Maine Clean Communities Newsletter

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1 Like Tw eet 0 Send Share: April/May, 2011 Maine Clean Communities Newsletter In This Issue Fuel-Saving Idle Reduction System Through C ooperative Purchasing Clean Cities Clean Fleets Partnership Blueprint for A Secure Energy Future Successful Propane Workshop Held EcoDriving Workshop 4/26/11 New Federal Initiatives for Electric Vehicles Clean Cities 2011 Vehicle Buyer's Guide Maine's Fleets 2010 Petroleum Reductions Quick Links Maine C lean C ommunities Clean Cities GPCOG EcoDriving Workshop For Fleets Held April 26th EcoDriving - a set of simple driving and maintenance practices - is a low- cost means of saving fuel and reducing emissions. EcoDriving practices are regularly shown to increase fuel economy by 10-15%. For a great article on the impacts of EcoDriving practices, click here. Maine Clean Communities teamed up with Cushman Transportation Consulting, LLC, and Southern Maine Community College to provide EcoDriving Training for fleets from Portland, Scarborough, Windham, Westbrook and Gray/New Gloucester. Clean Cities Now Newsletter Thank you to Lee Auto Malls for their generous sponsorship! Clean Cities Now, a biannual newsletter from the U.S. Department of Energy is now available on-line. To sign up for the newsletter Heather Proc at Heather.Proc@nrel.gov or click here. 1/5

2 Fuel-Saving Idle Reduction System Offered Through GPCOG's Cooperative Purchasing is expanding to include energy and cost-saving products and services. The first product offered through GPCOG's expanded Cooperative Services Program is the IdleRight vehicle idle- management system. The IdleRight system is designed primarily for vehicles which are parked for extended periods of time, idling in order to run emergency lights or electronics without depleting the battery. In essence, IdleRight is a small control module installed into a vehicle's electrical system that monitors battery voltage while the vehicle is parked and running accessories with the engine off. If the battery voltage drops below a set threshold, the IdleRight automatically starts the engine to recharge the battery, then shuts it off again once the battery is charged. This results in considerable fuel savings and decreased engine wear compared to continuously idling a vehicle to run accessories. New Federal Initiatives to Promote Electric Vehicles President Obama's goal of putting one million electric vehicles on the road by 2015 represents a key milestone toward dramatically reducing dependence on oil and ensuring that America leads in the growing electric vehicle manufacturing industry. Although the goal is ambitious, key steps already taken and further steps proposed indicate the goal is achievable. Leading vehicle manufacturers already have plans for cumulative U.S. production capacity of more than 1.2 million electric vehicles by While it appears that the goal is within reach in terms of production capacity, initial costs and lack of familiarity with the technology could be barriers. For that reason, President Obama has proposed steps to accelerate America's leadership in electric vehicle deployment, including improvements to existing consumer tax credits, programs to help cities prepare for growing demand for electric vehicles and strong support for research and development. For a full report click here. Communities in the Greater Portland region, including Falmouth, Scarborough, and Portland, have purchased this system for trial in their own police and public works vehicles, and have seen positive results. All participants in GPCOG's Cooperative Services Program are eligible for the discounted purchase and installation costs negotiated between GPCOG, the product manufacturers (Havis), and Radio Communications Management, a local dealer and installer in Portland. brings communities, schools and nonprofit agencies together for the purpose of saving money through group purchases on goods and services. Based on positive feedback and Nissan Leaf 2011 In addition, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced on April 19th it is taking additional steps to speed up the deployment of electric vehicles (EVs). These efforts include making available $5 million in new funding for community- based efforts to deploy EV infrastructure and charging stations. DOE is also forming a partnership with Google Inc. and more than 80 EV stakeholders to help 2/5

3 interest from participants in 2010, GPCOG has been broadening their current program to begin including energy efficiency and environmentallypreferable products and services. By making these emerging "green" products and services available through cooperative purchasing, GPCOG hopes to enable member communities to save money through energy- savings and waste reduction, while also improving the sustainability of their operations. In addition to the IdleRight system, GPCOG's expanded Cooperative Services Program also currently offers fuel saving low- rolling resistance tires. Questions regarding the IdleRight system, purchasing agreement, or should be directed to Eben Marsh or Ben Lake at GPCOG ( ). President Obama Announces "Clean Cities Clean Fleets Partnership" On April 1st, President Obama announced the "Clean Cities National Clean Fleets Partnership" at a UPS facility in Landover, Maryland. This is the program previously known as the "National Petroleum Reduction Partners." Besides the title, none of the details have changed. consumers find charging stations nationwide. The goal is to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil, saving consumers money and helping meet the Administration's goal of 1 million advanced technology vehicles on the road by Lastly, the DOE just released a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) entitled "Clean Cities Community Readiness and Planning for Plug-in Electric Vehicles and Charging Infrastructure." Maine Clean Communities is exploring applying for this competitive grant with other Clean Cities programs in all the New England states and Connecticut. Click here to view the full FOA. Clean Cities' 2011 Vehicle Buyer's Guide Now Available Model year 2011 may be remembered as a year of firsts-the Nissan Leaf, the first allelectric highway sedan; the Chevy Volt, the first commercially available electric vehicle touted for its extended range capability; hybrid pickup trucks; vehicles and trucks that can operate on propane; and pickup trucks approved to operate on B20. As in past years, fuel availability may be the deciding factor in any vehicle purchase. Different fuels are being developed in different parts of the country, including natural gas fueling stations which are growing in number. Electric charging at home is now a viable option and often can be arranged when you purchase an electric vehicle. Public electric charging stations are being planned as cities prepare for a rollout of electric vehicles. The free alternative fueling station locator at help you identify local fueling options for your vehicle. Check out the new website associated with the Partnership: cleancities.energy.gov/cleanfleet. Also, check out the DOE Facebook page ( and Twitter ( If you The 2011 Vehicle Buyer's Guide introduces the exciting lineup of alternative fuel and advanced technology light- duty vehicles that combine reduced petroleum use with new transportation technologies. Take the time to educate yourself about the possibility of getting into a vehicle that reduces your use of petroleum, produces lower air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and takes you into the future of transportation. Click here to access the Buyer's Guide. 3/5

4 have any questions, please contact Mark Smith Blueprint For A Secure Energy Future On March 30, 2011 President Obama announced the "Blueprint For A Secure Energy Future." This Blueprint includes strategies for making the U.S. more energy secure and less dependent on oil by increasing our production of natural gas and biofuels, increasing our fuel efficiency and expanding cleaner sources of energy including renewables. To help us reach these goals, the Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future outlines a three-part strategy that includes: 1) Develop and Secure America's Energy Supplies: We need to deploy American assets, innovation, and technology so that we can safely and responsibly develop more energy here at home and be a leader in the global energy economy; 2) Provide Consumers With Choices to Reduce Costs and Save Energy: Volatile gasoline prices reinforce the need for innovation that will make it easier and more affordable for consumers to buy more advanced and fuel- efficient vehicles, use alternative means of transportation, weatherize their homes and workplaces, and in doing so, save money and protect the environment. These measures help families' pocketbooks, reduce our dependence on finite energy sources and help create jobs here in the United States; and 3) Innovate our Way to a Clean Energy Future: Leading the world in clean energy is critical to strengthening the American economy and winning the future. We can get there by creating markets for innovative clean technologies that are ready to deploy, and by funding cutting- edge research to produce the next generation of technologies. And as new, better, and more efficient Maine's Fleets Reduced Fossil Fuel Usage 1.1 Million Gallons in Petroleum Reduction Survey Results Completed A big thank you to all those fleets who participated in MC2's 2010 annual survey! Your responses helped MC2 receive funding for its important work here in Maine. Maine Clean Communities' 2010 Alternative Fuel and Petroleum Reduction Survey yielded mixed results: biodiesel consumption dropped substantially in 2010, while the quantity of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) reported increased, as did fuel economy improvements and onboard idle reduction technology. In 2010, alternative fuels, hybrids, idling policies and other petroleum reduction efforts reduced Maine's dependence on gasoline and diesel by over 1.1 million gallons (gasoline gallon equivalent or GGE). These same efforts reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by over 7,500 tons. In 2009, petroleum reduction efforts reduced gasoline and diesel consumption by over 1.2 million GGE, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 9,000 GHG. The difference between 2009 and 2010 is due in part to differences in reporting and analysis of idle reduction programs. Biodiesel consumption also dropped significantly, however - by approximately 71,000 GGE. Most federal alternative fuel incentives expired at the end of Though Congress reinstated them retroactively at the end of 2010, many users stopped using biodiesel due to uncertainty and price increases. Moreover, Maine lost one of its two in-state biodiesel producers; Cyn Oil bought Green Bean Biofuel and is no longer producing biodiesel at the Vassalboro plant. However, Maine Standard Biofuels managed to increase their production even with the lapse in the incentives. Now that federal incentives are reinstated, we hope to see Maine's overall biodiesel industry rebound. While biodiesel consumption dropped, the number of alternative fuel vehicles reported increased by 19 (some of that increase is due 4/5

5 technologies hit the market, the Federal government needs to put words into action and lead by example. Succcessful Propane Workshop Held for Fleets On March 24th Maine Clean Communities held a successful workshop for fleets on the benefits of propane as a fuel source. Approximately 35 fleet managers, business owners, public works directors and other interested parties attended the session. The workshop focused on how propane is a clean, domestic and affordable alternative to diesel and gasoline. Participants learned about propane's benefits and how fleets can make the transition. Topics covered included: existing incentives for and economics of propane; installation of propane distribution infrastructure; propane consumption at the school, municipal and individual level; and propane vehicle conversions. For more information click here. to increased survey respondents). Gallons saved from idle reduction policies and programs also dropped from 2009 to 2010, but the quantity and impact of onboard idle reduction technologies increased by 23,500 GGE. Significantly more fuel- economy improvements were reported in 2010, accounting for nearly 90,000 additional GGE saved. Additionally, the Maine Turnpike Authority opened its Truck Stop Electrification program in November 2010, with 30 bays at the West Gardiner exit. Thanks again to those who participated in the 2010 survey. Thanks to you, the Maine Clean Communities Annual Alternative Fuel Survey continues to grow in breadth and accuracy. *Note: This survey does not reflect all alternative fuel and petroleum reduction efforts in Maine. The survey is sent to fleets only, and does not capture individual efforts. Further, it relies on self-reporting. MC2 cannot vouch for the accuracy of fleet reports, and not all fleets respond to information requests. We are grateful to those who do. Maine Clean Communities is a locally based government/industry partnership, coordinated by the US Department of Energy and administered by the Greater Portland Council of Governments to expand the use of alternatives to gasoline and diesel fuel, and reduce the use of petroleum for transportation. Steve Linnell Coordinator, Maine Clean Communities Confirm that you like this. Click the "Like" button. 5/5