Happy New Year for Alternative Fuel Tax Credits President Barack Obama signed into law the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 on December 17, which contains several provisions intended to reduce domestic dependence on oil: o Reinstates the $1.00 per gallon tax credit for biodiesel production and diesel fuel created by biomass. The credit retroactively applies to its expiration on 12/31/09, and is extended through 12/31/11.
o Extends the current $0.45 per gallon tax credit for ethanol production through 12/31/11. A secondary tariff of $0.54 per gallon on imported ethanol, much of it from Brazil, was also extended through 2011.
o Extends the 30 percent tax credit for infrastructure that supports investment in ethanol, biodiesel, compressed natural gas (CNG) and hydrogen through 12/31/11.
o Provides a $7,500 credit on battery-electric and plug-in-hybrid vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt, and a one-year extension of the charging station credit, enabling residential buyers to claim up to $1,000 for home-installed stations. Businesses may claim a credit of up to $30,000 for installation of chargers on commercial properties. The alternative fueling station credit also applies to other fuels, such as CNG and propane. On the down side, tax incentives for some twenty hybrid, CNG and diesel vehicles will expire 12/31/10. This includes the CNG-powered Honda Civic GX ($4000) and widely-varying credits for certain hybrid and diesel models from General Motors, BMW, Volkswagen and Audi. Hybrid credits, based on unit sales by manufacturer, were already maxed-out for Toyota, Honda and Ford.
Annual Stakeholder Meeting & Holiday Reception Draws 75 Wisconsin Clean Cities held its Fifth Annual Stakeholder Meeting and Holiday Reception on December 14 at We Energies, its host institution. The 75 participants (a record 105 registered) gathered in the Art Deco-inspired Auditorium of the historic Public Service Building to network, socialize and enjoy wonderful refreshments. Keynote presenter Glenn Bower, a University of Wisconsin-Madison Professor and Hybrid Team Advisor, provided food for thought on “Developing Tomorrow’s Vehicles Today,” while Jessica Lawent of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources offered an overview of clean diesel projects and programs. Riteway Bus Service and E.H. Wolf & Sons were named the 2010 Clean Energy Champions, an annual award given to one or more organizations that recognizes outstanding support of Wisconsin Clean Cities and its mission to promote cleaner air and energy security through alternative fuel development and related strategies. Outgoing and longtime Board President Gary Evans received a Distinguished Lifetime Service Award from Interim President George Stone, a Milwaukee Area Technical College Professor. Event sponsors included We Energies, Clean Energy, ANGI Energy Systems, E.H. Wolf & Sons and Clean Air Fleet.
MotorWeek Visits Partner Fleets in Wisconsin! Motorweek, television’s original automotive newsmagazine, airs on PBS and the Speed Channel nationwide. Hosted by John Davis, Motorweek’s partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities Program includes short segments called Clean Cities Success Stories. These segments are filmed across America, and are designed to spread the good news of Clean Cities-related deployment efforts. Wisconsin got its first day under the sun on September 4th when Motorweek detailed Oconomowoc Transport and Riteway Bus Service’s dual addition of plug-in hybrid school buses and solar charging stations. And then on October 2nd, a segment on the City of Milwaukee gave new meaning to trash talk. The City of Milwaukee’s adoption of refuse trucks powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) reduces emissions and lowers fuel costs. Both projects are funded through the Wisconsin Clean Transportation Program, a groundbreaking effort led by the Wisconsin Office of Energy Independence, in partnership with Wisconsin Clean Cities. View these videos and others at http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/videos
Wisconsin Clean Transportation Program Fleet Partner Spotlight: Paper Transport
On the Horizon The 8th Annual Biodiesel Conference & Expo February 6 – 9, 2011 Phoenix, AZ www.biodieselconference.org
The 8th Annual Green Energy Summit March 9 – 12, 2011 Milwaukee, WI www.greenenergysummit.us
The Green Truck Summit March 7 – 8, 2011 Indianapolis, IN www.ntea.com
Driving Toward 2020: The 8th Annual Green Vehicles Workshop April 2011 Milwaukee, WI www.wicleancities.org (stay tuned for additional info)