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eNewsletter 11.12.07
Your clearinghouse for news, programs, and funding related to
reducing the consumption of petroleum for transportation in Vermont
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Events
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12/6 - Seminar: Critical Issues in Transportation for the 21st Century [View]
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12/11 - Conference: The Future of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles [View] | |
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VCCC News story ideas? |
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us make this newsletter work for you! You can now submit story ideas by
clicking on the "Submit story ideas!" link under the Quick Links" menu
at left. Press releases for your organization, new biodiesel pumps
opening, or national news of interest to Vermont are all welcome. |
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Fuels |
Ethanol arrives in Vermont (Brattelboro)
 Sonny's
Getty on Canal Street, Brattleboro last week became the first gas
station in Vermont to sell ethanol. They are supplying E10, which is a
90% gasoline, 10% ethanol blend. According to an RL Polk study
reported in the Vermont Clean Cities Coalition's 2006 Vermont
Transportation Energy Report, over 900 flex fuel vehicles (which can
run on ethanol or gas) were sold in Vermont in 2006.[Sources: Brattleboro Reformer, VCCC] |
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Fuels |
Vermont-built electric vehicle to be tested by UVM Transportation Center
 An electric
car that runs on nickel/sodium chloride batteries
developed by EVermont has been delivered to the UVM Transportation
Center (UTC). The UTC will use it in its research on electric
vehicle energy consumption. EVermont is a nonprofit R&D that
develops alternatively fueled vehicles. [Source: EVermont]
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Fuels |
Petroleum consumption
The
Economist magazine recently published an excellent visualization
of how much more petroleum the U.S. consumes compared to other
countries here. [Referred by Vermont Peak Oil Network]
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New Vehicles |
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2008 Fuel Economy Guide released
The EPA's
2008 Fuel Economy Guide lists the most efficient overall vehicle once
again as the Toyota Prius at 48/45 city/highway miles per gallon
(mpg). The least efficient overall is the Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG
four wheel drive sport utility vehicle at 11/13
city/highway mpg. For the list of best and worst and to search by
class, make, and mpg, click here. [Source: EPA] |
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Idling |
 Massachusetts has
a vehicle idling regulation similar to Vermont's school bus idling law
passed last session. Some potentially helpful tips from the
Massachusetts experience include:
- State-provided training for school district personnel
- Schools provide space inside where drivers can wait
- Posting "idling limit" signs
- Redesign school bus parking zones to minimize the amount of
diesel exhaust inside buses and the school, e.g. diagonal parking and
parking away from school air intake vents
- Schools write future transportation contracts to include idling reduction requirements
Other best management practices can be found here. |
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Policy Watch |
Energy provisions in the Farm Bill
The Senate continues work on its version of the 2007 Farm
Bill. It includes $1.3 billion over five years for farm-based energy
and cellulosic bio-refineries. The House version provides $3.4 billion
over five years.
Expected amendments include a 36 billion gallon renewable fuels standards. For updates, click here and follow links to 2007 Farm Bill updates & information, Energy title summary. [Sources: 25x'25 News, Senate Agriculture Committee] |
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National Clean Cities News |
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The
National Clean Cities 2007 Alternative Fuel Price Report found
that the following nationwide average prices for transportation fuels:
- gasoline (regular): $3.03
- diesel: $2.96
- compressed natural gas: $2.09
- ethanol (E85): $2.63
- biodiesel (B5/B20/B100): $2.84/$2.96/$3.27
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Bike & Ped |
- Statewide - Ben & Jerry's (South Burlington) and National Life Group (Montpelier) incentivize alternative commuting. [Burlington Free Press].
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Alternatives |
- Middlebury
- $2.25 million in rail upgrades planned, in part to get a
"passenger rail" rating for the Albany, NY - Burlington VT line. [Addison Independent]
- Burlington - The Burlington Business Association is conducting
an online survey to define Burlington's parking and commuting
headaches. [Burlington Free Press]
- Burlington - Carpooling success stories from the Hill Section. [Burlingon Free Press].
- National - Telework study investigates why managers
resist implementing telecommuting, and suggests how barriers might
be addressed.[Telework Exchange]
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Best regards,
Elaine Wang, Graduate Student Research Intern
Vermont Clean Cities Coalition,
University of Vermont Transportation Center
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| Funding |
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Closing date |
Coverage, description, eligibility. |
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11/27/07 [View] |
Regional: Sustainable Communities.
Non profits, institutions and municipalities eligible. |
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Federal: Hydrogen education development.
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Weekly
Petro-
Stats
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Gas at the pump, VT [Source] |
Crude oil futures [Source] |
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This week (Nov 7-13) |
$3.058/gallon |
$94.788/barrel |
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Last week (Oct 30-Nov 6) |
$2.953/gallon |
$94.926/barrel | |
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