United Parcel Service said on Tuesday it is buying 125 Tesla all-electric semi-trucks, the largest order for the big rig so far, as the package delivery company expands its fleet of alternative-fuel vehicles.

Tesla is trying to convince the trucking community it can build an affordable electric big rig with the range and cargo capacity to compete with relatively low-cost, time-tested diesel trucks. This is the largest public order of the big rig so far, Tesla said.

The Tesla trucks will cost around $200,000 each for a total order of about $25 million. UPS expects the semi-trucks, the big rigs that haul freight along America’s highways, will have a lower total cost of ownership than conventional vehicles, which run about $120,000.

Prior to UPS, the largest single pre-order came from PepsiCo Inc, for 100 trucks.

“As with any introductory technology for our fleet, we want to make sure it’s in a position to succeed,” Scott Phillippi, UPS senior director for automotive maintenance and engineering for international operations, told Reuters.

Phillippi said the 125 trucks will allow UPS to conduct a proper test of their abilities. He said the company was still determining their routes, but the semis will “primarily be in the United States.” Tesla will provide consultation and support on charging infrastructure.

“We have high expectations and are very optimistic that this will be a good product and it will have firm support from Tesla to make it work,” Phillippi said.

The UPS alternative fuel fleet already includes trucks propelled by electricity, natural gas, propane and other non-traditional fuels.

Source: Reuters

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is now accepting applications for the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP) Rebate Grants Program, a simplified first-come, first-served grant program to upgrade or replace on-road heavy-duty diesel vehicles and/or select non-road heavy-duty diesel equipment.

• On-road diesel vehicles must have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) greater than 8,500 lbs.
• Non-road diesel equipment must be equipped with at least a 25 horsepower engine.

Tables with pre-approved grant Amounts for on-road and non-road replacement and repower projects are provided on the Rebate Grants Program webpage. The tables list the on-road vehicle weight categories and model years and the non-road equipment types, horsepower ranges, and model years eligible for funding.

Grant-funded vehicles and equipment must be operated at least 75% of their annual usage within one or more of the following eligible areas/counties:

• Austin Area: Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson Counties
• Beaumont-Port Arthur Area: Hardin, Jefferson, and Orange Counties
• Corpus Christi Area: Nueces and San Patricio Counties
• Dallas-Fort Worth Area: Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Henderson, Hood, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, and Wise Counties
• El Paso Area: El Paso County
• Houston-Galveston-Brazoria Area: Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, and Waller Counties
• San Antonio Area: Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe, and Wilson Counties
• Tyler-Longview Area: Gregg, Harrison, Rusk, Smith, and Upshur Counties
• Victoria Area: Victoria County

In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, the TCEQ will implement special policies and procedures to encourage the repower or replacement of vehicles and equipment damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Harvey with cleaner models. Appendix E of the Request for Grant Applications (RFGA) outlines the special policies and procedures that will apply to eligible vehicles and equipment that have been damaged or destroyed as a result of Hurricane Harvey.

A portion of the funding allocated to this program will be set aside for applicants with vehicles or equipment damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Harvey, and for applicants that qualify as a small business, as defined in the TERP Guidelines. Small businesses are encouraged to apply under this program.

Applications will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on February 13, 2018 or until all funding is distributed.

Final copies of the RFGA, Maximum Eligible Grant Amount tables, and Application Forms are available on the Rebate Grants Program webpage. Contact us toll-free at 800-919-TERP (8377) with questions regarding the grant application process. Hard copies of the RFGA, rebate tables, and application forms may be mailed to interested applicants upon request.

PLEASE NOTE: The RFGA, Maximum Eligible Grant Amount Tables, and Application Forms have been changed from the draft versions released for 30-day review. You must use the final application forms and refer to the final rebate tables to determine your eligible funding amount.

Monday, Dec. 4, 2017 – Settlement to fund air emission reduction projects in Texas

Governor Greg Abbott has selected  the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to be the lead agency for purposes of Texas’ participation in the Environmental Mitigation Trust. This trust was established by the settlement of certain claims against Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche related to the car companies’ use of defeat devices to pass emission standard tests. Once Texas is certified as a beneficiary of the trust, the state’s allocation under the trust agreement  is approximately $209 million, to be spent over a period of three to 10 years. These settlement funds are required to be used to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides, a pollutant that was released in greater quantities as a result of the defeat devices. The settlement identifies 10 categories of eligible mitigation actions for which settlement funds can be spent.

Under the settlement agreement, participating states are required to develop a draft mitigation plan outlining how the state intends to spend its share of the settlement funds. The settlement requires that draft plans be released for public input prior to being finalized.

TCEQ Commissioner Jon Niermann, who has been selected by Governor Abbott to be the TCEQ’s primary administrator of the program, said “Our agency looks forward to developing a plan to efficiently administer these funds to help address issues associated with the emission of nitrogen oxides, which leads to ozone formation. We look forward to working with all stakeholders to develop a plan that effectively mitigates the emissions from vehicles that did not meet the emission standards.”

Any comments on the use of the settlement funds may be submitted by email to VWsettle@tceq.texas.gov or to the following addresses:

See Environmental Mitigation Trust webpage for more information.

Thursday, December 14, 2017
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST

Join transportation directors and fleet staff for a webinar about propane autogas for school fleets. Leading fleets will share how they earned buy-in from key decision makers in their organization and successfully implemented or sustained their projects. Renewable propane and new ultra-low NOx engine options will also be discussed by two technical experts.

Register Now

For more information please contact Michael Terreri, michael.terreri@energycenter.org.

The Tesla Semi, an electric heavy-duty truck, was unveiled last week. Tesla plans to begin production in 2019, and two customers already are interested in buying them, J.B. Hunting Transport Services and Meijer Inc., the Michigan-based grocery store chain. But Tesla is just one of many automakers that are rushing to dominate the electric bus and truck market. The race is on.

Electric buses and trucks are becoming more popular because they save money on fuel and maintenance and produce fewer emissions. Twelve large cities worldwide, including Los Angeles, Mexico City and Seattle, recently pledged to incorporate all-electric buses in public transportation fleets beginning in 2025.

http://www.realclearenergy.org/articles/2017/11/27/tesla_joins_a_growing_trend_electric_buses_and_trucks__110262.html

December 7, 2017; 12pm ET

The recently released Compressed Natural Gas Vehicle Facility Modifications Handbook covers primary considerations for developing a compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle maintenance facility. This first-of-its-kind document can greatly improve understanding and safety surrounding CNG maintenance facility design. This webinar will cover topics included in the Handbook, as well as how you might put this guidance to use. It will also include a question-and-answer session.

Speakers will include Dennis Smith, U.S. Department of Energy; Myra Blaylock and Brian Ehrhart from Sandia National Laboratory; Bob Coale and Jarrod Kohout from Gladstein, Neandross and Associates; and John Gonzales and Kay Kelly from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

The webinar is open to all, so please share the details with other interested parties!

Register here.

The Rebate Grants Program provides financial incentives to repower or replace older heavy-duty diesel vehicles and select non-road diesel equipment. To learn more about the program, and how to apply, attend an application workshop in an eligible area near you.

• SAN ANTONIO: Nov. 13, 2017 1:00 p.m., Southwest Service Center, 6927 W. Commerce, San Antonio, TX 78228
• VICTORIA: Nov. 14, 2017 1:30 p.m., 1905 Leary Lane, Victoria, TX 77901
• CORPUS CHRISTI: Nov. 20, 2017 1:00 p.m., Coastal Bend COG, 2910 Leopard Street, Corpus Christi, TX 78408
• BEAUMONT: Nov. 28, 2017 1:00 p.m., South East Texas Regional Planning Commission, 2210 Eastex Freeway, Beaumont, TX 77703
• HOUSTON: Nov. 29, 2017 6:00 p.m., Trini Mendenhall Community Center, 1414 Wirt Road, Houston, TX 77055
• PASADENA: Nov. 30, 2017 9:00 a.m., Cleveland-Ripley Neighborhood Center, 720 Fairmont Pkwy, Pasadena, TX 77504
• AUSTIN: Dec. 4, 2017 1:00 p.m., TCEQ, 12100 Park 35 Circle, Building E, Austin, TX 78753

This grant program will not officially open before November 30, 2017. Application forms may not be submitted at this time. However, draft documents are provided on the Rebate Grants Program: 30-Day Notice webpage for your reference. The final Request for Grant Applications, application forms, and Maximum Rebate Grant Amount Tables will be made available when the grant round officially opens.

Have Questions?

Call 800-919-TERP (8377) or Email terp@tceq.texas.gov.

Interested in learning more about the Alternative Fueling Facilities Program (AFFP) or Texas Natural Gas Vehicle Grants Program (TNGVGP)?

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality announced today that up to $6 million dollars in grants is being made available to eligible individuals, businesses, and governmental entities to continue the development of a network of natural gas and/or other alternative fuel fueling stations to serve as a foundation for a self-sustaining market for alternative fuel vehicles in Texas.

The Alternative Fueling Facilities Program (AFFP) grants are part of the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan, and are offered to eligible entities that intend to build, own, and operate alternative fuel and/or natural gas fueling stations in the Clean Transportation Zone. Effective September 1, 2017, the Texas Health and Safety Code (THSC) Chapters 393 and 394 were amended to combine the AFFP and the Clean Transportation Triangle (CTT) programs.

AFFP grants offset a portion of the cost of either the construction of new facilities dispensing natural gas and/or alternative fuels, or the expansion of existing facilities to provide new services or capabilities. Eligible fuels for the AFFP include compressed natural gas (CNG) and/or liquefied natural gas (LNG); biodiesel; hydrogen; methanol; propane (LPG); and electricity.

Applications will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. CST, Tuesday, January 16, 2018.

The TCEQ has scheduled eight AFFP grant application workshops to review the grant requirements and the application process. Please RSVP to Camen Gupta, Program Coordinator, at camen.gupta@tceq.texas.gov.

HOUSTON: TUESDAY, NOV. 28, 2017
AFFP Workshop 9 a.m.
Houston-Galveston Area Council, Conference Room A
3555 Timmons, Suite 120
Houston, TX 77027

HOUSTON: TUESDAY, NOV. 28, 2017
TNGVGP Workshop Schedule  1 p.m.
Houston-Galveston Area Council, Conference Room A
3555 Timmons, Suite 120
Houston, TX 77027

For more information on the grant programs and to access up-to-date information on the application criteria and process, specific geographic eligibility requirements, and copies of the application form, visit www.terpgrants.org or call 800-919-TERP (8377).

Clean Cities Technologies Conference
Featuring Low NOx and Zero Emission Technologies

Tuesday, November 14, 2017
8 am – 4 pm
Faust Distributing, 10040 East Freeway, Houston, TX  77029

Clean Cities Technologies Conference Program

9:00 am Panel – CNG
· Eddie Murray, Freedom CNG – Moderator – “A Look at Alternative Fuels for Class 8 Fleets“- “Freedom CNG Motor Week Spot”
· Jorge Gonzalez, Cummins Westport – “Cummins Westport’s Next Generation Natural Gas Engines – Move to Zero”
· Steven Josephs, ampCNG – “CNG and RNG Transportation Fuel Opportunities”
· Ken Garland, Houston Distributing – “CNG Experience”

10:00 am Panel – Propane Autogas
· Jackie Mason, ProCOT – Moderator
· Joe Rudolph, Roush – “Knock Out NOx with Propane Autogas”
· Brian Green, Blue Flame – “Efficient Commercial Equipment Options for using LPG such as lawnmowers and forklifts”
· Andres Montes, Houston ISD – “Houston ISD Fleet Operations”

12:00 pm Keynote Speaker
· Jeremy Johnson, TTI – “Collecting and Using Real World Activity Data”

1:00 pm Panel – Electric Vehicles
· David Owen, CenterPoint Energy – Moderator
· Dave Aasheim, ChargePoint – “Ready for the EV Revolution”
· Robert Filosa, UPS – “UPS’s Path to Reduced Emissions”
· Stacy Shutts, Johnson Space Center – “Renewable EV Charging and use of EVs”

2:00 pm Panel – Operational Efficiencies to Reduce Fuel Consumption and Emissions
· Brad Kimball, SME – Moderator “SME Creating a Single Version of the Truth”
· Shannon Sentell, Stealth Power – “Auxilliary Power Units for use in Emergency and Long Term Idling Vehicle Operations”
· Kyle Kristynik, Jetco – “Technology and Transportation: How GPS Assists in Operational Efficiencies”
· Allen Dennis, EPRI – “Reduced Idling Emissions Using Electric Transportation Refrigeration Units (eTRU)and Bucket Battery Racks”

3:00 pm Panel – Funding Grants and Incentives
· Shelley Whitworth, H-GAC – Moderator
· Steve Dayton, TCEQ – “Texas Emissions Reduction Plan Incentives”
· “VW Settlement Trust Fund Discussion – Timeline and Potential Projects”
· Robert Veazie, H-GAC – “Congestion Mitigation Air Quality / Supplemental Environmental Program Funding”
· Tony Dale, Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), TX State Representative – “Propane Autogas Incentives”
· Ken Gathright, POHA – “EPA Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) Projects”
· Andrew DeCandis, H-GAC – “DOE and New Technologies”

photo; Houston Metro Operations Manager Jeffrey Long filling CNG Buses during hurricane Harvey

Hurricane Harvey packed a huge punch, and Texans staggered, but did not fall. The Texas Gulf Coast and parts of Louisiana were devastated by this storm, while first responders, friends, neighbors, out of state volunteers, complete strangers and now donations came to the rescue. Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts! As we continue the recovery process the effects on our community are daunting; the cleanup, the assessment and rebuilding begins.

Our oil production platforms and refineries have been negatively impacted by Harvey causing fuel shortages and price increases across Texas and beyond. But there is a huge bright spot: Texas natural gas abundance, durability and usability. Texas is #3 in the world in natural gas production, and throughout the storm, pipeline operators have provided an uninterrupted supply to all affected areas. Pipeline integrity provided Texas with the ability to use natural gas to produce power, cook, generate hot water and provide transportation fuel to light and heavy duty vehicles across the state.

The State of Texas has over 150 natural gas stations that have had supply throughout the event. The price is extremely stable and no shortages have been reported. Freedom CNG, for example, was fueling METRO transit buses, Houston Distributing Trucks, Waste Corporation garbage trucks, AT&T service vehicles and many other fleets right here in Houston. When the power went out, on-site back-up generators ensured that our customers would receive critical fuel for their vehicles. Our hats are off to Texas natural gas producers and pipeline companies for keeping Texas’ clean fuel flowing to all.