ReFUEL June 2012 | Wisconsin Clean Cities - Southeast Area | Monthly Newsletter
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Also In This Issue:
Did you know? Clean Cities publishes an annual vehicle guide Welcome New and Returning Members PERC Offers up to $1,000 Incentive to Propane Mower Customers Question of the Month: Where can I find laws and incentives? Eye on Wisconsin Clean Cities Events, Resources, and More...
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ReFUEL is Wisconsin Clean Cities Southeast Area’s (WCC-SEA) monthly coalition newsletter. WCC-SEA is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3), organization, and is one of nearly 100 Clean Cities coalitions across the U.S. WCC-SEA works to reduce emissions, encourage the use of alternative fuels and alternative fuel vehicles, and develop the refueling infrastructure necessary to sustain the industry.
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C o nte nts Page 4
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Did you know?
Clean Cities publishes an annual vehicle guide
Welcome New and Returning Members
Question of the Month
Where can I find laws and incentives?
PERC Offers up to $1,000 Incentive to Propane Mower Customers Fueling Our Fleets for the Future
A look at alternative fuels, infrastructure and technologies in Wisconsin fleets
Eye On Clean Cities
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Are you a member yet? Start m ak i ng an impact by joining Wi s co ns i n Clean Cities today! It ’s al l a bo ut i m p r o vin g q u a l i ty o f life fo r t he pe o ple living in Wis c ons in. WCC-S EA r e l i es o n s u p p o r t f r o m o ur me mbers. Dues and co rpo rate mem be r shi p s e n a b l e W C C - SE A to ho ld me et ings, spo nso r educat ional work shop s, a n d p r o vid e v i ta l out reach mat e rials. What ca n W CC - S E A d o f o r y o u ? • Netw o r k i ng o p p o r tu n iti e s w i t h fleet s & indust ry part ners wit h ex pe r i e nce i n a l te r n a ti ve f u els & advanced ve hicle s • Tec hni ca l t r a in i n g , w o r ks h o p s, and we binars • I nfor ma t i on r e s o u r c e s o n a l t ernat ive fuels, advance d ve hicle s , idle r ed uc t i o n, a n d o th e r te c h n o lo gie s t hat re duce pe t ro le um use • I ndi v i d ua l c o n s u l ta tio n a n d technical assist ance • Fund i ng o p p o r tu n iti e s f r o m the U. S . Depart me nt o f Energy, st ate and local g o v e r n m e n t a g e n c ie s , no npro fit s, and fo undat io ns • P ub l i c r e cog n iti o n f o r p r o g r ess in reducing pet ro le um co nsump tion • Assi st a nce with m e d ia o u tr e ach
J oin toda y !
Visit w w w.w i c l e a n c i ti e s . o r g /j oin. php, e mail info @wicle ancit ies.org, o r cal l 4 1 4 -2 2 1- 4958.
Diamond, Platinum, and Gold Members:
Did yo u k now?
Clean Cities publishes an annual vehicle guide
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he expanding availability of alternative fuels and advanced vehicles makes it easier than ever to reduce petroleum use, cut emissions, and save on fuel costs. The guide features a comprehensive list of vehicles set to hit the market each year, and features modelspecific information about vehicle specs, manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP), fuel economy, and emissions. You can use this information to compare vehicles and help inform your buying decisions. The guide includes city and highway fuel economy estimates from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The estimates are based on laboratory tests conducted by manufacturers in accordance with federal regulations. EPA retests about 10% of vehicle models to confirm manufacturer results. Fuel economy estimates are also available on FuelEconomy.gov. For some newer vehicle models, EPA data is not available at the time of this guide’s publication; in these cases, manufacturer estimates are provided, if available. Smog scores are another comparative feature included in the guide. The scores reflect vehicle tailpipe emissions that contribute to local and regional air quality problems, such as smog, haze, and related health issues, as determined by EPA. Scores range from 0 to 10, where 10 is cleanest. In addition to the smog score, a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions scores reflect tailpipe emissions of carbon dioxide and other GHGs, which impact the planet’s climate. Scores range from 0 to 10, where 10 is best. The GHG scores in this guide do not reflect emissions related to the production or distribution of fuels or vehicles.
Chec k o u t t h e 201 2 Ve h ic le B uye r ’s G uid e to d ay! C l i c k o r co py and paste t he link b e low : http: // w w w. af dc. e ne rg y.g ov/ af d c / p df s/ 517 8 5 .pdf June ReFUEL | 4
Clean Cities on Your Phone! • Find alternative fueling stations. • Find a vehicle’s fuel economy rating, emissions, and more. • Find truck stop electrification location.
www.eere.energy.gov/m/cc
Welcome and
new
returning
Members AmeriGas Menard, Inc.
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We want you! Are you a member of Wisconsin Clean Cities?
Have your organization, an article, or an ad featured in the Wisconsin Clean Cities monthly newsletter free. It’s your chance to tell others what your company is doing to promote petroleum reduction and other green initiatives, or tell them about a great deal.
Not a member of Wisconsin Clean Cities?
Join today! Gain recognition for the great work your company is doing. View details listed on page 3 or visit http://www.wicleancities.org/join.php.
All articles or ads must be submitted by the 20th of each month to be featured. For more detail or to submit an article or ad, contact Heather Goetsch at (414) 221-4487 or email heather.goetsch@wicleancities.org.
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Ques tion o f the Mo nt h Q
: Where can I find available federal, state, and local incentives for alternative
fuels, vehicles, and related technologies?
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: The U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center contains a database of federal and state laws and incentives related to alternative fuels and vehicles, air quality, fuel efficiency, and other transportation-related topics. The database is a great way to browse all available laws and incentives and how to access these opportunities no matter which state. You are able to search all, view tables, read key legislation, or search locally. The information in the database provides an overview of incentives and laws and should not be used as the only source of information when making vehicle purchase decisions, tax decisions, or other binding agreements. The database includes federal and state contacts for you to verify that these laws and incentives are still applicable. You should also consult your tax advisor.
Cl i c k or co py and pas te t he link b e low to st ar t b row si ng now! ht t p : // w w w. af dc .e nerg y.g ov/ af d c / law s/
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PERC Offers up to $1,000 Incentive to Propane Mower Customers
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s the summer mowing season begins to heat up, lawn and landscape professionals can trim both their costs and their carbon footprint by investing in a new, dedicated propane mower with help from the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC). For a limited time, PERC is seeking participants for the Propane Mower End-User Incentive Program that puts up to $1,000 back in the pocket of customers who purchase eligible new, dedicated propane mowing equipment. PERC’s incentive helps cover up to $1,000 toward the incremental cost of a new, dedicated propane mower with a 60- to 72-inch cutting deck size. Customers accepted into the program can purchase up to 10 mowers with incentives. To further increase customer savings, this incentive can also be combined with any other original equipment manufacturer (OEM) rebate and any existing state Propane Gas Association rebate for which the customer is eligible. Not familiar with propane as a mower fuel? Propane is an environmentally friendly alternative fuel produced right here in the United States. It’s the same fuel you trust to heat your home and cook hamburgers on your grill. When used as a fuel for mowers, propane can save customers money and time compared to gasoline-fueled mowers, due to lower fuel costs, reduced fuel lost due to theft or spillage, and less downtime as a result of on-site fuel delivery and approved operation on ozone action days. Additionally, propane is normally available at a significantly lower cost per gallon than gasoline. Propane-fueled mowers can reduce carbon monoxide emissions by more than 80 percent and can reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 50 percent when compared with gasolinepowered mowers. Mowers fueled by propane also meet or exceed
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all current emissions requirements established by the Environmental Protection Agency and, if sold in the state of California, by the California Air Resources Board. “Propane mowers offer many advantages to commercial mower users, including lower costs and better environmental performance,” said Mark Leitman, director of business development and marketing for PERC. “We hope this incentive program will encourage more lawn and landscape professionals to purchase propane-fueled mowers and experience these benefits firsthand.” Mower customers who are accepted into the program will sign a commitment to provide feedback about mower usage throughout the mowing season, helping PERC to acquire a variety of performance data that will be used to further advance the market for propane-fueled commercial mowers. The Propane Mower End-User Incentive Program complements PERC’s Propane Mower Dealer Demonstration Program, which will place 300 propane-fueled commercial lawn mowers as demonstration units in select dealerships throughout the U.S., and provide those dealers with training about propane mowers. This demonstration program will give mower end-users the opportunity to try out a propane mower and experience its benefits in their everyday work. Participating dealers in the Propane Mower Dealer Demonstration Program are currently being selected.
Fo r mo re i nfo r m at i o n ab o ut t h e P ro p ane M ower E nd- User Incenti ve Pro gram , inc luding elig ibilit y g uide lines, m owe r i nfo r m at i on, and ap plic at io ns, p lease co nt act Wi s c o nsin Clea n Cit ie s at:
i nfo @ w icleancities. org 414- 221- 4958 9 | June ReFUEL
Fu el i ng Ou r F l e et s fo r t he Fu ture A look at alternative fuels, infrastructure and technologies in Wisconsin Fleets
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earning from other fleet experiences can be helpful when implementing alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles in your fleet. Other’s experiences can give insight into dealing with infrastructure issues, obtaining funding, which vehicles to choose and why, and much more. In fact, Wisconsin has many fleets that have installed infrastructure and/or are using alternative fuel vehicles with various different applications.
Long-Haul Trucks: Paper Transport, Inc. Paper Transport is a Green Bay-based truckload carrier with operations in Wisconsin, Florida, Georgia and Oklahoma. Founded in 1990, the company’s focus on high-service regional freight is shown by its nine “Carrier of the Year” awards from Georgia Pacific, and its safety awards from Great West Casualty Company the past two years. Paper Transport has also been a member of the EPA SmartWay program since 2007 and a Wisconsin Clean Cities – Southeast Area member since 2010.
One of Paper Transport’s Freightliner M-2 tractors powered by the Cummins ISL-G natural gas engine.
The company purchased two Freightliner M-2 tractors powered by the Cummins ISL-G natural gas engine in February 2010. After testing those two trucks, Paper Transport bought five more trucks in September 2011 through its participation in the Clean Cities-funded Wisconsin Clean Transportation Program. Besides significantly reducing its fuel costs and improving air quality along the I-43 corridor, the company is also enthused about using a cleanburning American fuel to help boost our domestic economy. Through December 2010, the seven NGV trucks logged over 460,000 miles, displacing over 70,000 gallons of diesel fuel.
Municipal Fleet: City of Milwaukee The City of Milwaukee has a fairly diverse fleet with 123 different types of equipment from aerial lifts to welders. To fuel this equipment, the city uses diesel, gasoline, propane, and compressed natural gas (CNG). Recently, the city built two CNG fueling stations that can fuel their CNG fleet vehicles and are available to the public. Two of those vehicles are CNG sanitation trucks. The Cummins ISL-G engine trucks are already making a big impact in the areas in which they operate. Not only are they much quieter trucks by design, they reduce emissions and greenhouse gases. Using CNG not only reduces the use of petroleum, it cuts the price of fuel by nearly $1 per equivalent gallon. “We’ve noticed no difference whatsoever between the power of this engine and the power of a comparable diesel engine,” says Jeff Tews, fleet operations manager. Besides collecting refuse, the trucks will also be used for plowing. The City of Milwaukee hopes to have more of these very clean CNG machines in service in the very near future.
The new CNG sanitation truck and sign advertising the CNG station. June ReFUEL | 10
Police/Traffic Enforcement: Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office purchased 14 liquid propane gas (LPG) vehicle conversions and installed one LPG fueling pump. The Sheriff’s Office purchased EPA-Certified Prins conversion kits and installed them in 14 squad cars by the county’s maintenance manager, Randy Frohmader. The fueling station was installed in the winter of 2011. In the summer of 2011 propane was being sold at $0.970.99 a gasoline gallon equivalent. According to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office if 6 squad cars used ten gallons of fuel per shift, with three shifts a day for 365 days a year, the county will save over $100,000 a year in fuel costs alone. There will also be additional saving because of lower maintenance costs when using LPG. Jefferson County had used LPG in the past and enjoyed decreased fueling costs and emissions. American Recovery and Reinvestment funds through the Wisconsin Clean Transportation Program were used to replace the county’s old unit with a new LPG pump. The county also built a shelter over the unit to protect the pump and to make it more convenient for employees to fuel.
One of 14 converted squad cars using the EPA-Certified Prins conversion kit.
Shuttle Vans: Go Riteway Go Riteway Transportation Group purchased 21 liquid propane gas (LPG) shuttle vans, 14 hybrid electric shuttle buses, and 1 LPG fueling station. The LPG shuttles were purchased though ROUSH CleanTech, while the hybrid buses were manufactured by Variable Torque Motors. Go Riteway currently has 21 converted shuttles that run on propane, which makes up 40% of their airport shuttle fleet. The LPG station was installed in the summer of 2011 to fuel the LPG shuttles. According to Ronald Bast, president and owner of Go Riteway, “For a number of years, Go Riteway has been in tune with environmental concerns, especially those concerning the transportation industry.” One of 21 liquid propane gas shuttle vans used by Go Riteway to transport riders to Mitchell International Airport.
In fact, Go Riteway plans to purchase more of the LPG shuttles this year.
For more information about these and other fleet experiences across Wisconsin, feel free to contact Wisconsin Clean Cities: info@wicleancities.org or call 414-221-4958. If you would like to read more fleet experiences, visit the U.S. Department of Energy AFDC website at http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/fleets/fleet_experiences.html.
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Eye on Wisconsin Clean Cities O
n Thursday, May 10, Kwik Trip held a ribbon cutting event for the grand opening of their alternative fueling station. The station allows customers to fill-up with compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas, biodiesel (B5 and B20), propane, and ethanol (E85), as well as the traditional gasoline, diesel, and off-road diesel. Bayfield County announced the opening of their new CNG station that will fuel five CNG vehicles used by county employees.
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1) Kwik Trip’s new sign showing the variety of alternative fuels now available at their location; 2) The announcement took place in front of the new station pumps; 3) Bayfield County residents and County Board in attendance for the new CNG station; 4) Bayfield County’s new CNG station for fueling county vehicles
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