Press Releases

Alternative Fuels, Clean Transportation, Idle Free Blogs, In the Media, News, Press Releases

DOE Funds EMPOWER Workplace Charging Project

Press Release from Tennessee Clean Fuels:

On Nov. 1, 2021, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Vehicle Technologies Office announced the winners of the FY’21 “Low Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Vehicle Technologies Research, Development, Demonstration and Deployment” funding opportunity. Included in this year’s round was a Topic Area of “Electric Vehicle Workplace Charging.” One of the announced winners was the Columbia-Willamette Clean Cities Coalition (CWCC) and their EMPOWER proposal – “Equitable Mobility Powering Opportunities for Workplace Electrification Readiness.”

Leveraging their experience with the Drive Electric USA program, East Tennessee Clean Fuels is providing administrative support and project management guidance for the EMPOWER program.

This proposal included 30 DOE Clean Cities Coalitions as a large workforce that would lead the boots-on-the-ground implementation of a new national workplace charging alliance. The work will begin with a year’s convening of diverse transportation electrification representatives that will share experience, listen and craft a program that will encourage participation by workplaces in diverse communities across America.

“This project offers a great opportunity for Clean Cities Coalitions to listen to the communities we work within and find out how workplace charging could benefit them,” Brian Trice, Executive Director of CWCC, said.

The project aims to…

“… reach upwards of 2,000 employers and secure at least 650 employer commitments to install and support workplace charging programming, and 3,500 installed EVSE/units at employer sites. Additionally, our goal is to end up with at least 20% of our employer commitments from diverse employers in qualified opportunities zones that benefit underserved communities and people of color. Participating workplaces will provide critical feedback on our workplace charging resources as we produce them, allowing us to continually improve our program system and materials during the project period. This feedback loop is a critical part of the successful development of a national workplace charging program that is both effective and user-friendly.”

The EMPOWER project will accelerate the interest and support for workplace charging nationwide using a national landing page/funnel and website that will house our tools, resources and information, along with consistent messaging, tactics and coordination with national data and utility partners. This project has a primary goal of advancing employer commitments for workplace charging programs and installations. Secondary goals include collecting and advancing electric vehicle charging research and increasing career pathways in the EV charging industry for underrepresented communities.

“We are looking forward to engaging directly with unrepresented and overburdened communities through this project,” Jonathan Overly, Coordinator of ETCF, said. “We will be listening to what these communities have to say about electric vehicle infrastructure in their communities and considering it as this project progresses.”

Major project partners working with CWCC include Cadeo Group, East Tennessee Clean Fuels (ETCF), Louisiana Clean Fuels (LCF), ICF International, Shift2Electric, Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA), National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP), Cerritos College, Washington State Department of Commerce, American Lung Association (ALA), the University of Tennessee at Knoxville (UTK), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).

The project also has charging provider partners that include Siemens and Chargepoint and the following diverse utilities: ComEd, Alabama Power, Entergy, Eversource, Memphis Light Gas & Water (MLGW), OK Gas & Electric (OG&E), Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO), Green Mountain Power (GMP), Baltimore Gas & Electric (BGE), Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), Avangrid, Electric Power Board of Chattanooga (EPB), Pepco Holdings, Western Farmers Electric Cooperative (WFEC), Central Maine Power (CMP), Knoxville Utility Board (KUB), Rocky Mountain Power, Burlington Electric Department, Portland General Electric (PGE), Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) and Kentucky Power.

The project team is receiving $3,970,539 in federal funds while providing over $1,000,000 in cost share from non-federal sources.

Read on below to learn more about the project!

Want to contact the project leadership? Email empower@cwcleancities.org.

The EMPOWER project will build on our team’s learned understanding of workplace charging as well as the management of complex federal projects. We are utilizing a similar management structure in the coordination of our more than 30 Clean Cities Coalition partners and employing “regional Captains” based on the U.S. DOE’s geographic delineation. These regional Coalition Captains will be responsible for oversight and assistance to their underlying Coalitions, channeling two-way communications from the Strategic Advisory Team (SAT) to Coalitions and from the Coalitions to the SAT, resource deployment and ensuring that support is available when needed.

With a) parts of the country exceeding 5% electric vehicle market share, b) many new plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) options becoming available and c) many states starting to develop statewide Drive Electric partnerships and programs (e.g., see the DRIVE Electric USA initiative), this national workplace charging collaboration is important at this critical time of market inflection.

Workplace charging helps with employee recruitment and retention; offering plug-in access at work also proves an organization’s credibility when talking about sustainability efforts. Other benefits of workplace charging need further research and will be part of our program’s evaluation. Reliable access to a charging station at home remains a barrier that prevents many drivers from owning a plug-in vehicle. Workplace charging can provide a pathway for plug-in ownership for those considering an EV who live in apartments, condominiums or otherwise do not have access to an overnight charging station.

Workplace charging can affect large swathes of our community and directly affect many new EV owners, plug-in hybrid owners and a growing used-EV-owner populace.

An essential facet of our program design will be the diversity, equity and inclusion lens in place for all facets of this project. We will be looking at our team’s makeup, how we promote the program and the emphasis we make on our outreach to make a determined effort to fairly advance the benefits of transportation electrification where it will have the most significant AND most diverse impact.

Workplace charging is also increasingly seen as a value to electric utilities. Utility program administrators are forecasting the value of frequency regulation, load following and load shifting grid interactions with EVSE and EVs. Workplace charging can flatten the curve of demand by charging mid-day and lessening the extra evening demand during what is typically a peak evening event.

The EMPOWER project team understands the potential of our energy resilience and is collaborating with ORNL and the PNNL to help ensure that data from this project can inform national laboratory research and tools. This project will provide consistency for workplace charging resources and valuable research to continue evaluating the many associated variables of these programs and create a long-term plan to support a framework for communication and support for key market actors. There can be many regional differences that may affect how an employer or utility may respond to workplace charging programming – our resource package will allow for localization to help ensure that partners feel comfortable approaching their key stakeholders.

The Clean Cities Coalitions that will be part of the initiative include (listed from West Coast to East Coast):

Long Beach Clean Cities
East Bay Clean Cities
Columbia-Willamette Clean Cities
Western Washington Clean Cities
Utah Clean Cities
Drive Clean Colorado
North Dakota Clean Cities
Twin Cities Clean Cities
Wisconsin Clean Cities
Chicago Area Clean Cities
Drive Clean Indiana
Michigan Clean Cities
Central Oklahoma Clean Cities
Tulsa Clean Cities
Dallas-Fort Worth Clean Cities
Louisiana Clean Fuels
Alabama Clean Fuels
Central Florida Clean Cities
Clean Cities-Georgia
East Tennessee Clean Fuels
Kentucky Clean Fuels
Virginia Clean Cities
State of West Virginia Clean Cities
State of Maryland Clean Cities
New Jersey Clean Cities
Empire Clean Cities
Connecticut Southwestern Area Clean Cities
Vermont Clean Cities
Granite State Clean Cities
Maine Clean Communities

December 6, 2021/by Kelly Barrett

Alternative Fuels, Clean Transportation, Idle Free Blogs, In the Media, News, Press Releases

A recap of the 13 Annual Alternative Fuels Awareness Month: READ the Governor’s Declaration

Governor Declares November as Advanced Zero Emission Vehicle and Fuels Awareness Month

Event demonstrates Utah leadership on clean transportation

Salt Lake City, UT – Utah kicked off the 13th annual Advanced Zero Emission Vehicle and Fuels Awareness Month with an event showcasing the state’s efforts to advance development of clean transportation choices in both the private and public sectors. Governor Spencer Cox’s official declaration was read today by Thom Carter, Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Energy Development. The declaration highlights the emerging portfolio of advanced fueled vehicles, both public and private, including fuels produced from Utah-sourced agricultural and municipal wastes, renewable electric, hydrogen, methane, and biofuels. Utah is one of nine western states to explore electric vehicle adoption and infrastructure deployments throughout the west as part of the Western Governors Association’s Electric Vehicles Roadmap Initiative. Additionally, the REVWest program has grown into the Utah-led CORWest project which is recognized as a national rural model for building electric vehicle infrastructure throughout rural gateway communities, national parks, and scenic byways.

In Southern Utah, more than 30 public and private partners have collaborated to advance Smart Mobility systems in gateway communities, including the EVZion electric shuttle demonstration pilot and the commitment of Zion National Park to electrify all busing services in the park.

“Half of all air pollution along the Wasatch Front comes from the transportation sector. Of that, fifty percent comes from the tailpipes of medium and heavy-duty vehicles. The 13th Annual Alternative Fuels Awareness Month amplifies opportunities while directly addressing the real and perceived barriers to using abundant, affordable, and Utah-based clean fuels solutions. Awareness is the most urgent call to bring action and real deployment of zero emissions vehicles to Utah’s transportation sector,” said Utah Clean Cities Executive Director Tammie Bostick.

Manufacturers currently offer more than 850 models of alternative fuel vehicles, including hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery-electric, ethanol and renewable fuels for compressed natural gas and propane to provide state-of-the-art road-ready options for vehicle classes for light, medium and heavy-duty vehicle fleets. Utah is working collaboratively with the Utah Clean Cities Coalition, United States Department of Energy, and the United States Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration to build the highway systems of the future with Utah’s existing Alternative Fuel Corridor along major interstate corridors offering 868 alternative fueling sites.

The Utah Inland Port Authority is also working to bring alternative fuel options and zero-emissions technologies to heavy-duty transportation and logistics fleets. Partnering with BayoTech, Lancer Energy, and others, UIPA has begun a project to develop a distributed hydrogen production hub and fueling station within the Salt Lake valley jurisdictional area. The Port Authority is also working with ASPIRE, the Utah State University electrification technology leader, on port electrification and hydrogen technologies with renewable sources from Utah’s own energy sector for port-to-port freight movement.

“Environmental sustainability and economic development are not mutually exclusive,” said Jack Hedge, UIPA Executive Director. “UIPA’s role is to invest in all kinds of alternative fuel infrastructure to lead the region to cleaner, more sustainable options for the logistics industry.”

Demonstration vehicles showcased at the event included an all-electric bus from the Salt Lake City School District, a 100% Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) Ford F150 from Lancer Energy, a RNG refuse and recycling hauler, and Tesla passenger cars.

Alternative Fuel Awareness Month in Utah

Whereas, November marks the 13th Alternative Fuels Awareness Month, which continues to raise public awareness and encourage the adoption of clean transportation choices in Utah to reduce pollution and improve air quality;

Whereas, we support the Western Governors Association’s Electric Vehicles Roadmap Initiative, providing a coordinated effort between nine western states to explore electric vehicle adoption and infrastructure deployment throughout the west;

Whereas, manufacturers currently offer more than 850 models of alternative fuel vehicles, including hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery-electric, ethanol, compressed natural gas, liquified natural gas and propane to provide state-of-the-art, road-ready options for light, medium and heavy-duty vehicle classes;

Whereas, the emerging portfolio of advanced-fuel vehicles that operate on Utah-produced sources continue to ensure our energy security with growing numbers of renewable options for electric, propane, biodiesel, compressed natural gas, and from agricultural and municipal waste;

Whereas, the State of Utah, working collaboratively with the United States Department of Energy, the United States Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration and the Utah Clean Cities Coalition, continues to build transportation systems that will meet future needs through Utah’s existing Alternative Fuel Corridor, offering 870 alternative fueling sites along major interstate corridors;

Whereas, the REVWest initiative, involving eight Intermountain West Governors, has grown into the Utah-led CORWest project and is now recognized as a national rural model for building electric vehicle infrastructure throughout rural gateway communities, national parks and scenic byways;

Whereas, we applaud southern Utah leaders who have worked tirelessly to create smart mobility systems in gateway communities including the EVZion electric shuttle pilot and the commitment of Zion National Park to electrify all busing services in the park;

Now, therefore, I, Spencer Cox, Governor of the great State of Utah, do hereby declare November 2021 Alternative Fuel Awareness Month in Utah, henceforth known as Advanced Zero Emission Vehicle and Fuels Awareness Month.

Alternative Fuel Awareness Month in Utah

November 2, 2021/by Kelly Barrett

Press Releases

14th Annual Governor’s Idle Free Declaration

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 1st, 2021

Fourteenth Annual Governor’s Idle Free Declaration

September marks the 14th Annual Governor Declaration for Idle Free in Utah September 2021 and the 2021-2022 Winter Season in Utah. The Governor’s Declaration is currently signed by 76 Utah Mayors who represent more than ¾ of the state’s population. The highly anticipated event will be held on Wednesday, September 1st at 11 AM via a virtual announcement. Key leaders and advocates for the Idle Free will share their stories, work and support of this unique Utah campaign for clean air and zero emissions.

Over the past fourteen years, the Idle Free Education programs continue to grow and are supported by Utah Clean Cities, UCAIR, Breathe Utah, Utah Society for Environmental Education and the State Health Department’s Asthma Program and Recess Guide. To date, these grass-roots programs have directly reached more than 15,000 students, and are growing, across 425 schools.

“We once again initiate the beloved Idle Free Campaign, “Turn Your Key, Be Idle Free” and announce Utah’s official Idle Free Season 2021-2022. After a tumultuous summer of extreme heat and poor air quality due to wildfires, emissions, and other climate disruptions, it is especially important to commit to right action. We each must ask ourselves, as an individual, as a member of your community and a citizen of the state of Utah what you can do? It is simple. Turn Your Key Be Idle Free. It is a ten-second commitment, and everyone can do it. If we can commit to making small changes, these can lead to bigger results. ” Tammie Bostick, Executive Director, Utah Clean Cities

The Turn your Key, Be Idle Free program recognizes the Utah cities that are officially Idle Free cities. To date, the cities of Park City, Salt Lake City, Alta, Holladay, Logan, Cottonwood Heights, Murray, Springdale, Sandy and Draper City all have Idle Free City Ordinances. Zion National Park is also Idle Free.

The summer of 2021 has brought soaring temperatures, limited precipitation, and terrible air quality due to the all too common and seemingly expected wildfire season throughout the west. These wildfires create extremely unhealthy conditions due to high ozone, soaring PM 2.5 levels and heavy smoke. The smoke this year filled our skies almost the entire summer season.

Combine this smoke with emissions from cars and trucks that consistently contribute to the largest sources of harmful pollutants along the Wasatch Front, the resulting emissions combined with fires have left at-risk groups, and even some of the healthiest individuals, in a health crisis. Cleaner air can be supported by individuals and organizations who make conscious decisions to limit their emissions. Local government entities, businesses, fleets and many Utah communities are raising the bar for partnership with this annual reminder to stop unnecessary idling.

“Healthy communities breathe clean air,” said Mikelle Moore, Intermountain Healthcare’s senior vice president and chief community health officer. “We are committed to reducing air pollution outside our facilities and in our communities. We’re grateful for our partnership with Utah Clean Cities in launching idle-free zones on our campuses.

Air quality is a complex issue. There is no “magic bullet” solution to solving our air pollution challenges. Vehicle exhaust makes up about half of the air pollution in Utah, and unnecessary idling contributes a significant amount of emissions into our air shed each day. Over 80 Utah fleets make a commitment each year with Utah Clean Cities and the communities they serve to run their fleets Idle Free. Since 2013, Utah Clean Cities annually submits those idle free reduction reports from Utah’s fleets to the National Renewable Energy Lab, NREL. Based on Utah Clean Cities annual report data from 2013 to 2020, the Turn Your Key Be Idle Free program has reduced more than 12,298 tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over the past seven years. That is equivalent to reducing 25 thousand barrels of oil usage in Utah or eliminating over a million gallons of diesel in Utah.

“UCAIR recently conducted a public survey and the results indicate widespread success of the Idle Free campaign,” said Kim Frost, UCAIR Executive Director. “Eight-nine percent of survey respondents reported that they know what to do to clear the air. More specifically, seventy-two percent of the respondents reported being idle free. Additionally, Utahns said that knowing their actions are making a difference, drives their desire to make a change. We are excited to see the impactful role that the Turn Your Key, Be Idle Free campaign plays in improving Utah’s air quality.”’

Utah Clean Cities and Intermountain Healthcare have partnered to bring awareness to the impacts idling has on individual and community health through an updated signage campaign. These updated visual images of the Idle Free signs can be seen throughout Intermountain Healthcare Campuses. Ten new signs will be installed at Utah Valley Hospital during the month of September, with more to be installed throughout the region. It is our collective hope to remind visitors of the importance of turning off our vehicles to support the safety and well-being of employees, patients, and visitors.

September 2, 2021/by Kelly Barrett

Press Releases

Utah Clean Cities & Southwest Utah Leadership MOVE the Southwest Launches

Utah Clean Cities & Southwest Utah Leadership MOVE the Southwest Launches as Mobility Outdoors Visitor Experience is Powered-up in the American Western Landscape.

May– 20, 2021 ⎼⎼

Salt Lake City, Utah

Utah Clean Cities Coalition joined Kane County, Kanab, Zion Forever Project, Kane County Office of Tourism, and other officials for the launch of MOVE the Southwest and a corresponding Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment ribbon cutting. MOVE the Southwest captures the vision and sentiment of the emerging vision of Smart Mobility within and around Utah’s national and state parks. It frames more fully how we physically move through natural environments and additionally, how we are emotionally moved by Utah’s magnificent landscapes. MOVE the Southwest invites further interpretation for Mobility Outdoors Visitor Experience (MOVE).

MOVE the Southwest is an innovative approach to mobility that transforms the way visitors experience Southwestern Utah–whether it be a shuttle bus, passenger vehicle, or more active movement, such as walking, hiking, climbing or biking. This whole concept surrounds movement, and this movement should increasingly be zero emissions and fossil fuel free. It’s a call to recognize the natural resources inherent to the American West and supports building new ways of experiencing the outdoors with renewable energy sources. This initiative is part of a large-scale commitment from diverse stakeholders across the public and private sectors and at the local, state, and federal level. Most importantly, MOVE the Southwest includes state-of-the-art technologies such as electrified transportation. Read more

May 19, 2021/by Emily Paskett

Press Releases

Fourteen States Coalesce Efforts to “Drive Electric USA”

Fourteen States Coalesce Efforts to “Drive Electric USA”

April– 1, 2021 ⎼⎼

Salt Lake City, Utah

A partnership of the U.S. Department of Energy Clean Cities Vehicle Technologies, DOE VTO, program recently won over $1.8 million in DOE funding to significantly advance electric vehicle (EV) adoption in their states.

Drive Electric USA shows the unification between Clean Cities across the nation and their overarching goal of improving infrastructure, education and adoption for battery electric vehicles, EV’s. EVs are quickly being incorporated into transportation planning strategies as the newest technology that provides zero emission driving. Now more than ever, good resources providing sound EV education is imperative across various stakeholders in both the public and private sector. With a growing demand for EVs and more auto manufacturers committing to battery electric, the infrastructure and education for this newest vehicle technology transition must be in place for large scale adoption of EVs to be successful.

“Utah is really a head of the game in the field of EV infrastructure in the Intermountain West touting over 50 DC Fast Chargers. This project will allow Utah Clean Cities to further develop the electrification movement for both passenger vehicles and fleet vehicles within our state while sharing valuable expertise with our regional and national partners.” commented Tammie Bostick, Executive Director of Utah Clean Cities.

April 29, 2021/by Emily Paskett

Press Releases

Utah Clean Cities Coalition heads to Energy Independence Summit 2021

Utah Clean Cities Joins the Energy Independence Summit for Clean Fuel, Vehicles & Infrastructure in Washington D.C.

Date: March 16, 2021

Contact: Tammie Bostick, Utah Clean Cities Executive Director

March 16th, 2021 – Salt Lake City, Utah

COALITION’S LOCAL INITIATIVES SHOW PROMISE OF SHIFT TO CLEAN TECHNOLOGIES

NOTE: Tammie Bostick, Utah Clean Cities, is available for interviews to discuss UCC initiatives.

Utah Clean Cities Coalition, UCCC, will join the Transportation Energy Partners, TEP, and clean transportation leaders from across the nation next week virtually to educate federal policy makers about the need to expand America’s use of alternative fuels, including biofuels, electricity, natural gas, and propane autogas, all of which are available as a renewable fuel today. Utah Clean Cities Coalition Board of Trustees and other key stakeholders will participate in Energy Independence Summit, EIS, 2021, the nation’s premier clean transportation policy event, on March 17-19 & 22-26, 2021.

“We have the great opportunity to virtually attend and discuss key Utah partnerships and projects to ensure that our representatives and administration understand the United States must aggressively expand use of alternative fuels. By increasing the nation’s alternative fuel portfolio we are decreasing our reliance on imported oil, and lessening our dependence on fossil fuels in the transportation and energy sector.” Said Tammie Bostick, UCCC Executive Director and Vice President of the TEP Executive Board

March 16, 2021/by Chris Firmage

Press Releases

Utah Clean Cities & Dominion Energy Utah Cooperative Agreement

Clean transportation collaborative takes formal steps to work on climate goals.

Date: January 6th, 2021

Contact: Tammie Bostick, Utah Clean Cities Executive Director

January 6th, 2021 – Salt Lake City, Utah

Utah Clean Cities Coalition (UCCC) and Dominion Energy Utah signed a joint cooperation statement voicing the organizations’ desire to work together to support their respective air quality and energy goals through the use and development of innovative programs and technologies associated with natural gas development including renewable natural gas, alternative fuels, and energy efficiency.

Last year, 2020, marked Utah’s 12th Annual Alternative Fuels Awareness Month, with the release of the twelfth Governor’s Declaration. This public and private partnership with UCCC and Dominion Energy Utah works to advance green, clean transportation and infrastructure. Integrating advanced fuel technologies boosts Utah’s overall economy, fosters academic ingenuity and benefits the transportation sector as a whole by offering the most modern and state-of-the-art transportation models within the state, region and nation.

UCCC intends to collaborate with Dominion Energy Utah to achieve their energy goals by harnessing emerging and innovative fuel and energy opportunities while also enhancing the uptake of existing energy efficiency programs.

January 5, 2021/by Emily Paskett

Press Releases

Utah Clean Cities Coalition 1st Annual Beyond Zero Green Fleets Award Ceremony 2020

Date: Thursday, November 19th

Time of the event: 11 – 12:30 p.m.

Location: Virtual Event

Website: http://utahcleancities.org/green-fleet/#/find/nearest

__________________________________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UTAH CLEAN CITIES COALITION 1ST ANNUAL
BEYOND ZERO GREEN FLEET AWARDS CEREMONY 2020

Nov 19, 2020 — Salt Lake City, Utah

Utah Clean Cities hosted the 1st Annual Beyond Zero Green Fleet Awards Ceremony today. Twenty outstanding Utah fleets, community leaders and organizations were presented with awards for their contributions to reduce emissions and improve air quality in Utah thus ensuring a healthy and prosperous future for Utah communities and building environmental resilience. These awards recognized those in Utah’s transportation sector who have committed to developing zero-emission fleet goals through the adoption and expansion of alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies.

The Beyond Zero Green Fleets Award Ceremony was moderated by Utah Clean Cities’ Executive Director, Tammie Bostick. Utah Clean Cities presented awards for Fleet of the Year, Sustainability Partner of the Year, Community Impact of the Year and other categories such as Non-Profit Partner of the Year and Workplace Charging Partner of the Year.

November 23, 2020/by Brinley Wilson

Press Releases

Governor Herbert Signs 12th Annual Alternative Fuels Awareness Month Declaration

Date: Monday, November 2nd

Time of the event: 11 – 12 p.m.

Location: Virtual Event

Website: http://utahcleancities.org/event/alternative-fuels-declaration-2020/

__________________________________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GOVERNOR HERBERT SIGNS 12TH ANNUAL
ALTERNATIVE FUELS AWARENESS MONTH DECLARATION

Nov 2, 2020 — Salt Lake City, Utah
Leaders and organizations virtually gathered for the 12th Annual Governor’s Declaration in celebrating Alternative Fuels Awareness Month for November. This public and private partnership works to advance green, clean transportation and infrastructure. This year’s virtual event was designed to engage a diverse audience and aims to educate on the topic of renewable alternative fuels, emission reductions and focuses on the high tech scene of advanced vehicle technologies such as electrified roads, autonomous vehicles and real world fleets using renewable fuels. Fast tracking the integration of advanced fuel technologies assuredly boosts Utah’s overall economy, fosters academic ingenuity and benefits the transportation sector as a whole by offering the most modern and state-of-the-art transportation models within the state, region and nation.

The Governor’s Declaration highlights key real world successes in Utah demonstrating the integration of low and zero-emissions transportation options and furthermore calls for the continued expansion of infrastructure for alternative fuels. The declaration notes the emerging portfolio of advanced fueled vehicles, both public and private, including fuels produced from Utah-sourced agricultural and municipal wastes, for renewable sourced electric, propane, compressed natural gas, and biodiesel making all renewable alternative fuels carbon benefitting and beyond zero emissions.

November 4, 2020/by Brinley Wilson

Press Releases

13th Annual Governor Declaration for Idle Free in Utah September 2020 and the 2020-2021 Winter Season

Date: Tuesday, September 8th

Time of the event: 11:00 a.m. – Noon

Location: Virtual Event

Website: utahcleancities.org/event/13th-annual-governors-declaration-idle-free-month-season-2020-21/

__________________________________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 4th, 2020

Thirteenth Annual Governor’s Idle Free Declaration

September marks the 13^th Annual Governor Declaration for Idle Free in Utah September 2020 and the 2020-2021 Winter Season in Utah. The Governor’s Declaration is currently signed by 76 Utah Mayors who represent more than ¾ of the state’s population. The highly anticipated event will be held on Tuesday, September 8 from 11:00 a.m. to noon via a virtual webinar. Key leaders and advocates for in the Idle Free will share their stories, work and support of this unique Utah campaign for clean air and zero emissions

Over the past thirteen years, the Idle Free Education programs continue to grow and are supported by Utah Clean Cities, UCAIR, Breathe Utah, Utah Society for Environmental Education and the State Health Department’s Asthma Program and Recess Guide. To date, these grass-roots programs have directly reached more than 15,000 students, and growing, across 425 schools.

“You know you are reaching a tipping point when nearly every school child in Utah is passionate about idle-free. These young stewards have taken the original message and made it into curbside campaigns through art, song, poetry, personal narrative and life-long commitment to clean air,” noted Tammie Bostick, Executive Director of Utah Clean Cities Coalition. Bostick added, “And to further our coalitions’ commitment to idle free, Utah Clean Cities is launching an innovative fleet program, Beyond Zero Green Fleets. This program can literally take the pollution solution to beyond zero emissions with carbon benefiting models”

September 14, 2020/by Utah Clean Cities

Press Releases

UCC Joins Nationwide Policy Efforts for Clean Fuel, Vehicles & Infrastructure at Energy Independence Summit in Washington, D.C.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 5th, 2020.

Utah Clean Cities Executive Director, Tammie Bostick, and Senior Project Manager, Emily Paskett, will join clean transportation leaders from across the nation next week in Washington, D.C. to educate federal policymakers on the need to accelerate America’s adoption of alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies. Bostick and Paskett will participate in the Energy Independence Summit 2020, the nation’s premier clean transportation policy event, onFebruary 10-12.

While there has been a recent drop in gasoline prices, they remain extremely volatile, and the U.S. continues to send more than $200 billion per year to OPEC and other nations for oil, stated Bostick. According to Bostick, the transition to alternative fuels must support America’s growing economy and secure a healthy future for our communities.

“We are traveling to Washington D.C. to ensure that our Utah legislative delegates understand that the U.S. and Utah must strategically expand our use of stateside fuels. To stabilize all fuel prices and decrease our reliance on imported oil, we must increase our renewable fuel portfolio and lessen our dependence on fossil fuels in the transportation and energy sector,” she said. “For Utah, the message is clear: we must tackle our serious air quality issues with the goal of zero emissions at the tailpipe.”

February 27, 2020/by Utah Clean Cities

Press Releases

Utah Business, Fleet Saver, Acquires Lancer Energy to Accelerate Adoption of Alternative Fuels, Reduce Emissions, and Improve Air Quality in Utah

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – November 19, 2019

Utah Business, Fleet Saver, Acquires Lancer Energy to Accelerate Adoption of Alternative Fuels, Reduce Emissions, and Improve Air Quality in Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah. Utah-based Fleet Saver LLC (Fleet Saver) has made a strategic acquisition of Utah-based Lancer Auto Group LLC (re-named Lancer Energy) in order to accelerate the adoption of compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles, including those running on renewable natural gas (RNG), in the western United States.

On Thursday, November 21, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm, the public and media are invited to attend the official opening and ribbon cutting for FleetSaver. This event is being hosted by Utah Clean Cities, Lancer Group & FleetSaver, and is located at 111 East Broadway, Suite 150, Salt Lake City, UT 84111. For further event information, including logistics and parking, click here.

Lancer Energy performs EPA-certified conversions of light-duty vehicles, medium-duty vehicles, and Class 6-8 trucks. It also installs and services equipment at CNG fueling stations. The acquisition combines the technical expertise of Lancer Energy with the distribution expertise of Fleet Saver. The acquisition will enable Fleet Saver to better serve its fleet customers in the western United States, while allowing Lancer Energy to expand its footprint to service areas outside of Utah.

November 26, 2019/by Emily Paskett

Press Releases

Governor Herbert Signs 11th Annual Alternative Fuels Declaration

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 4th, 2019

Governor Herbert Signs 11th Annual Alternative Fuels Declaration

UTAH CLEAN CITIES AND THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF ENERGY DEVELOPMENT ARE INCREASING STATEWIDE EDUCATION AND USE FOR ADVANCED ALTERNATIVE FUELS AND VEHICLES

Nov 4, 2019 — Salt Lake City, Utah. Leaders and organizations gathered in celebration of the 11th Year Anniversary and Annual Declaration of the Governor’s Partnership for Advanced Fuels and Infrastructure – the next step in understanding proven business models for fleets and sustainable strategies for clean transportation in Utah. The event was designed to engage a wide variety of stakeholders, private and public partnerships, communities, and leaders on a common platform to better understand cost effective and measurable impact solutions to emissions. This will boost the overall economy and benefit the transportation sector by offering cleaner transportation alternatives statewide.

November 7, 2019/by Emily Paskett

Press Releases

Twelfth Annual Governor’s Idle Free Declaration

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 13th, 2019

Twelfth Annual Governor’s Idle Free Declaration

September marks the 12th Annual Governor Declaration for Idle Free in Utah September 2019 and the 2019-2020 Winter Season in Utah. The Governor’s Declaration is currently signed by 72 Utah Mayors who represent more than ¾ of the state’s population. The highly anticipated event will be held on Monday, September 16 at 11:00 am to twelve noon at the Utah State Capitol south steps. The declaration will highlight the milestones led by the State Board of Education with idle-free bus policies and recognizes the first, and the newest, Utah cities to be idle free.

To date, the cities of Park City, Salt Lake City, Alta, Holladay, Logan, Cottonwood Heights, Murray, Springdale, Sandy and Draper City all have Idle Free City Ordinances. Other significant successes will be celebrated across the state with local Idle Free campaigns that will be a companion to the exciting autumnal ritual and the “return to school.” Utah schools annually renew and launch their friendly reminders at drop-off and pick-up zones “Turn Your Key, Be Idle Free.” Please, we are breathing here. Local government entities, businesses, fleets, and many Utah communities will be in partnership with this annual reminder to stop unnecessary idling.

September 30, 2019/by Emily Paskett

Please see all press releases & official statements that we have issued.