eNewsletter 12.12.07

Your clearinghouse for news, programs, and funding related to
reducing the consumption of petroleum for transportation in Vermont

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Fuels

Plug in Hybrid Electric Vehicles in Vermont

A study released by Green Mountain College, the University of Vermont, and the UVM Transportation Center finds that Vermont's electrical grid can handle as many as 100,000 plug in hybrid electric vehicles without the need to expand electrical generating capacity, provided that policies encourage off-peak charging of the vehicles. Commercialized vehicles are still forthcoming; Ford and General Motors are among the companies developing them. [Source: Burlington Free Press, VPR, UVM, UVM Transportation Center]

	Fuels
Biodiesel fuel management best practices for transit This U.S. Federal Transit Administration report explains the benefits and challenges of using biodiesel to a transit industry audience. Topics include fuel characteristics and practices for procurement, blending, storage, and use. The report can be downloaded here. [Source: Transportation Research Board]

	Fuels
Updated Vermont Biofuels Map An update to the Vermont Biofuels Map includes biodiesel and ethanol stations. It can be downloaded here.

	Fuels
New technology may aid biodiesel production Seldon Laboratories in Windsor makes carbon nanotubes that can be used as ultra-fine filters. Currently they are working on their use as water filters, but a potential other application is in refining biodiesel without heat or chemicals. [Source: Times Argus]

	New Vehicles
Human-electric hybrid bikes A central Vermonter native, now in Massachusetts, is pioneering a trike that can be pedaled by the human riding it, or by a battery-powered electric motor. The lithium-ion batteries can be plugged into a regular household outlet, and provides a enough juice for 40 miles at 20 miles per hour. [Source: Times Argus]

	Idling
Richmond adopts idling policy Richmond has created an Idling Reduction Program that includes signage for customers at town facilities, and procedures for employee operators of town vehicles. You can read the full text of the policy on page 3 of their 2007 Energy Conservation Policy. [Submitted by: Ron Rodjenski]

	Policy Watch
CAFE update The House has passed an energy bill that increases federal automobile fuel economy standards to 35 miles per gallon by 2020. It also sets a goal for increasing fivefold the availablity of cellulosic ethanol by 2022. [Source: Boston Globe]

Policy Watch

VT climate change strategy and biofuels

Governor Douglas and ANR's Secretary Crombie believe that Vermont has the potential to capitalize on wood and switchgrass to make cellulosic ethanol, as well as biodiesel production, as part of Vermont's greenhouse gas emission reduction plan. Commercial plants are predicted to be online within five years [Source: Burlington Free Press, Rutland Herald, WCAX].

	Policy Watch
Vermont House Speaker Gaye Symington included a mention of public transit in identifying transportation infrastructure as one of her legislative priorities [Source: Bennington Banner].

	Bike & Ped
Putney - Putney Central School awarded $73,135 to improve bike ped safety via the federal and state administered Safe Routes to Schools program. [Brattleboro Reformer]

	Rail
State - Vermont has backed out of purchasing efficient passenger rail cars for the Vermonter route [Rutland Herald, Burlington Free Press]. Brattleboro - Union Station delays due to design issues may increase construction costs. [Brattleboro Reformer]

Best regards,

Elaine Wang, Graduate Student Research Intern
Vermont Clean Cities Coalition,
University of Vermont Transportation Center

Funding

Closing date	Coverage, description, eligibility.
12/31/07 [View]	Federal: Congestion reduction demonstrations.
1/11/07 [View] 1/15/07 [View]	Federal: Organization of national Smart Growth conference. Non-profits, institutions, and state governments eligible. Regional: Environment Grassroots groups eligible.
1/15/07 [View]	Federal: Health effects of near-roadway air pollution.
1/30/07 [View]	Federal: Air pollution and health estimators.
4/11/08 [View]	Federal: Agriculture. Enhancing the competitiveness of specialty crops. State governments eligible.

Weekly
Petro-
Stats

	Gas at the pump, VT [Source]	Crude oil futures [Source]
This week (Dec 5-11)	$3.114/gallon	$89.243/barrel
Last week (Nov 28-Dec 4)	$3.124/gallon	$89.594/barrel