February 20, 2020. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) began its transition to renewable natural gas for its shuttle bus fleet on January 1, 2020, with the help of Clean Energy Fuels Corp., the leading provider of natural gas fuel for transportation in North America and a longtime partner with ABIA. This partnership calls for Clean Energy to provide the airport with its Redeem™ brand of renewable natural gas, the first commercially available vehicle fuel made entirely from 100% organic waste.

We have contacted you for information on your 2019 efforts to reduce petroleum consumption by using alternative fuels, alternative fuel vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles, idle-reduction initiatives, fuel economy activities and programs to reduce vehicle miles traveled. NREL and DOE analyze the data and translate it into petroleum-use and greenhouse gas reduction impacts for individual coalitions and the program as a whole.  Our data will be combined with nationwide data to produce the 2019 Transportation Technology Deployment Report.  Please get your data to us as soon as possible.

Thank you to everyone who already submitted data!  

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is currently accepting applications for the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP) TCSB. Approximately $6.2 million in grants is available state-wide for school districts, charter schools, and transportation systems provided by countywide school districts, to replace or retrofit school buses operating on a regular daily route to and from school.

Grants are available on a first-come, first-served basis to reimburse up to 80% of the cost to replace a school bus with a newer, cleaner model, and up to 100% of the cost to retrofit a school bus.

Applications will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on December 17, 2020 or until all funding is awarded.

For more information on the grant program and to access up-to-date information on the application criteria and process, or to receive copies of the application forms, visit www.terpgrants.org 

Lone Star Clean Fuels Alliance, along with our partners Eanes ISD, Specialty Propane Services, Roush Cleantech, Rush Bus Centers and ICOM North America/Nat-G hosted 10 school districts last month at a roundtable meeting to share technical information and upcoming grant opportunities available for clean school buses and fueling infrastructure.

There are multiple resources available to help you.  You can visit the Alternative Fuels Data Center’s (AFDC) Batteries for Hybrid and PEVs page for an overview. 

The Department of Energy has committed multiple resources to PEV battery recycling including their ReCell Center, a Lithium Ion Battery Recycling Prize and Argonne National Lab’s Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Publications.

With thousands of new EVs coming off of leases, used EVs are more available and more affordable than ever before, with some available for under $10,000.
Here’s a handy Used EV Buyer’s Guide.

And don’t forget to think about charging options before you buy it!