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Centralina Clean Fuels Coalition -- News

In The Press

Executive Order No. 271; Accelerating a Transition to a Clean Energy Economy

On October 25, 2022, Governor Roy Cooper issued Executive Order No. 271 directing swift action to accelerate the state’s transition to a clean energy economy that creates good jobs and opportunities for all North Carolinians while protecting public health and the environment.

Executive Order 271 directs the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality to work with stakeholders to propose to the Environmental Management Commission an Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) program that would ensure zero-emission trucks and buses are available for purchase in the state. ACT would require manufacturers to sell an increasing percentage of ZEVs over time while providing flexibility, through credits, trading and other features, as segments of the market grow at different speeds. Sales targets would also drive investment in other zero-emission technologies including charging and fueling infrastructure. The Executive Order outlines a comprehensive strategy for the state to support automakers, fleet owners, and other partners to grow the MHD (Medium- and Heavy-Duty) ZEV market through incentives, and workforce development.

The Executive Order builds on Gov. Cooper’s previous actions to grow the clean energy economy and a clean transportation future. Read the press release to learn more here and the executive order here.

PoleVolt The Ritz at WH Side View 17-Feb-2022

Regional Happenings

EVs for Equity Event

Living near highways, traffic, and other sources of harmful air emissions disproportionately affects historically overburdened communities and results in worse health outcomes such as asthma, cardiovascular disease, heart disease, and much more. Getting more electric vehicles on the road in and around these communities presents the opportunity to improve health outcomes by reducing emissions.

While the Historic West End has a gas station just around nearly every corner, there are only two charging stations in the community. By working with The City of Charlotte, UNCC EPIC, Centralina Regional Council, and others, the Historic West End is beginning to equip itself with more EV infrastructure to enjoy the economic, health, and sustainable benefits EVs bring. The recent PoleVolt Project has encouraged drivers, local businesses and governments to embrace EVs and the benefits they bring.

CleanAIRE NC, Historic West End Green District, the Centralina Clean Fuels Coalition and PoleVolt project partners Duke Energy, City of Charlotte and UNC Charlotte recently hosted an EVs for Equity event that allowed residents to come out and learn about sustainable transportation and local electrification efforts. The event showed off various passenger EVs and gave drivers an opportunity to discuss their experience driving EVs. Additionally, the event included two models of the new EV bus provided by the Charlotte Area Transportation System (CATS) which will be used on routes in the Historic West End. Deploying EV buses in the Historic West End and other communities, while electrifying bus fleets in general represents a huge impact on fighting climate change and mitigating air pollution. This July there will be a Clean Air Advocacy Training event that will aim to increase understanding of air pollution in the Historic West End and explore opportunities for residents to engage in solutions that improve air quality in the community.

The electric surge is coming and with gas prices and inflation increasing, there has never been a better time to equip our communities, businesses, and fleets with sustainable transportation and other vehicle options to improve our states overall economy, health, and sustainability.

Regional Happenings

Fall 2021 CCFC Intern Position Now Open!

C CFC is pleased to share the launch of the Fall 2021 term of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities University Workforce Development Program (CCUWDP). This fall, CCUWDP is offering 50 workforce development program positions across the nation and applications are now available. This is a wonderful opportunity for students looking to gain experience in the energy and transportation areas. Please pass this information along to anyone you know who may be interested in one of these positions. Applications can be found at https://www.cvent.com/d/6mqznc with more information below. Applications are due September 2, 2021. If you have any questions, please email cleancitiesintern@anl.gov.

Clean Cities University Workforce Development Program Fall 2021

The Clean Cities University Workforce Development Program is an initiative of Clean Cities, a government-industry partnership sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Program. Clean Cities strives to reduce petroleum consumption in the transportation sector in nearly 100 communities across the country. Since the creation of the CCUWDP in 2010, Clean Cities has hosted more than 500 interns in more than 75 Coalitions.

The Clean Cities internship will give students studying communications, public relations, business, marketing, engineering or environmental sciences, the opportunity to grow public awareness and expand the markets of advanced vehicle technologies, alternative fuels, and practices that reduce the consumption of petroleum. Students have participated in research, outreach activities, public education, K-12 outreach, fleet events, and a vast array of transportation-related environmental projects.

This internship will interest students with backgrounds in marketing, business, writing, public administration, and similar.

Specific Details:

Up to 50 internships available at competitively-selected U.S. Clean Cities Coalition locations working with dynamic Clean Cities coordinators and their stakeholders
Positions are 15 or 20 hours per week (determined by the Coalition) for 14 weeks
Internship dates: approximately September 16, 2020 through December 23, 2020. Exact start/end dates determined by individual coalitions
Stipends range from $2,520 – $4,200 depending on academic classification and number of hours assigned by the coalition.
Many past internships have led to permanent positions!
Applications are due September 2, 2021.

To submit your resume and complete the online application, please click here. If selected, interns will be notified by September 15, 2020.

Questions? Email: CleanCitiesIntern@anl.gov

In The PressRegional Happenings

President Biden Announces New EV Targets, Emissions Standards

Washington D.C -President Biden last Thursday signed an Executive Order that sets an ambitious new target to make half of all new vehicles sold in 2030 zero-emissions vehicles including battery electric, plug-in hybrid electric, or fuel cell electric vehicles. Th Executive order also kicks off development of long-term fuel efficiency and emissions standards to save consumers money, cut pollution, boost public health, advance environmental justice, and tackle the climate crisis.

In addition, the Environmental Protection Agency and US Department of Transportation announced how they are addressing rollbacks of near-term fuel efficiency and emission standards. Through these coordinated notices of proposed rulemaking, the two agencies are advancing smart fuel efficiency and emissions standards that would deliver around $140 billion in net benefits over the life of the program, save about 200 billion gallons of gasoline, and reduce around two billion metric tons of carbon pollution. For the average consumer, this means net benefits of up to $900 over the life of the vehicle in fuel savings.

American automakers Ford, GM and Stellantis and the United Auto Works (UAW) stood with President Biden at the White House in support of these efforts.

Read the full fact sheet on the Executive Order

Read the statements from automakers & others

GrantsRegional Happenings

VW Settlement Phase 2 Webinar Recording & Comment Links

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality invites public comment on the state’s plan to invest $67 million in Volkswagen Settlement funds. The Draft Phase 2 Mitigation plan focuses on efforts to reduce pollution impacts while incentivizing zero emission vehicles and increasing outreach to under-resourced communities.

The funds represent North Carolina’s share of the $2.9 billion federal settlement with Volkswagen due to its misrepresentation of diesel emission standards in certain vehicles. Governor Roy Cooper designated the Division of Air Quality as the lead agency to manage the project in November 2017. Wilmington Trust officially designed North Carolina as a State Beneficiary in January 2018.

In Phase 1 of the program, North Carolina awarded nearly $27 million to replace 111 school buses and 16 transit buses and to install 33 zero emission vehicle (ZEV) fast charging stations and 78 Level 2 charging stations across the state.

The Division of Air Quality held a series of public information sessions to explain the draft plan. Members of the public and entities interested in receiving funds for eligible projects are encouraged to review the recording and submit questions:

10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Wednesday, July 14: Western NC Region
2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 14: Centralina/Triad Region-link to recorded webinar is here.
10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Wednesday, July 21: Triangle Region
2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 21: Coastal NC Region

The Division of Air Quality will also hold a series of in-person public information sessions for counties eligible in the Historically Under-Resourced Counties Outreach Program. Additional meeting dates, locations and times will be posted on the DEQ Volkswagen Program webpage.

Comments may be submitted online via Microsoft Forms at https://bit.ly/3jMMu3i or emailed to daq_NCVWGrants@ncdenr.gov. Voicemail comments will also be accepted at 919-707-8429. All comments will be accepted until September 7, 2021 at 5 p.m.

Additional information regarding Phase 2 can be found on https://deq.nc.gov/vw-settlement.

MAIN SITE: NC VW Settlement

PHASE 2 DRAFT LINK

SUBMIT COMMENTS HERE

Regional Happenings

Economic Impact Analysis of Clean Energy Development in NC-2021 Report

The NC Sustainable Energy Association has just released their biennial Economic Impact Analysis of Clean Energy Development in North Carolina Report.

RTI International conducted the report to identify associated economic impacts of clean energy development (renewable energy and energy efficiency) in North Carolina and identified that, from 2007-2020, the total economic impact of clean energy and energy efficiency project development in the state was $40.3 billion, with 17 percent of the cumulative clean energy investment over the last 14 years occurring in 2019 and 2020.

In The Press

Truck Manufacturer Pierce Releases First Electric Fire Truck

The Pierce Volterra Platform of Electric Vehicles will help create a more sustainable future for communities around the world, while providing firefighters what they need to do their job safely every day. The zero-emission Pierce Volterra Pumper and Oshkosh Airport Products Striker Volterra performance hybrid Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicles feature patented Oshkosh Corporation battery electric vehicle and hybrid vehicle technologies.

This new battery electric fire truck has a patented parallel-electric drivetrain with a electro-mechanical infinitely variable transmission allowing for zero-emission operation when powered by the integrated onboard batteries. It can be coupled to the internal combustion engine for continuous power to the pumping or drive systems and is equipped with a battery pack that recharges using on-site recharging infrastructure. More information about the Pierce electric fire truck can be found here.

The Volterra Platform of Vehicles was designed through close collaboration with Oshkosh fire department partners to provide all the safety, functionality and performance needed by first responders while also helping protect the planet. For more information about the Volterra Electric Vehicle Platform, visit the Oshkosh site here.