Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Attend the 2nd Natural Gas Vehicle Infrastructure Conference & Exhibition!

Utah Clean Cities Coalition would like to invite you to attend the 2nd Natural Gas Vehicle Infrastructure Conference & Exhibition (Feb 25-26, Houston, TX): http://www.ngvevent.com/

Over 600 of North America's leading operators, natural gas utilities and convenience stores will be in attendance to discover how to develop profitable sustainable NGV infrastructure/

 
To find out more about the show click here to download the conference brochure
  
Over 30 industry leaders will be speaking including:
  • Dave McCurdy, CEO, American Gas Association 
  • John Somerhalder, CEO, AGL Resources 
  • Laurence Downes, CEO, New Jersey Natural Gas  
  • Scott Prochazka, COO, Centerpoint Energy 
  • Ron Jibson, CEO, Questar Corporation 
  • Gordon Gillette, President, Peoples Gas
  • Lloyd Sanford, VP of Gas Marketing, Travel Centers of America
  • Laura Scott, Senior Vice President of New Ventures, Gulf Oil
  • Chad Hollett, Director of Transportation & Distribution, Kwik Trip
  • Sil Lutkewite, Alternative Fuels Manager, Lehigh Gas
  • Steven Saltzgiver, Director of Fleet Operations - North America, Coca Cola
  • Christi Clinger, Vice President of Logistics, 7-11
  • Roger Nevill, President & COO, Green Energy Oilfield Services
For sample list of some of the companies already fully confirmed to attend click here.


You will receive an exclusive $200 Discount on your registration!


Clean Cities members and stakeholders are also eligible for a $200 Registration Discount:
use the discount code "cleancity" when registering securely online HERE.

For any questions regarding the event please contact Joshua Bull:

Joshua Bull
Event Director
USA- toll -free 1 800 8143459 ext. 7227

 

Saturday, January 26, 2013

NAFTC Training Opportunities

NAFTC 2013 Winter/Spring Training Schedule
NAFTC's Alternative Fuel Vehicle classes:

This post holiday season finds the NAFTC a very busy place. We have recently completed the 2012 National AFV Day Odyssey, are preparing for training and presentations across the nation, and have developed and continue to develop new course work to reflect the rapidly changing field of alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles.

Some new courses coming your way in 2013 include the 40 hour Electric Drive Vehicle Automotive Technician Course, available for both technical college and Career and Technology Education (CTE) students, Electric Drive Vehicle Infrastructure Course, and second editions of our Light-Duty Natural Gas Vehicles, CNG Vehicle Fuel System Inspection, and Overview of Alternative Fuels classes. These trainings, along with the implementation of our Learning Management System, the launch of our award-winning First Responder Safety Training initiatives, and many other training opportunities have brought a successful 2012 to a close.

Our program activities continue to increase as we continue on our mission to end our nation's addiction to foreign oil through education on alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles. We have several additional training and professional development opportunities upcoming and will send out notices as details are finalized. Today we are writing to inform you of the training opportunities to be conducted by the NAFTC beginning January, 2013.

Please take a look at the list of offerings on the right. We have multiple training opportunities to be hosted here at our national headquarters in Morgantown, WV, and as always our training schedule can be viewed on our website or by clicking on the "2013 Training Schedule" button on the right.

If you have questions, please call: 304-293-7882.

Thanks!
Micheal Smyth
NAFTC Assistant Director
Curriculum Development & Training
NAFTC


Training Schedule

CNG Vehicles Fuel System Inspector
January 30-31, 2013
Light-Duty Natural Gas Vehicles
February 25-27, 2013
CNG Vehicles Fuel System Inspector
February 28-March 1, 2013
Electric Drive Vehicle Automotive Technician Training
March 11-15, 2013
Light-Duty Natural Gas Vehicles
April 8-10, 2013
CNG Vehicles Fuel System Inspector
April 11-12, 2013
Overview of Biodiesel
May 14-15, 2013
Basic Understanding of Battery-Electric & Hybrid-Electric Vehicles
June 4, 2013
Clean Air and Energy Independence - An Overview of Alternative Fuels
June 18, 2013

For complete details and to register, click the link below:
2013 Training Schedule

NAFTC to offer FREE 8-Hour First Responder Safety Online Training for Electric Drive Vehicles

Not all firefighters are able to participate in classroom-based training due to location, cost, and time constraints. Because of this, the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC) is exited to announce a limited number of firefighter scholarships to obtain FREE online Electric Drive Vehicle First Responder Safety Training.

The NAFTC’s  Electric Drive Vehicle First Responder Safety Training online course will equip firefighters with the knowledge they need to safely respond to automotive incidents involving electric drive vehicles, including:
  • Hybrid Electric Vehicles
  • Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles
  • Battery Electric Vehicles
  • Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles
Participants in the self-paced, eight-hour Electric Drive Vehicle First Responder Safety Training online course will learn about different electric drive vehicle configurations and their built-in safety systems, how to identify an electric drive vehicle at an accident scene, battery technologies, electric vehicle systems, and how to approach, assess, and secure advanced electric drive vehicles. Participants will also complete online modules for personal protective equipment and gear, crash and fire, and extrication.

This course takes place completely online and does not require classroom participation. A certificate can be printed by the student at the completion of the course.
Learn More

Login information will be emailed to participants after completing an online registration form. Please allow up to three business days to receive your credentials.
Additional information on the NAFTC’s First Responder Safety Training offerings, including our first responder classroom offerings and free alternative fuel vehicle phone app, can be found at our web site: afvsafetytraining.com.
Scholarships for this online training are provided free of charge as part of a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Fire Prevention & Safety Grant #EMW-2011-FP-00637. Please contact Laura Tinney at Laura.Tinney@mail.wvu.edu or (304) 293-7882, extension 121, for more information.
 

"Fiscal Cliff" Legislation & Alternative Fuels


On January 1st Congress pulled an all-nighter to pass the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, which was signed into Law on January 2nd by President Obama. In addition to dodging the “fiscal cliff” of across-the-board increase in taxes, Public Law 112-240 provides a number of energy tax benefits. Specifically, this legislation extends several tax credits and other incentive programs related to Clean Cities portfolio items. A summary of these extensions can be found below:

To view the full bill click here.
 
IRS FAQs on claiming credits click here.

Extension of Credit for Alternative Fuel Vehicle
Infrastructure
http://www.afdc.energy.gov/laws/law/US/10513
  • This credit was extended from December 31, 2011 to December 31, 2013 and effective to property placed in service after December 31, 2011.
  • This credit is equal to 30% of the cost of any qualified alternative fuel vehicle refueling property placed in service during the taxable year.
    • at a location shall not exceed—
      • (1) $30,000 in the case of a property of a character subject to an allowance for depreciation, and
      • (2) $1,000 in any other case.
  • 26 USC § 30C - Alternative fuel vehicle refueling property credit
    • the term “qualified alternative fuel vehicle refueling property” has the same meaning as the term “qualified clean-fuel vehicle refueling property” would have under section 179A if—
      • (1) does not apply to property installed on property which is used as the principal residence of the taxpayer, and
      • (2) the following were treated as clean-burning fuels:
        • (A) Any fuel at least 85 percent of the volume of which consists of one or more of the following: ethanol, natural gas, compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, or hydrogen.
        • (B) Any mixture—
          • (i) which consists of two or more of the following: biodiesel (as defined in section 40A (d)(1)), diesel fuel (as defined in section 4083 (a)(3)), or kerosene, and
          • (ii) at least 20 percent of the volume of which consists of biodiesel (as so defined) determined without regard to any kerosene in such mixture.
        • (C) Electricity.
    • (g) Termination. This section shall not apply to any property placed in service—
      • (1) in the case of property relating to hydrogen, after December 31, 2014, and
      • (2) in the case of any other property, after December 31, 2013.

Extension of Credit for 2- or 3-Wheeled Plug-In Electric Vehicles
http://www.afdc.energy.gov/laws/law/US/409
  • Previously, this credit was only applied to vehicles with at least 4 wheels. This is now extended to “qualified 2- or 3-wheeled plug-in electric vehicles.” The credit is in the amount of “the lesser of: (1) 10 percent of the cost of the qualified 2- or 3-wheeled plug-in electric vehicle, or (2) $2,500.” This vehicle must be capable of achieving a speed of 45 mph or greater and manufactured for primary use on public streets, roads and highways. It also must be acquired after December 31, 2011, and before January 1, 2014.
  • The 4 wheel credit applies to vehicles acquired after December 31, 2009 (the first 200,000 vehicles, with a phase out period after that).

Extension and Modification of Cellulosic Biofuel Producer Credit
  • Extends the date for credit from January 1, 2013 to January 1, 2014.
  • Algae is now considered a qualified feedstock for this credit; including any cultivated algae, cyanobacteria or lemna.
  • The word “Cellulosic” is struck from each of the places it appears in the text of this section of the code and replaced with “second generation.”
  • 26 USC § 40 Alcohol, etc., used as fuel -For purposes of section 38 (general business credit), the alcohol fuels credit determined under this section for the taxable year is an amount equal to the sum of—
    • (1) the alcohol mixture credit
      • 60 cents for each gallon of alcohol used by the taxpayer in the production of a qualified mixture,
    • (2) the alcohol credit,
      • 60 cents for each gallon of alcohol which is not in a mixture with gasoline or a special fuel (other than any denaturant) and which during the taxable year—
        • (i) is used by the taxpayer as a fuel in a trade or business, or
        • (ii) is sold by the taxpayer at retail to a person and placed in the fuel tank of such person’s vehicle.
    • (3) in the case of an eligible small ethanol producer, the small ethanol producer credit, plus
      • 10 cents for each gallon of qualified ethanol fuel production of such producer.
    • (4) the second generation biofuel producer credit.
      http://www.afdc.energy.gov/laws/law/US/10515
      • amount equal to the applicable amount for each gallon of qualified second generation biofuel production
        • the applicable amount means $1.01, except that such amount shall, in the case of second generation biofuel which is alcohol, be reduced by the sum of—
          • (i) the amount of the credit in effect for such alcohol under subsection (b)(1) (without regard to subsection (b)(3)) at the time of the qualified s second generation biofuel production, plus
          • (ii) in the case of ethanol, the amount of the credit in effect under subsection (b)(4) at the time of such production.

Extension of Incentives for Biodiesel and Renewable Diesel.
  • This incentive is extended from December 31, 2011 until December 31, 2013.
  • 26 USC § 40A - Biodiesel and renewable diesel used as fuel
    http://www.afdc.energy.gov/laws/law/US/396
    • (a) General rule - For purposes of section 38 (general business credit), the biodiesel fuels credit is an amount equal to the sum of—
      • (1) the biodiesel mixture credit, plus
        • $1.00 for each gallon of biodiesel used by the taxpayer in the production of a qualified biodiesel mixture.
      • (2) the biodiesel credit, plus
        • $1.00 for each gallon of biodiesel which is not in a mixture with diesel fuel and which during the taxable year—
          • (i) is used by the taxpayer as a fuel in a trade or business, or
          • (ii) is sold by the taxpayer at retail to a person and placed in the fuel tank of such person’s vehicle.
      • (3) in the case of an eligible small agri-biodiesel producer, the small agri-biodiesel producer credit.
        • 10 cents for each gallon of qualified agri-biodiesel production of such producer.


Extension and Modification of Credits with Respect to Facilities Producing Energy from Certain Renewable Resources - Production Tax Credit
  • Definition of Municipal Solid Waste - Paper which is commonly recycled is now excluded from this definition.
  • Definition of Qualified Facility – previously said that facility must be placed in service after December 31, 1993 and before January 1, 2013. In order to be considered a qualified investment credit facility to be an energy property, the property must now be placed in service after 2008 and begin construction prior to January 1, 2014 (and meet the definitions described here)
    • o This new definition applies to wind facilities, closed loop biomass facilities, open loop biomass facilities, geothermal facilities, landfill gas facilities, trash facilities, qualified hydropower facilities, and marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy facilities.
    • o For closed loop biomass facilities, modification means if the construction of such modification begins before January 1, 2014.
    • o For incremental hydropower production, an efficiency improvement or addition to capacity shall be treated as “placed in service before January 1, 2014,” if the construction of such improvement or addition begins before such date.

Extension and Modification of Special Allowance for Cellulosic Biofuel Plant Property.
http://www.afdc.energy.gov/laws/law/US/413
  • This amendment extends the allowance from January 1, 2013 to January 1, 2014 (property placed in service after December 31, 2012).
  • Again, algae is treated as a qualified feedstock for purposes of bonus depreciation for biofuel plant property (cellulosic is replaced with “second generation”).

Extension of Special Rule for Sales or Dispositions to Implement FERC or State Electric Restructuring Policy for Qualified Electric Utilities.
  • Deadline to do this is extended from January 1, 2012 to January 1, 2014. This amendment applies to dispositions made after December 31, 2011

Extension of Alternative Fuels Excise Tax Credits.
http://www.afdc.energy.gov/laws/law/US/319
  • This Credit is extended from December 31, 2011 to December 31, 2013.
  • 26 USC § 6426 - Credit for alcohol fuel, biodiesel, and alternative fuel mixtures
    http://www.afdc.energy.gov/laws/law/US/417
    • (a) Allowance of credits - There shall be allowed as a credit—
      • (1) against the tax imposed by section 4081 an amount equal to the sum of the credits described in subsections (b), (c), and (e), and
      • (2) against the tax imposed by section 4041 an amount equal to the sum of the credits described in subsection (d).
    • No credit shall be allowed in the case of the credits described in subsections (d) and (e) unless the taxpayer is registered under section 4101.
    • (b) Alcohol fuel mixture credit
      • (1) In general - For purposes of this section, the alcohol fuel mixture credit is the product of the applicable amount and the number of gallons of alcohol used by the taxpayer in producing any alcohol fuel mixture for sale or use in a trade or business of the taxpayer.
      • (2) Applicable amount -
        • (A) In general - Except as provided in subparagraphs (B) and (C), the applicable amount is—
        • o (i) in the case of calendar years beginning before 2009, 51 cents, and
        • o (ii) in the case of calendar years beginning after 2008, 45 cents.
        • (B) Mixtures not containing ethanol
          • In the case of an alcohol fuel mixture in which none of the alcohol consists of ethanol, the applicable amount is 60 cents.
    • (c) Biodiesel mixture credit
      • (1) The biodiesel mixture credit is the product of the applicable amount and the number of gallons of biodiesel used by the taxpayer in producing any biodiesel mixture for sale or use in a trade or business of the taxpayer.
      • (2) Applicable amount is $1.00.
        http://www.afdc.energy.gov/laws/law/US/395
    • (d) Alternative fuel credit
      • (1) The alternative fuel credit is the product of 50 cents and the number of gallons of an alternative fuel or gasoline gallon equivalents of a nonliquid alternative fuel sold by the taxpayer for use as a fuel in a motor vehicle or motorboat, sold by the taxpayer for use as a fuel in aviation, or so used by the taxpayer.
    • (e) Alternative fuel mixture credit
      • (1) The alternative fuel mixture credit is the product of 50 cents and the number of gallons of alternative fuel used by the taxpayer in producing any alternative fuel mixture for sale or use in a trade or business of the taxpayer.

Extension of discretionary funding for the following U.S. Department of Agriculture programs through September 2013
:


The changes outlined above became effective immediately. It may take time, however, for the relevant agencies to update documentation to reflect these extensions and changes. For further information, please refer:

A special thank you to the Clean Cities Technical Response Team and South Shore Clean Cities for their extensive informational resources.