NGVAmerica News Week in Review: February 29, 2016

• EPA Accepting Proposals through Diesel Emissions Reduction Act
• Clean Cities to Launch the Midwest Alternative Fuel Initiative
• Niyato Industries Installs First-Ever Tri-Fuel System on Ford F-350
• Atlanta to Transition Solid Waste Fleet to Natural Gas
• Georgia County Constructing New Public CNG Station
• Trucking Company Expands CNG Services in Atlanta Area
• Hexagon Lincoln Extends Long-Term Agreement with New Flyer
• Hexagon Composites Receives Large Order for U.K. Mobile Pipeline
• CNG Energy Partners Celebrates CNG Station Opening in Texas

 

EPA Accepting Proposals through Diesel Emissions Reduction Act

February 29, 2016

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is now accepting proposals for the FY 2016 Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program funded through the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA).  The total estimated funding for this competitive opportunity is approximately $26 million.

EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality is soliciting proposals nationwide for projects that achieve significant reductions in diesel emissions in terms of tons of pollution produced by diesel engines and diesel emissions exposure, particularly from fleets operating in areas designated as having poor air quality.

Eligible diesel emission reduction solutions include verified technologies such as cleaner fuels, certified engine repowers, and certified vehicle or equipment replacement, among others. Eligible diesel vehicles, engines and equipment may include buses, Class 5–8 heavy-duty highway vehicles, marine engines, locomotives and off-road engines, equipment or vehicles used in construction, handling of cargo (including at a port or airport), agriculture, mining or energy production (including stationary generators and pumps).

EPA will host informational webinars at 2:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 8 and Thursday, March 10.  Registration information will be posted here. This RFP will close on April 26, 2016, and EPA expects to make awards in the fall.  This RFP has been updated from the most recent competition, so applicants are encouraged to carefully review the RFP.

Questions may be emailed to cleandiesel@epa.gov. The RFP is posted here, and additional information is also posted here.

 

Clean Cities to Launch the Midwest Alternative Fuel Initiative

February 22, 2016.

Advanced VTech, AGA Systems, Ozinga Energy, and STAG USA have come together with support from Fifth Third Bank to provide an “alternative fuels program” using natural gas or propane as a transportation fuel for the Chicago area, southern Wisconsin, and northern Indiana businesses and municipalities.

The Midwest Alternative Fuel Initiative coalition of companies will offer a complete “solution based” alternative fuels program to meet the needs of a particular municipality or business, addressing emission reduction, conversion cost, access to fuel, service, maintenance, financing, and technology.

Certified systems are readily available for many late model Ford and GM truck, SUV and car platforms that are commonly used by municipal, law enforcement, and delivery and service businesses. Risk free trials are available, and Advanced VTech offers grant application assistance, where available.

Working with the Chicago Area, Wisconsin, and South Shores Indiana Clean Cities’ organizations, the coalition is making it easier than ever to utilize domestic fuel while saving costs and minimizing carbon emissions.

 

Niyato Industries Installs First-Ever Tri-Fuel System on Ford F-350

February 23, 2016

Niyato Industries has developed a tri-fuel system for the Ford F-350 4X4 capable of operating on natural gas, propane, and gasoline. This developmental vehicle is now undergoing testing by Niyato’s calibration and system design team.

The propane application of this new Tri-Fuel system will only need a different tank for propane storage and a vaporizer which can be ordered when the retrofit facility makes its order based on the fleet operator’s original purchase agreement. The EPA and CARB certification will cover all weight configurations for the Ford F-250 and Ford F-350 6.2L motor families. This includes, but is not limited to all Super Duty Specifications (Regular Cab, Short Bed, Extended Cab, Crew Cab, Long Bed, all weight classes from 2012 through 2016).

Niyato previously announced that it would be taking orders for the 2016 F150 5.0 bi-fuel and dedicated (natural gas or propane) Vehicles at 5 percent below any verified bid price by any competitor through 2017. The company has extended that 5 percent discount offer to the national fleet operators and the F-250 and the F-350 models.

 

Atlanta to Transition Solid Waste Fleet to Natural Gas

February 25, 2016

The City of Atlanta is transitioning its fleet of solid waste collections vehicles to CNG and will begin phasing in other CNG vehicles wherever practical.  The transition is a step toward Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed’s goal to make Atlanta a top ten sustainable city in the U.S.

The City of Atlanta is developing two private CNG fueling stations to support this transition under Atlanta Gas Light’s (AGL) CNG Infrastructure Program. Construction of both stations is now complete. Each includes CNG equipment to time-fill up to 30 collections vehicles at each site overnight. They will both also include a fast-fill dispenser for topping off the collections vehicles and fueling the city’s other light duty CNG vehicles.

The CNG equipment has been installed by AGL and paid for through a one-time disbursement from the Universal Service Fund (USF). The City of Atlanta is paying for the installation of the dispensers and time-fill posts separately. The CNG program is managed by the City of Atlanta Department of Public Works. For more information on this and other programs, visit their website.

 

Georgia County Constructing New Public CNG Station

February 25, 2016

DeKalb County is building a new public access CNG station under Atlanta Gas Light Company’s CNG Infrastructure Program in Decatur, Georgia, near I-285.  The station is being developed primarily for the county’s collection and transfer trucks that make daily trips to and from the DeKalb County Central Transfer facility next door.  The station will have two fast-fill dispensers with three regular size hoses and one transit size hose.

DeKalb County is taking proactive steps to increase energy efficiency and reduce the cost and environmental impact of energy use. DeKalb County, in partnership with the Clean Cities Atlanta Coalition, received a grant of $14.9 million in 2009 from the U.S. Department of Energy for a two-year program to convert methane gas from DeKalb’s Seminole Landfill into CNG.  The overall goal of the program is to reduce the use of fossil fuels in transportation and lessen the national demand for petroleum.  In addition to the methane conversion, the grant is funding conversion of 70 additional trash collection vehicles to run on CNG.  It is estimated that this will save DeKalb more than $3 million in fuel costs over the next several years.  A CNG fueling station open to the public has been constructed at the landfill.

The station will be opened to the public in the next few weeks and will accept the same forms of payment as the county’s first CNG station at Seminole Road landfill.  For more information about DeKalb’s renewable fuels program, visit their website.

 

Trucking Company Expands CNG Services in Atlanta Area

February 25, 2016

Premier Transportation, a retail logistics provider based in Forest Par, Georgia, deployed 10 more new CNG Class 8 trucks at the end of 2015 bringing their total deployment of CNG trucks to 25 in the Atlanta area. The new trucks are Freightliner Cascadia day cabs with the Cummins-Westport 12L engine.

They will be primarily fueled at the CNG station Premier built at their Forest Park location in 2013 under Atlanta Gas Light’s CNG Infrastructure Program. For more information on Premier Transportation and their CNG trucking alternatives, visit their website.

 

Hexagon Lincoln Extends Long-Term Agreement with New Flyer

February 25, 2016

Hexagon Lincoln has signed a long-term agreement with one of its key customers, New Flyer Industries. Hexagon Composites, the parent company of Hexagon Lincoln, says the majority of CNG transit buses in North America use its Type 4 fuel tanks. The multiyear agreement presents an estimated overall delivery value of $45 million.

“Our companies have a 20 year history of working together,” said Raul Ramirez, Director of Strategic Sourcing, New Flyer Industries. “We are pleased to have Hexagon Composites as our preferred supplier for CNG tanks and ancillary products. We are working together to implement new technologies to improve the value proposition for our customers.”

“Our team is providing valuable support to help engineer a more efficient system with new product offerings for these vehicles,” said Chet Dawes, Vice President of CNG Automotive Products, Hexagon Composites. “This agreement is a reflection of the dedication and long-term collaboration between our companies.”

 

Hexagon Composites Receives Large Order for U.K. Mobile Pipeline

February 23, 2016

Hexagon Lincoln has received an order for its SMARTSTORE modules for the distribution of biomethane in the United Kingdom. The order is from a new customer and totals $3.8 million. The gas will be produced from residual waste in the food industry and distributed to fuel multiple manufacturing plants of a high-tech industry cluster.

“As the world increases its focus on reducing greenhouse gases, we expect the market for transportation of biomethane to grow substantially,” said Frank Haeberli, Vice President Mobile Pipeline.

Use of biomethane in the UK is growing, especially with the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), which provides financial rewards for buildings that generate heat with renewable sources. Since biomethane production isn’t generally located on the pipeline grid, Hexagon Composites’ Mobile Pipeline products help transport the fuel to customers.

While biomethane transport in the UK is a new market for the Mobile Pipeline division, SMARTSTORE has been used for this application in Scandinavia for many years, and in Southeast Asia since last year. The UK order will be delivered in the second half of 2016.

 

CNG Energy Partners Celebrates CNG Station Opening in Texas

February 26, 2016

CNG Energy Partners and the City of Lake Jackson, Texas, held the grand opening of the Lake Jackson Natural Gas Fueling Station, the first public-access fueling station offering alternative fuel options in Brazoria County.

The station is a public/private partnership between CNG Energy Partners and the City of Lake Jackson and was awarded a grant from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The agreement allowed for the expansion of the existing private CNG fueling station to accommodate public access. The public station now includes heavy duty vehicle fueling capabilities.

The City of Lake Jackson was one of the first municipalities in Texas to embrace alternative fuel for its fleet through the construction of the initial private-access CNG fuel facility and fleet conversion in the early 2000s. Since that time, the city has grown its fleet of dedicated CNG powered vehicles to more than 40 vehicles.

Several state and local officials participated in the grand opening and joined the city and CNG Energy Partners in the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the station, which was followed by a community and business luncheon at the Lake Jackson Civic Center.

“The City of Lake Jackson is a pioneer in utilizing natural gas, and I am proud that it is again setting a valuable precedent for the rest of the state,” said State Representative Dennis Bonnen.

The Lake Jackson CNG Fueling Station is officially open to the public. For the first 30 days, the station is offering $0.99 CNG.