Monday, February 27, 2012

Training Opportunities for ARRA Partners

Dear ARRA Partners:

Thank you for your partnership with Utah Clean Cities as an ARRA Grant Partner. Utah Clean Cities has appreciated you commitment to alternative fuels and your efforts to expand the use of AFV's and alt fuel infrastructure in your businesses and communities. There is now a need and demand for training related to the increase of technology and fuel types.

Utah Clean Cities is pleased to announce that we will be sponsoring workshops throughout Spring 2012 that will cover topics surrounding training, safety, and overviews of fuels including CNG, LNG, Electric, Biodiesel, Ethanol, and Propane.

As an ARRA Partner, Utah Clean Cities will be able to reimburse you and your employees for the cost of the course upon successful completion. The courses will provide you with a Certificate of Completion, which you can scan and send to us to receive compensation.

When registering for classes that will be covered for ARRA Partners by Utah Clean Cities, please be sure to refer to the registration sheets that we will provide that has the Utah Clean Cities Letterhead, and specify when you register that you are a Utah Clean Cities ARRA Partner.

Some courses are open to the public as well, in these cases space is limited so please reserve your space early if you are interested. We have included information for the first training we will sponsor which will be held at Weber State University.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

Robin Erickson
Robin. Erickson@UtahCleanCities.org/435-652-4721 ext. 138

Irene Rizza
Irene.Rizza@UtahCleanCities.org / 801.525.7110


Course Guide:

WSU Automotive Department-Short Non-Credit Evening Courses

Weber State University – Ogden, Utah
Sponsored by Utah Clean Cities Coalition for ARRA Partners

1.Hybrid and Alternate Fuel Vehicle Operation and Safety (2 Evenings)

Course Description: A study of the operation and safety precautions related to hybrid - electric
vehicles, plug - in hybrids, electric vehicles, and alternate fueled vehicles. High voltage Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE) is demonstrated and used in this class.

Intended audience: General Audience, Hybrid Car Owners, Automotive Service Technicians,
Parts Department Personnel, Government Fleets, and Emergency Rescue Personnel (Police, Fire,Ambulance, etc.)

Class length: 2 evenings 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. (Wednesday - Thursday)

Place: Weber State University - Technical Education Building - Room TE - 214

Course Fee: $175.00
(Reimbursement provided upon course completion for Utah Clean Cities ARRA Partners) - Course book included

Instructor: John D. Kelly, M.Ed., B.S. EET.
Class Schedule:
o January 18 -19, 2012
o March 7-8, 2012
o May 9 - 10, 2012


2. Hybrid Vehicle Service and Diagnosis (2 Evenings)

Course Description: Service and Diagnostic procedures for hybrid- electric vehicles, plug - in hybrids, and electric vehicles. All students in this class will use high - voltage personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Intended audience: Automotive Service Technicians
Prerequisite: ASE A6 Electrical Certification or the Basic Automotive Electronics Training class
shown below

Class length: 2 evenings 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. (Wednesday - Thursday)

Place: Weber State University - Technical Education Building - Room TE - 214

Course Fee: $175.00
(Reimbursement provided upon course completion for Utah Clean CitiesARRA Partners) - Course book included

Instructor: John D. Kelly, M.Ed., B.S. EET.
Class Schedule:
o February 15 - 16, 2012
o April 18 - 19, 2012
o June 13 - 14, 2012


3. Basic Automotive Electronics Training (3 Evenings)

Course Description: Electrical fundamentals, use of meters and wiring diagrams, wiring repair. Basic electrical theory, diagnosis, and repair of computer inputs, outputs, and communication systems arecovered. The use of electronic service information, the proper diagnostic process, and proper diagnostic service tools are emphasized

Intended audience: Automotive Service Technicians

Class length: 3 evenings 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. (Tuesday - Thursday)

Place: Weber State University - Technical Education Building - Room TE - 214

Course Fee: $225.00
(Reimbursement provided upon course completion for Utah Clean Cities ARRA Partners)- Course book included

Instructor: John D. Kelly, M.Ed., B.S. EET.
Class Schedule
o February 7 - 9, 2012
o April 10 - 12, 2012
o June 5 - 7, 2012


Class Sizes are Limited, Reserve Your Seat Today!

Call WSU Continuing Education 801-626-6600 to get our registration team.

Class sizes are limited to 18 students. You can also register in person at the Hurst Center --- 1255 E. 4100 S. Ogden, Utah 84408 (Just east of the Weber Credit Union and the WSU Alumni Center). We accept the major credit cards (American Express, Visa, Master Card, Discover), personal or business checks, and cash.

Please Specify that you are a Utah Clean Cities ARRA Partner when you register

For more information visit www.weber.edu/automotive/workshops

Sunday, February 26, 2012

AVS WELCOMES NEW PROJECT MANAGER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Bry Granger
Alternative Vehicle Solutions
255 W 2950 S
Salt Lake City, UT 84115
Phone: 801-463-0444
http://www.avs-cng.com
bry@avs-cng.com

AVS WELCOMES NEW PROJECT MANAGER

Salt Lake City, UT – Feb 20, 2012 – Alternative Vehicle Solutions (AVS)

We are pleased to announce and welcome Hettie Fitzgerald as one of our new Project Managers. Ms. Fitzgerald will be responsible for ensuring our customers vehicles conversions go off without a hitch and that we deliver a quality CNG experience in a timely manner reducing our nations dependency on foreign oil one vehicle at a time.

Hettie comes to us with 5+ years of experience in the aftermarket CNG industry. Prior to her involvement with CNG Hettie was a special education teacher for 20 years. Hettie’s expertise in the industry, relationships she has built and customer service skills makes her a great addition to the AVS family.

“We are very excited to have Hettie join our team. She has considerable experience with CNG vehicles and will be a great role model for the employees and vendors she comes in contact with.” Said Scott Brandeberry, V.P. of Operations at AVS.

For Information: http://www.avs-cng.com or
Contact: bry@avs-cng.com
Phone: 801-463-0444

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Green Auto Market

Green Auto Market Tracks What's Really Happening in Green Cars, Fuels, and Technologies
Publication reaching key stakeholders in what's now a limited niche and what could become a sizable portion of vehicle sales
Feb. 22, 2012, Long Beach, Calif. - For those interested in learning more about electric vehicles, hybrids, and alternative fuel vehicles, it's easy to find a wave of media coverage, especially when new cars are unveiled at major auto shows. But what about the market forces shaping the future of this new business?
Green Auto Market, The business of green cars, fuels, and technologies, was launched yesterday and distributed to a list of key stakeholders in this new and growing industry. Green Auto Market is tracking sales figures for hybrids and EVs, resale values and remarketing, OEM and dealer marketing campaigns, charging and fueling infrastructure, fuel and energy prices, green vehicle investor trends, and "big picture" developments shaping what's next. While it's going to take a few years for this industry to make much of a difference, there will be many jobs, investments, emissions standards, technology R&D, and other factors that draw attention to, and engagement with, this new business in major markets around the world.
For this market to grow beyond being a limited niche to a sizable portion of vehicle sales, many market forces need to be tracked and addressed - gasoline and diesel prices; EV charging stations; "range anxiety;" advanced technologies; testing and implementation of renewable and alternative fuels; consumer tastes and interests; fleet purchases; the political climate; government policies; key global markets; corporate sustainability and greentech; and how green vehicles compare in price and owner lifecycle costs to comparable internal combustion engine vehicles. Green Auto Market is digging into these market forces and offers a "real world" view of what's really happening, along with events and developments that could change the future of the industry.
Environmental concerns, the need to reduce oil imports, concern over "peak oil" driving up fuel prices, tailpipe and greenhouse gas emissions, federal fuel economy standards, hydraulic fracturing for natural gas, and early adopter passion for green technologies are important factors to consider. In the end, it will take car shopper tastes, public support, investment opportunities, job growth, affordable windshield sticker prices, and convenience and accessibility of the charging and fueling infrastructure for all of this to take hold.
Green Auto Market's editor and publisher is Jon LeSage, who also serves as Automotive Editor, Green Initiatives at Automotive Digest. Automotive Digest newsletters reach auto dealers, OEMs, suppliers, associations, and fleet managers. For a copy of the February issue of Green Auto Market and to be placed on the distribution list, contact Jon LeSage atjlesage@jonlesage.com. You can also read his regular blog postings at Green Machine Digest.

3M and Chesapeake Energy Corporation Partner to Create New CNG Tank Technology

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

3M and Chesapeake Energy Corporation

Partner to Create New CNG Tank Technology

Partnership signals growing strength of natural gas transportation fuel market

ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA and OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – Feb. 21, 20123M (NYSE:MMM) and Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NYSE:CHK) today announced an agreement to collaborate in designing, manufacturing and marketing a broad portfolio of compressed natural gas (CNG) tanks for use in all sectors of the United States transportation market. Currently the fuel tank on a CNG vehicle is its most expensive single component. The new CNG tanks developed through the 3M and Chesapeake partnership will reduce costs while increasing performance. Less expensive tanks will enable greater market adoption of CNG as an alternative automotive fuel source.

3M’s CNG tank solution combines the company’s proprietary liner advancements, thermoplastic materials, barrier films and coatings, and damage-resistant films to transform the pressure vessel industry. Using nanoparticle-enhanced resin technology, 3M™ Matrix Resin for Pressure Vessels, 3M will create CNG tanks that are 10 to 20 percent lighter with 10 to 20 percent greater capacity, all at a lower cost than standard vessels. In addition to these benefits, the 3M technology produces safer and more durable tanks than those currently on the market. This tank innovation builds on 3M’s proven history of developing and introducing pioneering technologies to the market.

“3M believes in the potential of natural gas, and this agreement illustrates our commitment to the industry,” said George Buckley, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of 3M. “We are excited about this collaboration to speed the development and adoption of natural gas-powered vehicles.”

Increased political support and private investment have made natural gas a viable automotive fuel alternative with large growth potential. With more than a 100-year supply of natural gas in the United States and an average price per gasoline gallon equivalent of $1.00 to $2.00, the fuel is plentiful, affordable and domestic. The fuel also burns more cleanly than gasoline, cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent and particulate matter by 95 percent.

“This partnership brings together two leading companies from different sectors, both committed to advancing the natural gas transportation fuel market,” said Aubrey K. McClendon, Chesapeake’s Chief Executive Officer. “We applaud 3M for recognizing the future of natural gas as a low-cost, cleaner alternative to gasoline, and for creating innovative tank technology that will make natural gas vehicles more affordable and accessible to fleets and individual consumers nationwide. Our country needs a solution to break the foreign stranglehold on our fuels market, and today’s announcement is another step to transition our nation away from costly imports.”

Chesapeake has pledged an initial $10 million toward design and certification services, market development support and a commitment to use the new tanks for its corporate fleet conversion to CNG. The company’s investment will be provided by Chesapeake NG Ventures Corporation (CNGV), established in 2011 to identify and invest in companies and technologies that will replace the use of gasoline and diesel derived primarily from foreign oil. CNGV has committed $1 billion over the next 10 years to help fund various initiatives to increase demand for natural gas, including investments totaling $300 million in Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NYSE:CLNE) and privately-held Sundrop Fuels, Inc.

3M has engaged Hypercomp Engineering, Inc. of Utah for the design and certification of tanks. 3M will manufacture the tanks and focus its capital on all future operations and production. 3M expects these tanks to be available for sale during the fourth quarter of 2012.

For more information about the companies and technologies involved, visit http://www.3M.com/AdvancedComposites or www.chk.com.

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About 3M

3M captures the spark of new ideas and transforms them into thousands of ingenious products. Our culture of creative collaboration inspires a never-ending stream of powerful technologies that make life better. 3M is the innovation company that never stops inventing. With $30 billion in sales, 3M employs 84,000 people worldwide and has operations in more than 65 countries. For more information, visit www.3M.com or follow @3MNews on Twitter.

3M is a trademark of 3M Company.

About Chesapeake Energy Corporation

Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NYSE:CHK) is the second-largest producer of natural gas, a Top 15 producer of oil and natural gas liquids and the most active driller of new wells in the U.S. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, the company's operations are focused on discovering and developing unconventional natural gas and oil fields onshore in the U.S. Chesapeake owns leading positions in the Barnett, Haynesville, Bossier, Marcellus and Pearsall natural gas shale plays and in the Granite Wash, Cleveland, Tonkawa, Mississippi Lime, Bone Spring, Avalon, Wolfcamp, Wolfberry, Eagle Ford, Niobrara, Three Forks/Bakken and Utica unconventional liquids plays. The company has also vertically integrated its operations and owns substantial midstream, compression, drilling, trucking, pressure pumping and other oilfield service assets directly and indirectly through its subsidiaries Chesapeake Midstream Development, L.P. and Chesapeake Oilfield Services, L.L.C. and its affiliate Chesapeake Midstream Partners, L.P. (NYSE:CHKM) Further information is available at www.chk.com where Chesapeake routinely posts announcements, updates, events, investor information, presentations and news releases.

Sustainable Federal Fleet Management

DOE's Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) recently consolidated its Federal fleet management information onto the Sustainable Federal Fleets website. The new site contains information from the Federal fleet management section of the FEMP website and the data, analysis, and trends section of the Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center.

Content on Sustainable Federal Fleets is organized into the following sections:

  • Federal Requirements—Guidance to help Federal agencies meet legislative and regulatory requirements, including fleet requirements by regulation and by topic, reporting requirements, and fleet annual reports.
  • Performance Data—Fleet alternative fuel vehicle acquisitions and waivers, vehicle inventories, and fuel consumption data collected through the Federal Automotive Statistical Tool (FAST). A new interactive map shows the alternative fuel vehicles waived from meeting Energy Policy Act (EPAct) 2005 alternative fuel use requirements in 2012.
  • Vehicle TechnologiesAlternative fuel and advanced vehicle technologies that can lower the Federal Government's dependence on petroleum while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Fueling InfrastructureGuidance surrounding infrastructure regulations, the infrastructure development process, and assistance in partnering with other entities to achieve Federal fleet management goals.
  • Fleet Sustainability Dashboard—An application that tracks participating agencies' fleet fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
  • Fleet Analysis Services—FEMP services to help Federal agencies evaluate vehicle inventories, fleet composition, fuel consumption data, and alternative fuel availability to better manage vehicle fleets and meet Federal requirements.
  • Working GroupThe Interagency Committee on Alternative Fuels and Low Emission Vehicles (INTERFUEL) is committed to ensuring that Federal fleets comply with Federal laws and regulations affecting fleet policy, funding, and vehicle operations.
  • Information Resources—Federal Fleet Files e-newsletter archives, FEMP fleet management resources, and related Federal fleet links and tools.
  • Contacts—Federal Fleet Management contacts at DOE, NREL, and the Idaho National Laboratory.

The fleet management content currently on the FEMP website will soon be archived, so please update any bookmarks with the links above.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

ACTION NEEDED!!!

Utah House Voting on H.B. 104 TODAY

House Bill 104 (H.B. 104) threatens to undo the work of Utah cities to help solve our air quality problem by prohibiting any type of vehicle idling restrictions! Learn more about the bill: http://le.utah.gov/~2012/bills/hbillint/hb0104.pdf

The truth is that we have a serious air quality issue. It is important that real, concrete steps are taken to reduce vehicle emissions. Salt Lake City and Park City’s Idle Free Ordinances are a step in the right direction. Let the Utah legislature know if you support cities taking local action to address air quality.

Please take a moment to do three things:

1. Contact your legislators. Find your representative’s email address and/or phone number for the House of Representatives (http://le.utah.gov/house2/representatives.jsp) and Utah Senate (http://www.utahsenate.org/aspx/roster.aspx) online.

2. Let the Governor know how you feel about H.B. 104. Contact Governor Herbert: http://www.utah.gov/governor/contact/index.html

3. Spread the word on Facebook, Twitter and via email. Ask your contacts to join you in making their voice heard on this issue.

Utah's 2012 Legislative Session: Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Approach to Air Quality

The bi-partisan co-sponsors of H.B. 70, which will create a legislative Air Quality Task Force, met with a victory earlier this month when the bill passed the House vote on February, 7th. This Task Force will cooperatively gather and review unbiased, scientific information that will assist them in drafting bills that will amend current state laws and regulations with the aim of improve air quality in Utah. However, advocates of clean air hold their breath today as H.B. 104, legislation that will prohibit any local highway authority from enacting ordinances that prohibits idling, is voted on by the Utah House of Representatives. This bill would negate all idling ordinances in the state of Utah, targeting ordinances in Park City and Salt Lake City.

H.B. 104, sponsored by Rep Wayne Harper (R), will amend Utah Traffic Code, Section 41-6a-208, restricting local highway authority regulatory powers and limiting the autonomy of local authorities. It will invalidate two different ordinances passed in Salt Lake City in one blanket attempt: the 2011 anti-idling ordinance and a 2010 ordinance regarding taxi cab contracting. Additionally, it will negate the anti-idling ordinance passed by Park City in December of 2010.

Currently, State code holds that local regulatory powers include authority over (to name just a few items on the list) the stopping, standing, or parking of vehicles, the regulation of speed limits, bicycle traffic, and even the regulation or prohibiting of “specified types of vehicles”. The ordinances enacted by Salt Lake are reasonably within these powers. H.B. 104 attempts to split hairs on an agenda. The changes under this legislation will restrict local authorities from enacting ordinances which may prevent the owners and operators of vehicles from idling their engines, and prevent local authorities from enacting ordinances prohibiting vehicles from being licensed as taxi cabs based on date of manufacturing (text of the H.B. 104). Ordinances enacted to reduce pollution and regulate the safe operation of vehicles are a matter of public health and safety, and should be within the scope of a local authority's power.

Ironically, the attitude manifested by H.B. 104 counters the progressive viewpoint of H.B. 70, which acknowledges Utah’s air quality issue and acts to take concrete steps forward (text of H.B. 70). If H.B. 104 passes it will negate the hard earned successes of numerous community leaders, air quality advocates and public lesions. Utahns are working hard to clean up their air and maintain their state’s reputation as a fabulous place to live, work and play. PLEASE take the time to let your representative that you DO NOT want the legislature to back-petal on the issue of air quality.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ACTION!

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Clean Energy LNG Rationale

Short post today!

We wanted to share the following link, which was forwarded our way.

This Clean Energy presentation addresses the rational for installing LNG stations, instead of CNG stations, to fuel the interstate network at the Flying & Pilot (some stations will installed CNG where it is warranted). For those of you who are unfamiliar with this compnay, Clean Energy is a natural gas fuel provider for transportation in North America.

http://www.cleanenergyfuels.com/video/trucking.html - Presentation

http://www.cleanenergyfuels.com/main.html - Clean Energy Homepage