VERMONT CLEAN CITIES COALITION
Hosted by UVM Transportation Center
eNewsletter 10.16.07
Your clearinghouse for news, programs, and funding related to
reducing  the consumption of petroleum for transportation in Vermont

In This Issue
Press on VCCC
Clean Cities Survey
Fuels
Bike & Ped
New Vehicles
Park & Ride
Rail
Survey
Quick Links
Press on VCCC:
Vermont Biodiesel Workshop
The Vermont Biodiesel Workshop, presented by the Vermont Clean Cities Coalition, the Vermont Biofuels Association and the Vermont Fuel Dealers Association, was a great success. See stories from  VPR and WPTZ.
Clean Cities Activities Survey
You still have an opportunity to let us know what you think the Vermont Clean Cities Coalition should be doing that would be useful to you! Please click here to participate in our 4-question survey. Thank you!
Fuels
State Line FarmVermont's Biodiesel Future
VPR featured Vermont's biodiesel future on Vermont Edition last week, with a focus on production by Vermont farms. Click here to listen to the program. [Source: VPR]
Bike & Ped
New Jericho Center sidewalkSidewalks for Jericho
Jericho Center has new sidewalks on both sides of Browns Trace Road that will help residents walk safely between the Community Center, residences, and the Jericho Center General Store. New crosswalks have also been installed. [Source: Burlington Free Press.]
Bike & Ped
Nancy L. Gioia
Bike routes with Google Maps
Are you an experienced bike commuter? Help Local Motion build their bike commuting map online! [Source: Local Motion]
 
Bike & Ped
South Burlington kids walking to schoolInternational Walk to School Day
Students from 30 schools across Vermont participated in Walk to School Day. Most participating schools are also part of Vermont's Safe Routes to Schools Program. [Source: WCAX]
Bike & Ped
Multi-use path for Milton?
Milton's selectboard is currently reviewing a 20-year recreation plan which includes the strong desire of residents for a multi-use path in the town. The next step is to form a committee to draft plans for a route. [Source: Burlington Free Press]
Bike & Ped
Rendering of Cascades Condominiums in Winooski Falls developmentWinooski infill development continues
Mixed use development in downtown Winooski continues with new investors. This kind of development helps people live within biking and walking distance of where they work and shop. [Source: Boston Business Journal]
New Vehicles
Partial Zero Emission Vehicles (PZEV) Part 2Nancy L. Gioia
In the last edition of the Clean Cities eNewsletter, we wrote about Partial Zero Emission Vehicles. Because it is a complicated topic, we are including a part 2 to clarify some of the more confusing or misleading points of that article.

A PZEV is not an emission standard category the way  "Low Emission Vehicle" (LEV) or "Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle" (SULEV) are emission standard categories. Rather, a a PZEV is a qualification manufacturers use to meet their Zero Emission Vehicle requirements, which are mandated by regulation. From the consumer's point of view, the important thing to remember is that PZEVs have a 150,000 mile/15 year warranty, meaning that if for any reason your 'check engine' light comes on within that mileage limit or time frame (whichever comes first), the manufacturer must cover the problem.

However because meeting the PZEV qualification requires that manufacturers offer such a great warranty, PZEVs are not always identified as such in advertising or even anywhere on the vehicle. In our last eNewsletter, we listed primarily vehicles that are advertised as PZEVs, and so not all vehicles that are PZEVs were included on the list.

To make things even more complicated, not all vehicles listed will necessarily be PZEVs, because not all vehicle models have the same engine.

If you would like to figure out whether you have a PZEV, contact Elaine at Clean Cities: ewang@uvm.edu or 656-9864 on Mondays.
 
Thanks to Tom Moye of the ANR Air Quality Division, who provided assistance for this article. He can be reached at Tom.Moye@state.vt.us.
Park & Ride
Current Randolph Park & Ride
Park & Ride renovation (Randolph)
The Randolph Park & Ride is temporarily closed so that it can be expanded from its current 15-vehicle capacity to hold 80 vehicles. It will also be improved for bikers and transit riders. The surfacing will be an innovative porous concrete which will help reduce stormwater runoff from the facility. Commuters can use Williamstown, Royalton, or Sharon Park & Rides while the Randolph facility is closed. [Sources: WCAX, Times Argus 10/14, 10/12]
Rail
Train car purchase stalled
A project that is to experimentally expand passenger rail service between St. Albans and southeastern Vermont is currently stalled. The sticking point in negotiations between the state and the train car manufacturer is a buyback provision that would return Vermont's money should the experiment not work out. [Sources: Burlington Free Press, WCAX]
Best regards,

Elaine Wang, Graduate Student Research Intern
Vermont Clean Cities Coalition

Funding

Closing date

Coverage, description, eligibility.

11/2/07
[View: see page 77]


Federal: Biobased products and bioenergy production research.
Letter of Intent due 11/2/07. Applications due 1/17/08.

11/27/07 [View]

Regional: Sustainable Communities.
Non profits, instiutions and municipalities eligible.


4/11/08 [
View]


Federal: Agriculture. Enhancing the competitiveness of specialty crops. State governments eligible.


Events

10/17, Wed

Burlington

2007 Renewable Energy Conference

Sheraton Burlington Hotel                   Info here

10/23-25

Burlington

Community Matters 07                 

Main Street Landing                           Info here

10/28, Sun

Burlington

CCMPO Annual Meeting                 

UVM Davis Center                               Info here

12/11, Tue

Burlington

The Future of PHEV                            

A conversation with Nancy Gioia, Director of Sustainable Mobility Technologies and Hybrid Vehicle Programs for Ford Motor Company.        UVM Davis Center                             More details to come
Weekly
Petro-
Stats

Gas at the pump, VT [Source]

Crude oil futures [Source]

This week        (Oct 10-16)

$2.791/gallon

$85.150/barrel

Last week        (Oct 3-15)

$2.792/gallon

$80.376/barrel