Last year, US DOE Secretary Steven Chu and Vice President Joe Biden announced nearly $300 million in Clean Cities grants to support clean vehicles, fuels and infrastructure development. The Triangle J Council of Governments (TJCOG), based near Raleigh, North Carolina, was among the 25 award recipients. The Carolina Blue Skies and Green Jobs Initiative was awarded just over $12 million and was designed to provide support for alternative fuel vehicles and infrastructure projects by collaborating with five principal alternative fuel partners in the Carolinas: Triangle Clean Cities Coalition (TCCC), Centralina Clean Fuels Coalition (CFCC), Land-Of-Sky Clean Vehicles Coalition (LOS-CVC), North Carolina Solar Center, and Palmetto State Clean Fuels Coalition (PSCFC). “We are excited to bring this opportunity to our stakeholders. In these tough economic times, it is vital to keep our focus on sustainable practices that will improve our environment and economy,” stated Kathy Boyer, coordinator for Triangle Clean Cities.
Carolina Blue Skies will include vehicles and fueling infrastructure for electric, hybrid-electric, CNG, LPG, E85, and biodiesel fuels and technologies. It has been estimated that this Initiative will displace nearly 3.7 million gallons of petroleum annually after full implementation while creating and preserving jobs and jumpstarting local economies in both North and South Carolina.
Alternative fuel use in North Carolina has grown significantly in the past decade. In 2008 alone, North Carolina Clean Cities stakeholders displaced the following gallon gas equivalent (gge): 723,400 gallons from B100; 1,623,975 from E85; 67,803 from CNG; 12,337 from NEVs; 16,271 from HEVs; 399,307 from biodiesel blends (B5 – B50), and 14,361 from LPG. North Carolina formed the NC Biofuels Center with the goal of using at least 10% locally produced biofuel by 2017, and has recently begun several initiatives to prepare for electric vehicles, including participating in the national Project Get Ready and pioneering other local programs. South Carolina is emerging as a leader in alternative transportation fuel infrastructure, fuel consumption, and fuel production in the southeast. In a state of 4.3 million people, South Carolina utilized 73,000,000 gallons of E85, 498,000 gallons of biodiesel, and 40,000 gallons of CNG in 2008. While significant progress has been made in recent years in both Carolinas, there is still more work to be done.
This Initiative will expand alternative fuel infrastructure in North Carolina by nearly 30% and will increase the number of alternative fuels stations by 20% in South Carolina. It will also improve air quality in both states. Currently, 24 counties in North Carolina are in non attainment or maintenance for National Ambient Air Quality Standards, and in South Carolina there will be projects in five of the six counties at risk for non- attainment for ground level ozone.
Projects in South Carolina
Nine organizations in South Carolina will share more than $4.2 million awarded through the South Carolina Budget and Control Board’s State Energy Office to convert vehicles to run on new fuels and to build the state’s network of alternative vehicle refueling stations.
A total of 341 vehicles will be refitted to operate with either propane, compressed natural gas (CNG) or hybrid technology. In addition, 68 refueling stations will be built to service these vehicles, most of which will be available for public use, including ethanol, biodiesel, propane and compressed natural gas facilities.
“These funds will reduce harmful emissions by promoting the use of alternative vehicles and creating jobs in our state,” Andrew Epting of the South Carolina Energy Office said.
Projects in North Carolina
Four North Carolina organizations will dispense nearly $7.8 million to twenty five recipients over the next four years for alternative fueling infrastructure and alternative fueled vehicles. The Triangle J Council of Governments and North Carolina Solar Center in Raleigh, NC, Land of Sky Council of Governments in Asheville, NC, and Centralina Council of Government in Charlotte, NC will all work to purchase or convert 164 vehicles to run on propane, compressed natural gas (CNG), biodiesel and hybrid technology.
The North Carolina projects will also plan to install 96 alternative fueling stations (including 80 charging stations), making biodiesel, propane, electric charging stations, and CNG more available to fleets and customers.
By the Numbers
12,004,175
million dollars to AFV/infrastructure development
3.7 million
Gallons of gasoline displaced per year after full implementation
300+
number of jobs created and retained in NC/SC (over 100 with Federal Funding)
Carolina Blue Skies will include vehicles and fueling infrastructure for electric, hybrid-electric, CNG, LPG, E85, and biodiesel fuels and technologies. It has been estimated that this Initiative will displace nearly 3.7 million gallons of petroleum annually after full implementation while creating and preserving jobs and jumpstarting local economies in both North and South Carolina.
Alternative fuel use in North Carolina has grown significantly in the past decade. In 2008 alone, North Carolina Clean Cities stakeholders displaced the following gallon gas equivalent (gge): 723,400 gallons from B100; 1,623,975 from E85; 67,803 from CNG; 12,337 from NEVs; 16,271 from HEVs; 399,307 from biodiesel blends (B5 – B50), and 14,361 from LPG. North Carolina formed the NC Biofuels Center with the goal of using at least 10% locally produced biofuel by 2017, and has recently begun several initiatives to prepare for electric vehicles, including participating in the national Project Get Ready and pioneering other local programs. South Carolina is emerging as a leader in alternative transportation fuel infrastructure, fuel consumption, and fuel production in the southeast. In a state of 4.3 million people, South Carolina utilized 73,000,000 gallons of E85, 498,000 gallons of biodiesel, and 40,000 gallons of CNG in 2008. While significant progress has been made in recent years in both Carolinas, there is still more work to be done.
This Initiative will expand alternative fuel infrastructure in North Carolina by nearly 30% and will increase the number of alternative fuels stations by 20% in South Carolina. It will also improve air quality in both states. Currently, 24 counties in North Carolina are in non attainment or maintenance for National Ambient Air Quality Standards, and in South Carolina there will be projects in five of the six counties at risk for non- attainment for ground level ozone.
Projects in South Carolina
Nine organizations in South Carolina will share more than $4.2 million awarded through the South Carolina Budget and Control Board’s State Energy Office to convert vehicles to run on new fuels and to build the state’s network of alternative vehicle refueling stations.
A total of 341 vehicles will be refitted to operate with either propane, compressed natural gas (CNG) or hybrid technology. In addition, 68 refueling stations will be built to service these vehicles, most of which will be available for public use, including ethanol, biodiesel, propane and compressed natural gas facilities.
“These funds will reduce harmful emissions by promoting the use of alternative vehicles and creating jobs in our state,” Andrew Epting of the South Carolina Energy Office said.
Projects in North Carolina
Four North Carolina organizations will dispense nearly $7.8 million to twenty five recipients over the next four years for alternative fueling infrastructure and alternative fueled vehicles. The Triangle J Council of Governments and North Carolina Solar Center in Raleigh, NC, Land of Sky Council of Governments in Asheville, NC, and Centralina Council of Government in Charlotte, NC will all work to purchase or convert 164 vehicles to run on propane, compressed natural gas (CNG), biodiesel and hybrid technology.The North Carolina projects will also plan to install 96 alternative fueling stations (including 80 charging stations), making biodiesel, propane, electric charging stations, and CNG more available to fleets and customers.
By the Numbers
12,004,175
million dollars to AFV/infrastructure development
3.7 million
Gallons of gasoline displaced per year after full implementation
300+
number of jobs created and retained in NC/SC (over 100 with Federal Funding)
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