September 2022 Edition
A Message from the
Executive Director
The alternative fuel industry received a major boost last month when Congress passed, and President Joseph Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) into law. This legislation is the largest federal investment in history that provides funding for solutions to advance technology and innovations to reduce greenhouse gases and emissions with the goal to protect the planet for generations to come.

The IRA designates federal funding via grants for public and private fleets, commercial and residential property owners, research, and workforce development. There is a tremendous opportunity to upskill or retrain your workers to repair and/or maintain vehicles powered by renewable propane, electric, renewable biodiesel, green hydrogen, and renewable natural gas. Check your email from GWRCCC, and visit websites such as www.grants.gov
www.doe.govwww.dot.gov, www.eere.gov, and www.epa.gov for federal grant and funding announcements.

If your company is considering applying for local, state, federal or foundation related funding for clean energy, transportation or environmental project and/or initiatives, GWRCCC can provide letters of support, project management, community engagement and outreach, fleet and fuel analysis, and other services related to technical assistance. Please contact [email protected] or [email protected].

On another note, GWRCCC will hold its Annual Awards Luncheon and Conference on Thursday, October 20, 2022, at the National Press Club. You will not want to miss this event! You can register today at www.gwrccc.org. Sponsorship opportunities are available!

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month and Drive Electric Week!

Sincerely,

Antoine M. Thompson
Executive Director
Washington Nationals
Youth Academy
GWRCCC volunteering distribution food at the Washington Nationals Youth Academy in Washington, DC on Thursday, August 12th
(l-r) Khadijah Shaw, Jesse Casey, Isabella Puchkova
GWRCCC would like your help as we gather input on our constituent’s level of interest for electric vehicles. We greatly appreciate your time to complete our 30 second survey which will help us better educate and advocate for electric vehicle infrastructure, programs and initiatives in the Greater Washington Region and the nation.
 
Grants will cover up to 50% of total eligible project costs up to $5 million to help owners of transportation fueling and fuel distribution facilities convert to higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel. Applications must be submitted by November 21st, 2022. To learn more, visit the HBIIP webpage to sign up for upcoming webinars and to submit your application. 

This FOA seeks research projects to address priorities in the following areas: cost-effective deployment of EV charging for those without easy home charging; innovative solutions to improve mobility options for underserved communities; batteries and electrification; energy-efficient commercial off-road vehicle technologies; and more. Concept papers are due by September 1, 2022, and full applications are due on November 10, 2022.
Join FTA and the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation to learn about new technical assistance being offered to transit agencies and entities receiving -- or planning to apply for – federal funds to expand or transition their fleets with clean and green buses. FTA recently announced over $1.6 billion in FY22 funding to support new-technology buses through the Low- and No-Emission and Buses and Bus Facilities programs.

Created by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to facilitate collaboration between the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation will share resources and guidance, through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, to eligible FTA entities seeking to transition their fleets to low- or no-emission transit vehicles.

Join FTA’s webinar on Thursday, September 15 from 3:00-3:30pm EST to learn more about how to access the technical assistance. The webinar will be followed by a 20-minute question-and-answer session to solicit feedback from industry stakeholders on topics of interest in clean fleet conversions.

This Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) program provides financial assistance for the purchase of new and converted alternative fueled fleet vehicles registered in the state of Maryland. The closing date for this program is November 22, 2022.
EPA Announces the Make a Market Tech Challenge for Students

WASHINGTON (August 24, 2022) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the launch of the Make a Market Tech Challenge, which invites undergraduate and graduate students to develop a market assessment for patented EPA technologies.

“This market assessment challenge is an opportunity for students to showcase their entrepreneurial skill and work collaboratively with EPA to promote patented federal technologies," said Chris Frey, Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Research and Development. “The challenge will encourage the next generation of entrepreneurs to apply their business acumen to identify potential partners and communities that can help grow these targeted EPA innovative technologies to protect human health and the environment.”

The challenge is open to undergraduate and graduate students, 18 years or older, who are enrolled in U.S. accredited colleges and universities. Applicants, made up of individuals or teams, will create a market opportunity assessment to help EPA identify potential market uses for real-world environmental technologies invented by EPA researchers. EPA staff will use these identified opportunities to create partnerships with companies and fellow researchers to use the technologies for public benefit. The goals of the challenge are to expand research capabilities, stimulate new business and economic development, and help improve efforts to protect human health and the environment.

Each individual or team will develop a market assessment for one of the following technologies:

  • Water Contamination Detection Kit
-Detects arsenic and other pollutants in water through electrochemical
biosensors.
  • Portable Cyanobacteria Detection Kit for Recreation and Drinking Water Supplies
-Monitors toxic cyanobacterial levels in recreation and drinking
water sources.
  • In situ Chloramine Sensor for Municipal Water Distribution Systems
-Generates data to allow municipal water systems to analyze the
effectiveness of its treatment of biofilms within pipes.
  • Carbon Traps to Deactivate Halogen Containing Pollutants
-Remediates contaminants in waterbodies and reduces pollutants in
food stocks.
  • Cyanobacteria Assessment Network App (CyAN app)
-A mobile application used to measure water quality to detect and
forecast harmful algal blooms (HABs) across marine and freshwater
systems.

The top five submissions will receive a cash award. The grand prize award amount is $6,000. Two runners up will each receive awards of $3,000 and two third place awardees will each receive $1,500.

The challenge is now open and will close Saturday, December 31. Applicants will have the opportunity to attend the informational webinar held on Wednesday, September 14 from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET to ask questions and connect with subject matter experts. Video interviews with the inventors of the technologies will also be posted on the website.

To apply for the challenge, please visit the Make A Market Tech Challenge page.
Biden-Harris Administration Establishes Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's $335 Million Battery Recycling Programs

The U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE) is requesting feedback on how federal investments made available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) can accelerate the collection, transportation, processing, and recycling of batteries. Enabling second-life applications of used lithium-ion batteries when possible—and safely recycling them when necessary—is a critical step as more and more battery electric vehicles are deployed across the country. In alignment with the Justice40 initiative, USDOE will address equity, environmental, and energy justice in relation to battery recycling and manufacturing.

USDOE is seeking feedback from industry, recyclers, retailers, community organizations, tribes, and state and local governments to ensure future funding opportunities address the energy and transportation needs of all Americans. Responses to the RFI are due October 14, 2022. 
 

USDOE is seeking feedback from industry, recyclers, retailers, community organizations, tribes, and state and local governments to ensure that the U.S. has viable domestic manufacturing and recycling capability to support and sustain a domestic battery supply chain. Responses to the RFI are due by October 14, 2022.
2022 Annual Conference, Meeting and Awards Luncheon
Join GWRCCC on Thursday, October 20, 2022, at 11 AM at the National Press Club for the Annual Conference, Meeting & Awards Luncheon.

Click here to register.
Nominations for GWRCCC's Awards Luncheon are Open!
Click here for more information on how to submit your nominations.

Awards Categories:
  • VA Visionary Award
  • Maryland Visionary Award
  • DC Visionary Award
  • GWRCCC Partner of the Year Award
  • Automotive Dealership of the Year
  • Transit Fleet of the Year

Trailblazer Award Categories:
  • Electric Vehicle Charging
  • E-85
  • Propane
  • Natural Gas
  • Biodiesel
Drive Electric Week Event
GWRCCC is teaming up with the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy to feature a variety of electric transportation devices available for the public to interact with including electric bikes, buses, cars, etc.

Click here to register.
Sponsorship Opportunities!
GWRCCC is seeking your help and support. Click here to review the Sponsorship Opportunities.
INDUSTRY EVENTS
Sept. 20-21, 2022
Arlington, VA

Fleet professionals from across the US will gather in the Nation’s Capital for two days of education and conversations on issues impacting the fleet and mobility industry, advocacy training, and networking. The industry’s leading experts will cover a multitude of legislative and regulatory topics affecting the industry, including a specific focus on:
  • The Preventing Auto Recycling Thefts (PART) Act,
  • EV Recharging Infrastructure, and
  • Vehicular Data Access and how it relates to fleet operations.
AltWheels Fleet Day 2022
Oct. 3, 2022

AltWheels is the premier annual event promoting alternative and sustainable transportation solutions for fleet managers. Sponsor and speaking opportunities available now!

Please contact Meg at 508-498-8020 or [email protected] with any sponsorship inquiries. Register here!
October 20-21, 2022
Richmond, VA

The Virginia Clean Energy Summit will present the clean energy technologies, policies, and business practices that are transforming Virginia’s energy landscape today. The goal of the Summit is to highlight opportunities and encourage collaboration that speeds our use of more energy efficiency, solar, wind, storage, EVs, and other clean energy solutions. Conference attendees will include representatives from businesses, state and local governments, academia, and NGOs.
NGVAmerica's 2022 Annual Meeting & Industry Summit
Nov. 1-3, 2022
Charleston, SC

Join us 11/1 - 11/3 for NGVAmerica’s 2022 Annual Meeting & Industry Summit - NGV22 at Wild Dunes, Charleston's Island Resort. Hosted and attended by the biggest players in this space, NGV22 is the only dedicated natural gas in transportation alternative fuels conference and conversation focused on the North American market.

A special registration rate of $549 is available to all Clean Cities Coordinators and Federal Government Employees (subject to validation). To take advantage of this discounted rate please contact us at [email protected].
2022 AFCC Conference Plenary Progress
Nov. 6-8, 20022
Washington, DC

The conference will focus on promoting the USDA's BioPreferred® Program* throughout this two-day conference and exhibition. To kick off the event there will be a reception on Sunday evening, November 14, 2021 from 5:30 -7:00 p.m., included in the registration of the conference.
Fleet Forward Conference
Nov. 9–11, 2022
Santa Clara, CA

The Fleet Forward Conference is designed to deliver fleets solutions on electrification, connected vehicles, autonomous technology, last-mile mobility, IoT, shared mobility, Fleet Management as a Service, next-generation telematics, and more.

The 2022 event will feature a new safety track and an expanded Ride and Drive—attendees will have multiple opportunities to drive electric vehicles, mingle with product experts, and experience new technologies behind the wheel in a large outdoor interactive space.

Register using the discount code FFCGOVT23 for a $200 discount off the standard fleet manager conference pass. Early bird rates are good through Oct. 6, 2022, saving you an additional $100. This discount is for coalition coordinators, co-coordinators, and staff only. Please do not share with stakeholders.
Consider joining our thriving organization!
For more information, scan or click on the QR Code below.
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