ReFUEL: WCC Monthly Newsletter

ReFUEL January 2013 | Wisconsin Clean Cities - Southeast Area | Monthly Newsletter

American Taxpayer Relief Act: Benefits for Alternative Fuel Vehicles & Infrastructure

In This Issue:

Clean Cities Winter Webinars Menards Opens Propane Fueling Station Wisconsin Clean Cities Honors Forward Fleets Natural Gas for Transportation Roundtable Events, News, and More...

“Driving Wisconsin Forward”

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ReFUEL is Wisconsin Clean Cities Southeast Area’s (WCC-SEA) Januaryly 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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In This Issue: Question of the Month

Page 4

How are vehicle fuel economy ratings determined?

What factors impact fuel economy?

Page 5

Welcome New and Returning Members Features: Wisconsin Clean Cities and South Shore Clean Cities to Host Six Winter Webinars

Pages 7 - 11

Menards Opens Propane Fueling Station and Integrates Propane Trucks into Fleet Wisconsin Clean Cities Honors Forward Fleets at Annual Meeting 4th Natural Gas for Transportation Roundtable will be Held January 29, 2013 American Taxpayer Relief Act: Benefits for Alternative Fuel Vehicles and Infrastructure

Page 13

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Fleets Across The U.S.

Saving Fuel in the Garden State with Truck Stop Electrification

Eye On Clean Cities

January ReFUEL | 2

Are you a member yet?

Sta r t mak in g a n i m pa c t by j oi n i n g Wi s con s i n Cle a n Cities to day !

W CC - S E A re l ie s o n su ppo r t f ro m o u r mem b er s. D ues and cor p orate me m be rs h ip s e n abl e WCC- SEA to h o l d meet ings, sp onsor ed uc at ional wor k sh o p s, an d prov i de v i ta l o u trea ch mater ials.

Wh at c an WCC- S E A do for you ?

• Net wo r k i n g o ppo r tu nities w it h fl eets & in dus tr y pa r tn er s • Te ch n i cal t ra ining, wo r k sho p s, a n d webin a r s • I nfo r mat i on reso u rces o n a l ter n ative fuel s, a dva n ced veh ic l es, idl e redu c t i o n , an d o t her tec hno l o gies th at reduce petro l eum us e • I ndi v i d u al co nsu l t at io n a nd tec h n ic a l a s s is ta n ce • Fun d i n g o p p o r tu nities f ro m th e U.S . D epa r tm ent o f E n ergy, s tate and loc al g ove r n m ent a g enc ies, non pro fits, a n d fo un datio n s • Pub l i c re cognitio n fo r pro gress in reduc in g petro l eum co n s um ption • As s i s t an ce w ith m edia o u trea ch

J oin to d ay!

Vis i t w w w. wi cl ea nc ities. o rg / j o in. ph p, em a il in fo @ w ic l ea n c ities.o rg, o r c all 4 14- 221- 4 9 5 8 .

Join the ranks with these notable supporters:

?

A

Question of the Month “How are vehicle fuel economy ratings determined? What factors impact fuel economy?”

Vehicle fuel economy is tested under controlled conditions using a standardized test procedure.

Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are required by federal law to test at least one representative vehicle for each light-duty model and must report the results to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA reviews the results and confirms about 10% to 15% of the vehicles through tests at the National Vehicles and Fuel Emissions Laboratory (NVFEL) (http://www.epa.gov/nvfel/).

In the laboratory, the vehicle is placed on a machine called a dynamometer that simulates the driving environment and can be adjusted to account for wind resistance and the vehicle weight. A professional driver runs the vehicle through a prescribed driving routine at various speeds to simulate typical trips in the city or on the highway.

A Chevrolet Silverado’s fuel economy is evaluated in the EPA’s labs using the dynomometer and collecting tailpipe emissions.

To measure the fuel economy of the vehicle, a hose is connected to the tailpipe to collect the engine exhaust. The carbon in the exhaust is then measured to calculate the amount of fuel burned during the test. This process is more accurate than using a fuel gauge. For details on NVFEL vehicle fuel economy testing procedures, refer to the FuelEconomy.gov Fuel Economy Tests website (http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/how_tested.shtml) and the EPA Fuel Economy Data & Testing website (http://www.epa.gov/fueleconomy/data.htm).

Federal law requires fuel economy testing for most light-duty vehicles. Some vehicle types, however, are exempt from fuel economy testing requirements, including: pickup trucks and cargo vans with gross vehicle weight ratings (GVWR) over 8,500 pounds;passenger vehicles, such as SUVs and passenger vans, with GVWR of 10,000 or more; and motorcycles.

Fuel economy test procedures are designed to replicate typical driving conditions and behavior, but there are many factors that influence a vehicle’s fuel economy. Quick acceleration and heavy braking, excessive idling, driving at high speeds, cold weather and frequent short trips, heavy cargo, towing a trailer, running electrical accessories, driving on hilly or mountainous terrain, and using four-wheel drive, can all have a significant impact on miles per gallon.

New vehicles generally will not attain optimal fuel economy until they reach 3,000 to 5,000 miles. Because of these variations, fuel economy ratings should only be used as estimates for comparison between vehicles.

To improve fuel economy, vehicle owners can drive less aggressively, observe the speed limit, reduce cargo, and avoid excess idling. In addition, maintenance rituals like keeping tires fully inflated, keeping the engine properly tuned, and using the recommended grade of motor oil, can improve vehicle fuel economy.

For more information about fuel economy and resources, visit: http://www.wicleancities.org/idle.php http://www.wicleancities.org/resources.php http://www.fueleconomy.gov Month ReFUEL | 4

Welcome and

new

returning

Members De Soto Area School District Inland Power Group Midwest Green Solutions.com LLC

Reality TV that’s worth your time Alternative fuels videos on Ad for something related to Clean Cities

http://www.youtube.com/ cleancitiestv 5 | January ReFUEL

• 500,000 square feet of vocational trucks and equipment • Newest products and technical support from more than 550 exhibitors • More than 60 intensive programs on upfitting, regulatory compliance and business management

Learn more at http://www.ntea.com/worktruckshow/ Free Pass for Wisconsin Clean Cities Members! Contact us at (414) 221-4958 or info@wicleancities.org to get the registration form.

Help us show all the acitivity going on in Wisconsin!

Take WCC’s 2012 Annual Survey today!

Be entered to win Official Green Bay Packer Memorabilia.

Download the survey at http://www.wicleancities.org/annual_survey.php Or contact Heather Goetsch at (414) 221-4487 or Heather.Goetsch@WICleanCities.org January ReFUEL | 6

Wisconsin Clean Cities and South Shore Clean Cities to Host Six Winter Webinars

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isconsin Clean Cities (WCC) and South Shore Clean Cities (SSCC) are partnering up to host six webinars this winter, starting in January. The “Clean Cities Winter Webinar Series� will allow the coalitions to host valuable workshops and stakeholders to attend without the travel. The Clean Cities webinars will inform and educate about alternative fuels, technologies, vehicles, safety, available tools, and personal fleet and individual experiences. All webinars are free to attend and open to the public.

WCC and SSCC are also offering several exciting sponsorship opportunities. Sponsoring the Clean Cities Winter Webinar Series is a perfect opportunity for stakeholders to promote their companies to a wide audience without the added travel expenses. Sponsorship offers several benefits based on the level of sponsorship, such as the company logo on promotional materials and in the webinar room, and a representative guest moderating for a webinar of choice. Sponsoring the webinar series is a unique chance to be publicly associated with WCC and SSCC, and key businesses and organizations. If you would like to sponsor, please contact Heather Goetsch at the information listed at the bottom of the page.

Join us from the comfort of your office or home to learn and participate in these great Clean Cities Winter Webinars!

To register, visit http://www.wicleancities.org/events.php or http://www.southshorecleancities.org/events.php.

January 30, 2013 CNG Vehicle Conversions 1:00 - 2:30 PM Learn the basics about converting vehicles to compressed natural gas and kits available on the market.

Hear from fleets using CNG converted vehicles.

February 6, 2013 Propane lawn mowers, vehicles, and stations 10:00 - 11:30 AM See the different models of lawn mowers and vehicles that run on propane. Also learn about the different dispensing options.

Hear from several fleets that currently use propane.

February 19, 2013 Dealership Education 1:00 - 2:30 PM If you are a dealership employee, we want you!

Attend this webinar to brush up on your alternative fuels and tools available to you.

Leave the webinar able to tell customers where they can go for reliable third party information and what stations are in the area.

March 5, 2013 Biodiesel: Production & Fleet Experiences 10:00 - 11:30 AM Learn about the biodiesel production process. Hear how the City of Milwaukee and Fusion Renewables are partnering to turn food waste into fuel.

March 25, 2013 Maintenance Shop Safety When Using Natural Gas 1:00 - 2:30 PM Learn the different safety regulations and steps to take when preparing to maintain compressed natural gas vehicles.

April 9, 2013 Clean Cities Tools 10:00 - 11:30 AM Learn about the different free online tools available through Clean Cities. See in depth examples of the vehicle cost calculator, petroleum reduction planning tool, and alternative fueling station locator.

Questions or Comments? Sponsorship opportunities are available!

Contact Heather Goetsch at (414) 221-4487 or Heather.Goetsch@WICleanCities.org, or Stephanie Smith at (219) 644-3690 or Ssmith@comcast.net.

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Menards Opens Propane Fueling Station and Integrates Propane Trucks into Fleet

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enards, in partnership with CleanFUEL USA and Ferrellgas, announced the installation of 37 propane autogas fueling stations at Menards home improvement stores on December 10, 2012. Thirty-six Menards locations throughout Illinois, as well as its Eau Claire West store in Wisconsin, will now offer publicly accessible propane refueling. “Propane is a reliable alternative fuel that is clean, safe and cost effective,” said Jeff Abbott, Menard, Inc. Spokesperson. “We’re glad to be advancing our company forward into this growing market as propane is a cleaner burning fuel and less expensive, so it’s a win-win for everyone.”

CleanFUEL USA provided the PRO2110 dispenser and 1,000-gallon tanks, and Ferrellgas provided installation services and propane for each location. The Menards retail sites will be open during regular business hours to provide fuel for propane-powered vehicles and cylinders used on gas grills and recreational vehicles. The autogas station project was funded through a $12 million grant from the Department of Energy’s (DOE) American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

Kyle Krause, General Manager at Menards in Hodgkins, IL, demonstrates fueling a propane pickup truck at the December 12, 2012 grand opening.

Menards’ Hodgkins, Ill., store, located at 6100 East Avenue, hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony on December 12, 2012 to officially open its new station. The event included propane autogas vehicles on display, a fueling demonstration, and an audience of interested citizens, public officials, Menards employees, vehicle providers, and the region’s Clean Cities Coalition representative. Featured speaker Roy Willis, president and CEO of the Propane Education and Research Council, talked about propane and emphasized how it is clean, domestic, and affordable, as well as commended Menards for their leadership and efforts in sustainability.

In addition to installing the autogas fueling stations, Menards partnered with Icom North America to convert 140 new Ford pick-up trucks to propane autogas for store operation use at these 37 Menards locations. The Icom, JTG II Liquid Injection System allows the propane vehicle to enjoy similar drive-ability and performance to gasoline with reduced emissions and large fuel cost savings. “I have worked at Menards for 12 years and after driving one of our first propane-powered pickups, found there is no difference in performance or drivability when compared to a gasoline powered pickup truck,” remarked Kyle Krause, General Manager, Menards in Hodgkins, Ill. “ My wife and third-grade daughter brag to their friends that I drive a more environmentally friendly pickup. It’s really a cool thing!”

The stores will also be receiving propane powered forklifts to replace their existing diesel powered forklifts, with the changeover already taking place at Eau Claire West. Menards also plans to steadily convert its store operation vehicles from gasoline and diesel to propane at other store locations, adding propane autogas fueling stations in the process.

To locate a store near you, visit www.menards.com.

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Wisconsin Clean Cities Honors Forward Fleets at Annual Meeting

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isconsin Clean Cities (WCC) hosted its 6th Annual Stakeholder Meeting and Holiday Reception on December 6, 2012 at We Energies in Downtown Milwaukee.

Over 80 attendees participated in the event which featured presentations by Lorrie Lisek, Executive Director of WCC and David Jenkins of the WI State Energy Office. The event also featured the unveiling of the new WCC website (found at www.wicleancities.org) and the announcement of the 2013 Board of Directors. The Board Members are: Mary Smarelli, Transit Express, Jeff Bach, American Diesel Systems, Al Bartell, City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works, Katrina Bell, ANGI Energy Systems, Craig Fischer, Dual Fuel Systems, Ruanna Hayes, Kwik Trip, Matt 2012 Forward Fleet and Cornerstone Award Recipients Jarmuz, Odyne Systems, Jerry Medinger, American Lung Association in Wisconsin, Ken Neusen, PhD, University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, Bryan Nudelbacher, U.S. Venture, Bob Reagan, We Energies, Jeff Shefchik, Paper Transport, and George T. Stone, PhD, Milwaukee Area Technical College.

New for 2013, the Board included several supporting Auxiliary Board Members: Matthew Carr, Cummins NPower, Tim Glynn, E.H. Wolf and Sons, and Martin Franzkowiak, Ferrellgas. Also announced at the meeting were two service awards for outstanding and long-lasting leadership on the WCC Board of Directors, which were given to Jeff Ludwig and Rich Gunther. Cornerstone Awards were given to We Energies, U.S. Venture, and the Wisconsin State Energy Office for overwhelming support in 2012.

The meeting also featured the announcement of the 2012 Forward Fleet Awards. Awards were determined based on use of alternative fuels, idling technologies and policies, and advanced technology vehicles by WCC members. Each year information is compiled from annual surveys completed by members and submitted to the U.S. Department of Energy. Based on this reporting, in 2011, WCC was ranked 7th of almost 100 coalitions in the U.S. for percent increase in the reduction of petroleum. The 2012 Forward Fleet award winners were: • • • • • •

The City of Milwaukee: #1 in Petroleum Reduction; Go Riteway Transportation Group: #2 in Petroleum Reduction; Milwaukee County: #3 in Petroleum Reduction; E.H. Wolf and Sons For Dispensing the Most Alternative Fuel; Boehlke Bottled Gas Corporation For Using the Most Alternative Fuel Gallons by a Small Fleet; and For Significant Displacement of Petroleum: Paper Transport, Sun Power Biodiesel, AmeriGas, Transit Express, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, Kwik Trip, Dane County Department of Public Works, Highway and Transportation, Madison Gas and Electric, American Lung Association in Wisconsin, Outpost Natural Foods Cooperative, Harter’s Quick Clean-Up, BioCNG, LLC, Chippewa County.

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4th Natural Gas for Transportation Roundtable will be Held January 29, 2013

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he fourth Wisconsin Natural Gas for Transportation Roundtable will be held on January 29, 2013 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Kalahari Resort and Convention Center in Wisconsin Dells. The roundtable is organized by the Wisconsin State Energy Office (SEO) and Wisconsin Clean Cities (WCC).

The Roundtable was originally announced by Governor Walker on April 11, 2012. The Roundtable provides information to businesses and citizens about natural gas as a transportation fuel and identifies opportunities to expand the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles. The goal of the forum is to expand the use of compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas and biogas as vehicle fuels in Wisconsin.

The program for the fourth Roundtable will focus on converting vehicles to run on CNG. Speakers will include representatives from vehicle conversion companies, and fleets using converted vehicles. The roundtable will begin with an introduction from Maria Redmond, State Energy Office, and Lorrie Lisek, Wisconsin Clean Cities.

Past roundtables covered the following topics related to natural gas vehicles (NGVs): NGV fuel and taxes, fleet experiences, expanding natural gas transportation infrastructure, working with regulations (weights and measures), fleet maintenance and payback calculators, maintenance shop safety and regulations, consumer perspectives and experiences, and biogas as a NGV fuel. Summaries of past meetings and presentations from the speakers can be found on the SEO website: http://1.usa.gov/SNUA8P. The Roundtable is open to the public and free to attend, but registration is required. To register, email Maria Redmond at maria.redmond@wisconsin.gov with subject “RSVP to January 29 Roundtable.�

Sponsorship opportunities are still avialable! Contact Emily DeVillers at (414) 221-2509 or Emily.DeVillers@WICleanCities.org.

Roundtable Sponsors:

International Motorwerks GAIN Clean Fuel

Learn more about the Wisconsin Natural Gas for Transportation Roundtable: http://www.wicleancities.org/projects.php http://www.stateenergyoffice.wi.gov/

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American Taxpayer Relief Act: Benefits for Alternative Fuel Vehicles & Infrastructure

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ongress passed the American Taxpayer Relief Act on Jan. 1, 2013, which provided one-year extensions for several tax credits affecting alternative fuels, including those for compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), and propane.

Specifically, this includes the 50-cent per GGE alternative-fuel tax credit for CNG, LNG, and propane, and the $30,000 infrastructure tax credit. The tax credits are extended until Dec. 31, 2013 and are retroactive for all of 2012.

The amended bill, now called the “American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012,” contains several extensions outlined in Title IV (Energy Tax Extenders) of the bill. These include: • Credit for alternative-fuel vehicle refueling property extended to Dec. 31, 2013 and retroactive to infrastructure installed after Dec. 31, 2011.

• Alternative fuels excise tax credits extended to Dec. 31, 2013 and are retroactive for all of 2012.

• Credit for two- or three-wheeled plug-in electric vehicles. In the case of a qualified two- or three-wheeled plugin electric vehicle, up to 10 percent of the cost of the qualified two- or three-wheeled plug-in electric vehicle, or $2,500 may be allowed as a credit. Qualifying two- or three-wheel vehicles need a 2.5 kWh pack (down from 4 kWh), are capable of achieving a speed of 45 mph (72 km/h)or greater, and must have been acquired after Dec. 31, 2011 and before Jan. 1, 2014.

• Extension and modification of cellulosic biofuel producer credit. The extension now carries through to qualified production beginning before Jan. 1, 2014. Algae is treated as a qualified feedstock. Additionally, the section strikes the term cellulosic biofuel in favor of “second generation biofuel.”

• Incentives for biodiesel and renewable diesel extended to Dec. 31, 2013.

• Special allowance for cellulosic biofuel plant property extended to Jan. 1, 2014. In addition, algae is treated as a qualified feedstock for such.

Access the full American Taxpayer Relief Act document:

http://beta.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/8?q=american%20taxpayer%20relief

Questions about how this applies to you?

Contact us at (414) 221-4958 or info@wicleancities.org.

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James Hansen to Keynote Sustainability Summit!

Preeminent climate scientist Dr. James E. Hansen will be the Summit’s keynote speaker at noon Thursday, March 7, 2013 Register by December 31, 2012 for Early Bird Discount

http://ennect.com/e2016

10th Annual Summit March 6-7, 2013

Workshops/Tours: March 8, 2013

At Delta Center, Milwaukee (formerly Frontier Airlines Center)

www.sustainabilitysummit.us

F l e e ts A cross th e U . S . : How Other Fleets Are Using Alternative Fuels And Vehicles

Saving Fuel in the Garden State with Truck Stop Electrification

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ong-haul truck drivers throughout the United States typically idle their vehicles during mandated rest periods to maintain access to air conditioning, heat, and electricity. But truck stop electrification (TSE) sites cropping up across the county allow truckers to utilize these auxiliary systems without having to run their engines.

“Truck stop electrification plays an important role in reducing unnecessary idling, fuel consumption, and tailpipe emissions,” said Chuck Feinberg of the New Jersey Clean Cities Coalition (NJCCC).

The Garden State has two major sites--one in the northern part of the state, at the New Jersey Turnpike’s Vince Lombardi Travel Center in Ridgefield, and another in southern New Jersey, at the Flying J Travel Plaza in Carneys Point.

Since its opening in late 2011, the Carneys Point site alone has seen more than 23,000 billable hours of service, which represents 250 metric tons of mitigated emissions and over 23,000 gallons of diesel fuel savings. Run by Clean Cities partner IdleAir, the site hosts 27 towers, each able to provide two trucks at a time with heating and air conditioning, electricity, cable TV, and Internet for a low hourly fee. The Vince Lombardi TSE site, run by CabAire, hosts 43 towers and is capable of serving 86 trucks.

TSE helps truckers, fleet owners, and local economies alike.

“Truck stop electrification plays an important role in reducing unnecessary idling, fuel consumption, and tailpipe emissions.” - Chuck Feinberg, Coordinator, New Jersey Clean Cities Coalition

“IdleAir helps us reduce our idle costs at its New Jersey site and many of its other locations across the United States,” said Jeff Angst, fuel manager at Western Express. “IdleAir is an important part of our idle-reduction strategy, and we expect to increase our use of IdleAir as it opens more locations.”

Reducing engine idling also reduces engine wear and maintenance costs while expanding the life of an engine and protecting air quality. Plus, TSE sites boost local economies as truckers purchase food and goods from area restaurants, grocery stores, and other retail outlets.

Learn more:

New Jersey Clean Cities: http://www.afdc.energy.gov/cleancities/coalition/new-jersey Truck Stop Electricfication Locator: http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/locator/tse/ CabAire: http://www.controlmod.com/cabaire/ IdleAir: http://www.idleair.com/ 13 | January ReFUEL

Eye on Wisconsin Clean Cities

Matt Jarmuz (left), member of WCC Board of Directors, and Dan Goeden (right), Fleet Director for Milwaukee County, holding Milwaukee County’s 2012 Forward Fleet award.

More than 80 stakeholders attended WCC’s 2012 Annual Meeting.

WCC’s 2013 Board of Directors lead the member voting session for the annual operating plan and budget.

Muhammed Islam (right), Vehicle Emission Control Engineer with the Wisconsin DNR, won the one night stay at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center. Pictured with Heather Goetsch, Program Associate with WCC.

Emily DeVillers, Program Associate with WCC, filled up her new natural gas vehicle at Kwik Trip’s new CNG filling station in Sheboygan.

Kwik Trip’s Sheboygan CNG filling station -- one of six new stations the fuel retailer opened in 2012.

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