Wisconsin Clean Cities
Driving Wisconsin Forward Since 1994
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2023 Transportation & Innovation Expo | |
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Registration is now open for the Transportation & Innovation Expo in Madison!
Wisconsin Clean Cities is proud to partner with Alliant Energy, the City of Madison Fleet Service, and Madison Gas and Electric to co-host the state’s largest sustainable transportation conference and expo on October 11, 2023 at the Alliant Energy Center.
The 100,000-square-foot exhibit hall will feature a variety of exhibitors and indoor vehicle and equipment displays. Attendees will also have the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a variety of alternative fuel and electric vehicles during the ride and drive outside the exhibit hall.
Registration and Sponsorship Opportunities can be found HERE.
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Clean Cities Celebrating 30 Years Advancing Clean Transportation
Happy 30th birthday to the Clean Cities Coalition Network! Join us in celebrating 30 years of boosting the country’s energy security, economic vitality, and quality of life by advancing affordable, efficient, and clean transportation fuels and technologies. Over 30 years, the network has built bipartisan support, deep connections within the transportation industry, and active partnerships with 20,000 public and private stakeholders. Thriving on a culture of collaborative change, coalitions harness decades of deployment expertise to continue moving our transportation systems into the future.
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The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Announces New Green Tier Charter for Climate Action | The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced DNR Secretary Adam N. Payne signed the new Green Tier Charter for Climate Action. The launch of the charter also commemorates the 53rd year of Earth Day, underscoring Wisconsin’s dedication and leadership in protecting our natural resources. | |
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Click the following link to learn more about the announcement:
Press Release
What does this mean?
Good news! The Green Tier program promotes superior environmental performance by encouraging businesses, local governments, and non-profits to move beyond regulatory compliance. This new initiative will help accelerate climate action and resiliency in Wisconsin by facilitating collaboration between these groups. To join the charter, a member must have a good environmental record, a commitment to reducing emissions, a commitment to collaborating on climate action projects, and a commitment to submitting an annual report to the department. Additional information can be found at: http://greentier.wi.gov.
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Gov. Evers Signs Executive Order, Creates Green Ribbon Commission on Clean Energy and Environmental Innovation | |
The Green Innovation Fund will be the first environmental and clean energy fund in Wisconsin. Commonly referred to as “green banks,” similar public and private entities have been established in other states, including Colorado, Illinois, and Nevada. Both the Governor’s Task Force on Climate Change, which Gov. Evers established in 2019, and the state’s Clean Energy Plan released last April recommend the state of Wisconsin evaluate options for a “green bank” to support projects in Wisconsin. In addition to private financing for the Fund, the federal Inflation Reduction Act created the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and allocated $27 billion in competitive funding for states and nonprofit entities that collaborate with community financing institutions, such as green banks, to support projects that will combat the climate crisis, invest in innovative clean energy development, and create good-paying jobs. Additional details on the Fund will be available in the coming months.
Read More Here
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Reminder: Take the Drive Electric USA fleet survey
Is your fleet interested in deploying electric vehicles? Have you already started? We would appreciate the opportunity to learn more about your interests, provide resources, and promote your successes. Please take a moment to complete the survey by clicking the link below. Click here to learn more about the Drive Electric Wisconsin Program on our Website.
Take the survey here
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Paid Internship Opportunity with Wisconsin Clean Cities
Wisconsin Clean Cities is accepting applications for a paid Summer 2023 internship.
The Clean Cities University Workforce Development Program (CCUWDP) is an initiative of Clean Cities, a government-industry partnership sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy Vehicle Technologies Program. Learn more here.
To apply, send a resume and cover letter to info@wicleancities.org
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The CNG classes that will be offered at MATC this Summer. | |
The Diesel-400 “CNG for Heavy Duty Applications” (5 Day) class will be offered June 12th-16th, from 8am-4:30pm daily M-F. Attending students will receive 1 continuing education credit for the class. The students will leave with a good understanding of natural gas for use as a vehicle fuel, how to safely work with CNG powered vehicles, as well as the operation and maintenance of the Cummins 9L ISL G and ISX 12G products. Students will utilize Cummins Insite as well as QuickServe Online service information for diagnostic and repair procedures.
The Diesel-401 “CNG Tank and Fuel System Inspection class” (2 day) will be offered July 18th - 19th Tuesday and Wednesday from 8am-4:30pm.
Current regulations require that all CNG tanks be visually inspected by a certified inspector every 3 years or 36,000 miles whichever comes first or in the event of an accident or fire on the vehicle.
This class will cover the inspection requirements and techniques as defined by industry standards and regulations. This class would serve as a preparatory class for students who would like to take the CSA certification exam to become a "Certified CNG Fuel System Inspector".
Here is a link to the CSA FSI test information https://www.csagroup.org/store/product/2703393/ Your certification exam would need to be scheduled through CSA.
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First Round of Funding Announced for Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program (CFI)
The Biden-Harris administration opened applications for the first round of funding for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program.
The multi-billion-dollar program will fund electric vehicle (EV) charging and alternative-fueling infrastructure in communities across the country and along designated highways, interstates, and major roadways.
This program, established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will provide $2.5 billion over five years to a wide range of applicants, including cities, counties, local governments, and tribes. The CFI Discretionary Grant Program builds on the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, for which the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) published finalized minimum standards earlier this month.
This first round of funding makes up to $700 million from Fiscal Years (FY) 2022 and 2023 funding available to strategically deploy EV charging and other alternative vehicle-fueling infrastructure projects in publicly accessible locations in urban and rural communities, as well as along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs).
More Details
DOE Announces $750 Million to Advance Clean Hydrogen Technologies
EERE’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office announced the availability of $750 million for research, development, and demonstration efforts to dramatically reduce the cost of clean hydrogen. This funding represents a crucial step in accelerating the widespread use of clean hydrogen and plays a vital role in achieving commercial-scale hydrogen deployment this decade.
Announcing the 2023 Clean School Bus Grant Program
EPA is announcing the 2023 Clean School Bus (CSB) Grant Program! This is the first grant funding opportunity through the multi-year funding program and follows the 2022 CSB Rebate Program, which was the first round of funding. Under the 2023 Grant Program, EPA anticipates awarding approximately $400 million in competitive grant funding to eligible applicants for the purchase of zero-emission (ZE) school buses, clean school buses, and ZE charging infrastructure.
DOE Clean Energy Infrastructure Program & Funding Opportunities
With $97 billion in funding from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, the U.S. Department of Energy is focused on expanding its existing and creating new pathways for federal investments in research and development, demonstration, and deployment programs to help to achieve carbon-free electricity in the U.S. by 2035 and a net-zero economy by 2050.
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Member Spotlight:
CMD Active Energy Solutions
CMD Alternative Energy Solutions was founded in 2011 as a division of CMD Corporation –an established industrial equipment supplier in Appleton, WI. USA founded in 1980. Anyone who knows CMD, knows that they are passionately technical. Using their substantial technical bench to solve problems is what they do best. CMD's customers are supported by teams of highly-experienced engineers, applications experts and technical service personnel. The CNG fueling infrastructure was growing – but fleets, municipalities, construction companies, existing traditional gasoline stations were looking for better choices for CNG fueling equipment, service and support. They were ready to bring something different and better to the CNG fueling industry. Learn More.
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Board Member Spotlight
This month, the board members spotlight is Mahanth Joishy, Superintendent for the City of Madison Fleet Service.
Below are some professional questions/answers and fun facts.
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How long have you been a board member of Wisconsin Clean Cities?
2 years
Why did you join the WCC Board?
To help Wisconsin advance on sustainable vehicles and transportation.
What is your favorite part of being a WCC Board Member?
The networking and special events, especially the October T&I Expo.
What is your favorite hobby?
Writing
What is the next place on your travel bucket list?
Costa Rica
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Featured Technology: PROPANE | |
Propane, also known as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG or LP-gas) or autogas, has been used worldwide as a vehicle fuel for decades. Stored under pressure inside a tank, propane turns into a colorless, odorless liquid. As pressure is released, the liquid propane vaporizes and turns into gas that is used for combustion. An odorant, ethyl mercaptan, is added for leak detection.
Propane has a high octane rating and excellent properties for spark-ignited internal combustion engines. Propane is produced as a by-product of natural gas processing and crude oil refining. It accounts for about 2 percent of the energy used in the U.S. Uses include home and water heating, cooking and refrigerating food, clothes drying, powering farm and industrial equipment and drying corn. Rural areas that do not have natural gas service commonly rely on propane. The chemical industry uses propane as a raw material for making plastics and other compounds. Less than 2 percent of U.S. propane consumption is used for transportation fuel.
Propane is considered an alternative fuel under the Energy Policy Act of 1992. According to the Propane Education and Research Council, there are more than 270,000 on-road propane vehicles in the U.S. Many are used in fleet applications, such as police cars, shuttles and school buses.
The development of new, light- and medium-duty propane vehicles has surged in recent years for fleet use. Propane vehicles can either be conversions from gasoline vehicles or purchased from original equipment manufacturers.
Propane Education & Research Council
The Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) is a check-off program established, operated and funded by the propane industry. The only energy council of its kind, PERC leads safely and training efforts among propane retailers and consumers and drives technology development to expand adoption of propane as a clean, domestic, affordable energy source. PERC programs benefit a variety of industries including fleet vehicle management, landscaping, residential and commercial building, agriculture, and materials handling.
More Information Located on the Alternative Fuels Data Center
http://www.afdc.energy.gov/fuels/propane.html
Learn more on our Website
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