KCFC's Melissa Howell Inducted into the Clean Cities Hall of Fame

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The Clean Cities Hall of Fame recognizes outstanding contributions to the Clean Cities mission of reducing petroleum use in U.S. transportation. Inductees are ambassadors for alternative fuels and champions for fuel economy. Their exemplary dedication and leadership are paving the way for a new transportation future.

Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition Executive Director Melissa Howell was inducted in 2011, the Hall of Fame's inaugural year.

Melissa Howell is a cornerstone of Clean Cities. She has been with the program since its beginning in 1993, when she helped found Kentucky's Commonwealth Clean Cities Partnership. Ever the consummate professional, Howell's dedication to reducing petroleum use in transportation has weathered all manner of political and economic conditions. Howell is known for her persistence in inspiring fleets to action, and she brought several high-profile stakeholders to the alternative-fuel table, including Mammoth Cave National Park, Fort Knox military base, UPS, and the World Equestrian Games. And thanks to Howell's leadership, thousands of children across the state of Kentucky ride to school on hybrid electric and biodiesel buses.

Howell is the original Clean Cities mentor, having coached new coordinators to success long before a formal mentorship program was established. She is always willing to share her vast experience and knowledge with other coalitions to reinvigorate stalled projects and instill confidence in rising leaders. Howell's impressive body of work with Clean Cities makes her the example other coordinators seek to follow.

In 2008, Howell was named Clean Cities Coordinator of the Year, and in 2005, she received the Southeast Region Award.

See all of the Clean Cities Hall of Fame inductees - http://www1.eere.energy.gov/cleancities/hall_of_fame.html

Hybrid Electric School Bus Joins Fleet in Crittenden County

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(Marion, KY) – Crittenden County Schools in Marion, KY took delivery of their first new hybrid electric school bus today, and expect to reap fuel savings benefits throughout the new school year and beyond.
As the hybrid electric joins the Crittenden fleet of 35 buses, Superintendent  Dr. Rachel Yarborough noted, “Our school district has continued to seek ways to be as efficient as possible with resources. The new hybrid bus that is now added to our fleet underscores our commitment to seek innovative solutions to energy efficiency.” 
The new bus, manufactured by International Bus, was delivered to Dr. Yarborough and Transportation Director Al Starns, by Mark Cahill, Bluegrass International.  District bus drivers, mechanics, and first responders were all trained highlighting best operational practices for the hybrid-electric system. 
 

The bus uses an Eaton Hybrid System, a regenerative system that puts power back into the hybrid battery when the driver applies the brake.  Stop and start routes that generally do not exceed 50 mph provide the best performance for the hybrid system.  Hybrid electric buses already in operation across the state are seeing 30% or greater fuel savings. 
Thirty-two school districts across Kentucky currently operate 157 hybrid electric buses. Kentucky is home to the largest hybrid electric school bus fleet in the nation.  Over 200 hybrid buses will be purchased with the 12.9 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Energy awarded in December 2009. The Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition wrote and submitted the grant, working with the Kentucky Department of Education.  The KCFC is a non profit organization.
Performance data for these hybrid school buses is being gathered by the Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition, a non-profit organization that administers the grant with the Kentucky Department of Education.
Find data at http://www.kentuckycleanfuels.org/.

Kentucky Companies Benefit from a Portion of $44 Million Advanced Biofuel Bump from USDA

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced in October $44.6 million in payments for 156 advanced biofuel producers across the country to support the production and expansion of advanced biofuels.

"This funding will help local producers increase the production and availability of renewable energy and thus help our nation begin to reduce its reliance on foreign oil," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "Just as importantly, USDA's support will help to further develop the nation's growing biofuels industry and generate green jobs and economic growth."

The funding is being provided through USDA's Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels program, which makes payments to eligible producers to support and ensure the expanding production of advanced biofuels. Payments are based on the amount of biofuels a recipient produces from renewable biomass, other than corn kernel starch. Eligible examples include biofuels derived from cellulose; crop residue; animal, food and yard waste material; biogas (landfill and sewage waste treatment gas); vegetable oil, and animal fat. Through this and other programs, USDA is working to support the research, investment and infrastructure necessary to build a biofuels industry that creates jobs and conserves natural resources across America, officials say.

For example, in Dubuque, IA, Western Dubuque Biodiesel LLC received a $487,871 payment. This biodiesel production facility produces 30 million gallons per year using soybean oil, canola oil and tallow esters as feedstock. And in Kinsale, VA, the Potomac Supply Corporation received a $36,530 payment for producing two types of advanced biofuels: fuel pellets and dry kiln. Both are made from clean pine chips, sawdust and shavings feedstock. The department says the payment to the two facilities helped save a total of 28 jobs.

Kentucky companies that will receive USDA funding:

•     Griffin Industries, Inc.: $86,099.81 for Biofuel From Waste Products.
•     Owensboro Grain Company, LLC: $1,026,463.07 for Biodiesel Trans Esterification.
•     Somerset Hardwood Flooring: $49,449.09 for Pellets.
•     Southern Kentucky Pellet Mill, Inc. : $6,572.64 for Pellets.

For more information, visit the USDA's news release web page.

Meet Kentucky's Greenest Fleets

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 The Pioneer Fleets of the Green Fleets of the Bluegrass Program were announced December 7 at the KCFC Winter Meeting. Each are working to improve the environmental performance of their vehicle fleets by reducing petroleum fuel use:


Breathitt County Board of Education
Jefferson County Public Schools
Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection
Kentucky Division of Fleet Management
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government
Louisville Regional Airport Authority
Mammoth Cave National Park
Mercer Transportation Company
Murray State University
Transit Authority of River City
UPS
Waste Management of Kentucky
Learn more about each Pioneer Fleet Member's fleet greening efforts and the Green Fleets of the Bluegrass Program

The Pioneer Green Fleets members proudly display their certificates.

View photos from the awards ceremony on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/kycleanfuels

America's Natural Gas Highway Coming to Kentucky Thanks to Clean Energy

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Clean Energy will be building a public LNG/CNG refueling site in Walton, Ky. (Flying J's) as part of America’s Natural Gas Highway. They expect to complete the project this summer. The station will feature the latest state-of-the-art technology for natural gas vehicle fueling. They will initially deploy LNG at the station to service big rig heavy-duty trucks. They may add CNG to the station at any time when needed by the market.
Read more about the Clean Energy program - http://www.kentuckycleanfuels.org/resources/naturalgashighway.pdf.

Southern Company acquires nation's largest DC tracking solar installation

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Press release:


Southern Company acquires nation's largest DC tracking solar installation
Sep 28, 2012

ATLANTA, Sept. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Company today announced its acquisition of the largest direct current solar tracking array of its kind.  The Spectrum Solar Facility – a 30-megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic installation in Clark County, Nev. – will have greater DC capacity than any tracking-based installation in the United States.  Tracking technology enables greater operating efficiency by optimally directing solar panels as the sun moves across the sky.

The plant is located on a 311-acre site and will be built, operated and maintained by SunEdison, a leading global provider of solar energy services and a subsidiary of MEMC Electronic Materials (NYSE: WFR).

"Southern Company is committed to energy innovation and leads our industry in proprietary research and development," said Southern Company Chairman, President and CEO Thomas A. Fanning. "This project pushes the boundaries of solar energy by harnessing the power of large-scale tracking technology."

The Spectrum Solar Facility is the third facility jointly acquired by Southern Company and Turner Renewable Energy.  This partnership demonstrates a commitment to energy innovation and the commercial viability of renewable energy resources in America.

Ted Turner, an internationally renowned philanthropist and environmentalist, teamed with Southern Company in January 2010 to strategically develop renewable energy projects in the United States. Southern Company and Turner are concentrating their investments in large-scale solar photovoltaic projects where solar resources are most available. 

The partnership's first project was the acquisition and development of the 30-MW Cimarron Solar Facility near Raton, N.M. It was, at the time of purchase, the largest solar PV plant in the nation. In June 2012, the companies made their second purchase, the 20-MW Apex Solar Facility located in North Las Vegas, Nev.

"It's gratifying to see that our partnership with Southern Company is achieving its goal of expanding large-scale solar power generation and demonstrating the technology's feasibility as a commercial-scale electricity source," said Turner. "Southern Company is taking a leadership position in finding innovative solutions to diversifying the nation's energy portfolio with a greater mix of renewables, and we're pleased to be a partner in that effort."
SunEdison continues to play a major role in the expansion of clean, renewable solar energy.

"We are pleased to once again work with Southern Company and Turner Renewable Energy to provide high-quality solar power plants as they continue to build their renewable portfolio," said Carlos Domenech, President of SunEdison.  "Our development capabilities and execution track record have made us a trusted provider in the marketplace.  We look forward to continuing to provide visionary leaders like Southern Company with solar energy solutions that make economic sense."

Construction of the Spectrum Solar Project is expected to begin in October and commercial operation is anticipated by the second quarter of 2013.

The plant's output will serve a 25-year power purchase agreement with NV Energy, making the Spectrum Solar Facility a natural fit in Southern Company's overall business strategy and low-risk profile.

NV Energy, Inc., headquartered in Las Vegas, provides a wide range of energy services and products to approximately 2.4 million citizens of Nevada and nearly 40 million tourists annually.

SunEdison is a global provider of solar-energy services. The company develops, finances, installs and operates distributed power plants using proven photovoltaic technologies, delivering fully managed, and predictably priced solar energy services for its commercial, government and utility customers. In 2011 SunEdison interconnected approximately 300 megawatts of solar throughout the world. For more information about SunEdison, please visitwww.sunedison.com.

Turner Renewable Energy is wholly owned by Ted Turner. Turner Enterprises, Inc., a private company, manages the business interests, land holdings and investments of Ted Turner, including the oversight of 2 million acres in 12 states and in Argentina, and more than 55,000 bison.

With 4.4 million customers and more than 43,000 megawatts of generating capacity, Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is the premier energy company serving the Southeast.  A leading U.S. producer of electricity, Southern Company owns electric utilities in four states and a growing competitive generation company, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications.  Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and retail electric prices below the national average.  Southern Company also is continually ranked among the top utilities in Fortune's annual World's Most Admired Electric and Gas rankings. Visit our website at www.southerncompany.com.

SOURCE Southern Company

NREL study: Hybrid delivery vans show nearly 20 percent higher fuel economy

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News release:


NREL study: Hybrid delivery vans show nearly 20 percent higher fuel economy
Friday, September 28, 2012
The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE)'s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently completed a performance evaluation report that showed significant fuel economy benefits of hybrid electric delivery vans compared to similar conventional vans.

"During the on-road portion of our study, the hybrid vans demonstrated a 13 to 20 percent higher fuel economy than the conventional vans," said NREL Project Engineer Michael Lammert. "During dynamometer testing, three standard drive cycles were chosen to represent the range of delivery routes. The hybrids showed a 13 to 36 percent improvement in fuel economy and up to a 45 percent improvement in ton-miles-per-gallon. This wide range in fuel economy is largely dependent on drive cycle."

The new NREL report -- Eighteen-Month Final Evaluation of UPS Second Generation Diesel Hybrid Electric Delivery Vans-- details the impact of hybridization on fuel economy and performance and identifies the conditions under which the hybrids offer maximum fuel savings.

The NREL team collected and analyzed in-service fuel economy, maintenance, and other vehicle performance data on 11 hybrid and 11 conventional step vans operated by the United Parcel Service (UPS) in Minneapolis. The team also performed dynamometer testing at the Renewable Fuels and Lubricants (ReFUEL) Research Laboratory in Denver.

"The reliability of the hybrids was slightly lower, 92.5 percent compared to 99.7 percent, in part due to troubleshooting and recalibration issues related to prototype components," Lammert added. "Differences in per-mile maintenance and operating costs were not statistically significant."

The hybrid vans feature hybrid propulsion systems: 44 kilowatt electric motors, lithium-ion batteries and regenerative braking that captures energy normally lost during braking to power the electric motor. The comparable conventional vans were approximately the same age and were operated in similar conditions out of the same facility. The two vehicle groups switched route assignments during the study period to provide a balanced review of the vans on the same route.

NREL has been working in partnership with UPS for five years to track and evaluate the performance of its hybrid vehicles. The first study, performed in 2008, focused on first-generation hybrid vans operated by UPS in Phoenix. In 2010, UPS deployed 200 second-generation hybrid vans to eight U.S. cities, including the 11 under study in Minneapolis. These second-generation hybrids feature more advanced control algorithms and an "engine off at idle" feature that automatically stops and restarts the engine at stoplights and during other short-stop conditions.

These evaluations are part of the Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity, which supports the Energy Department's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Visit www.nrel.gov/vehiclesandfuels/fleettest to learn more about NREL's fleet test and evaluation projects.

NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. NREL is operated for DOE by The Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC.

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