies for reducing VMT include:

• Ridesharing: Encourage people to share vehicles and commute together through employee rideshare, ridematching systems, and car sharing programs.
• Mass Transit: Develop, improve, or increase ridership on buses, bus rapid transit, trolleys, rail, and ferry systems.
• Active Transit: Eliminate vehicle use by supporting strategies that encourage biking and walking, including infrastructure development (e.g., bike lanes, sidewalks) and bike share programs.
• Multi-Modal Transportation: Develop resources and infrastructure to enable commuters to split up their trip into multiple modes, including ridesharing, mass transit, and active transit (e.g., online trip planners, park-and ride lots).
• Telework: Implement flexible work arrangements where employees can work from home (telecommute) or attend meetings from their computer (teleconference).
• Route-Planning Software: Utilizetools that allow fleets, particularly delivery and pick-up services, to plan and follow the most direct route.

For more information on these strategies, visit the Alternative Fuels Data Center’s Transportation System Efficiency page (www.afdc.energy.gov/conserve/system_efficiency.html).

You can also contact the Clean Cities Technical Response Service Team directly with any questions at technicalresponse@icfi.com or 800-254-6735.

CSX Corporation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Clean Fuel Partnership are contributing to better air quality in Louisiana through a jointly-funded GenSet ultra-low emission locomotive. Housed at CSX’s Gentilly Yard in New Orleans, the GenSet uses technology that reduces carbon emissions by 25% and nitrogen oxide and particulate matter emissions by more than 80%. The new engine system is expected to save 15,000 gallons each year annually, with a projected annual cost savings of over $50,000.

New Orleans Public Belt reduces Costs, Emissions with Idle Reduction Equipment- Saves close to $500,000 in Fuel Costs: New Orleans Public Belt (NOPB) is reaping the benefits of retrofitting locomotives with idle reduction equipment to reduce their air emissions and fuel costs.

Read both stories in their entirety in the August issue of the Clean Fuel Newsletter.

Reprinted with permission of the  Southeast Louisiana Clean Fuel Partnership.

GBRCCC Celebrates Louisiana AFV Odyssey Day at the Capital Park Welcome Center on October 18, 2012

The Greater Baton Rouge Clean Cities Coalition and the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources are hosting lawmakers, government officials and Clean Cities stakeholders from across our state at the Capital Park Welcome Center in downtown Baton Rouge for a one day Symposium and Exhibition in conjunction with the National Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Day Odyssey which is a biennial, outreach and education event dedicated to promoting the use of AFVs and advanced technology vehicles.

The event will include an afternoon program featuring keynote speaker, Dr. Mike Strain, Commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry. Come on down to the river front to hear experts present on the current political and economic landscape of the Alternative Fuels industry and listen to a panel discussion “Success Story” of a city in Louisiana that is transitioning to alternative fuels.  Afterwards, linger under the oaks while exploring our line-up of alternative fuel vehicles and exhibitors.

Download Registration information here:

Odyssey Day Flier
Registration Form
Exhibitor Information
Sponsor Information

On June 12, 2012 word began to spread that East Baton Rouge City Parish is planning to convert its fleet of Government vehicles to CNG (Compressed Natural Gas). The reasoning behind the move was  to save money on fuel and reduce the amount of harmful emissions produced (see previous post WHO Declares Diesel Fumes Cancerous). More accurately – the  City of Baton Rouge/Parish of East Baton Rouge wants to investigate the potential of converting its over 1000 vehicle fleet to the use of Compressed Natural Gas. The vehicles they are considering converting are the DPW’s and City Administrative vehicles. The City/Parish determined they would like use the State Statue 33:4547 for Energy Efficiency Performance Contracting (EEPC) as the mechanism to convert their fleet. This Statue was designed primarily for improving energy efficiencies and related dollar savings in buildings, but this will be its first initial use as mechanism for CNG facilities and vehicle conversions.

The program is built around Energy Conservation Measures (ECM’s) as the basis of energy and costs savings. The intent of the program is for EEPC proposers to provide both CNG fueling facilities and vehicle conversions at no costs to the City/Parish while also providing a guaranteed annual savings over the life of the project based on the potential fuel costs savings due to use of CNG. The first step of the process was for the City/Parish to retain a Third-party Independent Consultant for Evaluation Services in conjunction with the selection of an Energy Service Company that will provide management and energy-related capital, equipment, and/or operational improvement services for the East Baton Rouge Parish DPW motor vehicle fleet.

The City/Parish advertised for consultants and selected Professional Engineering Consultants as the firm to serve as the Third part Independent Consultant. The firm’s scope of services to perform the duties of the “Third-party Evaluation Consultant” as provided in Louisiana Revised Statute 33:4547.1 et.seq., included:

• Work with the DPW Engineering office to review the DPW vehicle inventory, fuel usage records, fuel distribution facilities and assist in the development of a list of possible Energy Conservation Measures that can be included in a Request for Proposals (RFP). The selection of a Performance-Based energy Efficiency Contractor is to provide the design, installation, subsequent measurement and verification measures for reduction of fuel consumption in the estimated 2000 road and off road DPW‘s vehicle fleet.

• Review and evaluation of all proposals that may be submitted in response to the RFP.

• Assist the RFP selection committee in their review and evaluation of all proposals that may be submitted in response to the RFP.

• Submission of the results from our evaluation in an open meeting with the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Council Capitol Improvement Committee.

• Attend the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Council meeting to respond to questions or comments related to our evaluation.

• Assist the Department of Public Works in the negotiation process with the selected Contractor during the preparation of various performance estimates, monitoring and verification plans and other technical aspects of the contract, schedules and attachments.

The Contract is estimated to take over over 18 months for the first phase of construction of fueling facilities and vehicle conversions.

Related articles

• EBR converting vehicles to natural gas | Home | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA.
• East Baton Rouge is attempting to introduce natural gas vehicles (USGasVehicles.com)

Monday @ Sonic on Highland Road

The Greater Baton Rouge Clean Cities Coalition (GBRCCC) would like to welcome the MINDDRIVE team to Baton Rouge. This team of high school students from Kansas City, MO have converted a 1977 Lotus Esprit into an electric (EV) vehicle. As part of their 2,400 mile cross country tour, they will be stopping at the Sonic Drive In on Highland Road at I10 on Monday, June 18th at 6:30PM for a press conference and to show off their car.

Quick Facts:

Who:  High School Students from Kansas City, MO Journey:  2,400 mile journey from San Diego, CA to Jacksonville, FL

The Car: A prototype ultra-high-efficiency plug-in electric vehicle that they designed and built from a 1977 Lotus Espirit

The Program:  The group, MINDDRIVE, is an educational program for at-risk urban high school students focused on hands-on activities in an automotive design class.  After a successful trip in 2010, this year’s class is making the trip to showcase the benefits of EVs and their accomplishment of designing a fully electric vehicle

Learn more about MINDDRIVE and their mission: www.minddrive.org

Related article

• MINDDRIVE’S Electric Car Project Seeks National Sponsorships for Coast-To-Coast Demonstration Run (prweb.com)

Tuesday, June 12, 2012 The World Health Organization’s cancer agency officially declared in a ruling that Diesel fumes cause cancer. The Science panel raised the status of diesel exhaust from “probable carcinogen” to carcinogen.

WHO: Diesel fumes cause cancer | Business | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA.

Clean Cities Diesel Emission Reduction Programs

Clean Cities helps vehicle fleets and consumers reduce their petroleum use. Clean Cities builds partnerships with local and statewide organizations in the public and private sectors to adopt:

• Alternative and renewable fuels
• Idle-reduction measures
• Fuel economy improvements
• New transportation technologies, as they emerge.

To learn more, contact your local Clean Cities Coordinator gbrccc@gmail.com.