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CapMetro continues to provide opportunites to get people out of cars and reduce vehicle miles traveled. On July 24th, CapMetro’s Bikeshare program opened for public use. The BikeShare program was previously known as MetroBike. After being acquired by CapMetro, they partnered with the City of Austin to receive $21 million to revamp Austin’s bike-sharing program. This includes $11.3 million from the Department of Transportation’s Transportation Alternative Set-Aside (TA) grant awarded to the City of Austin in 2022. Click here for BikeShare locations.
The Department of Transportation’s Transportation Alternative Set-Aside (TA) program funds locally sponsored bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure projects in communities across the state. designed to reduce vehicle miles travled. TxDOT’s Public Transportation Division administers these federal funding programs.
2023 Transportation Alternatives Program: Central Texas Awarded Projects
Get ready, Central Texas! As the school year revs up, local school districts are not just gearing up with new notebooks and lunchboxes— they are also rolling out alternative fuel buses and new green programs.
Austin Energy EVs For Schools
Austin Energy’s EVs for Schools program is aimed at promoting the benefits of transportation electrification prioritizing students from disadvantaged communities. Teachers are provided with a digital tool kit and training highlighting STEM education, environmental justice, EVs, clean energy, and sustainable mobility. As a companion to the curriculum, Austin Energy conducts EV workshops introducing students to fun, leading-edge concepts around EV technology, an EV virtual reality experience, and field trips. The program’s core value is youth leadership development reaching cohorts of college fellows from around the nation for deep-dive discussions on the future of energy and transportation electrification to conducting electric school bus demos with our local elementary students; ensuring our future leaders are ready to tackle real-world challenges.
Austin Energy recently received the Chartwell’s National Silver Award for Excellence in Electric Vehicle Programs for its EVs for Schools initiative.
Starting the first school year off as the new Hays CISD Transportation Director is Cassandra Behr. She has over 17 years of experience working within the school transportation sector and previously was Hays CISD’s Assistant Director, prior to the retirement of Filiberto “Fili” Bonilla in July.
The Hays CISD Transportation Department serves all of the district’s transportation needs with a fleet of more than 200 buses, of which 10 are propane fueled. These buses are cleaner than their diesel counterparts and save the district significant amounts in fuel costs. The transportation department logs an average 2.5 million miles a year.
Leander ISD (LISD) is a fast-growing school district covering nearly 200 square miles. It serves families in Burnet, Travis, and Williamson counties which encompasses 11 cities: Austin, Bertram, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Jonestown, Leander, Liberty Hill, Marble Falls, Pflugerville, Round Rock, and Volente.
Starting her second year as Senior Director of Transportation is Tracie Franco, she has over 15 years of experience working in Public School Transportation. Tracie wants people to know the Department does a lot more than just “drive a bus”. Her passion is shown through her commitment to students to provide safe transportation easing the barrier of education, she shares, “I began in this industry because I wanted a way to have a positive impact on people. I was lucky enough to have a friend tell me to apply to be a bus driver and the moment I met the precious cargo I was responsible for I was hooked. I am here for the students. We all are. I am so privileged to be able to lead a team of professionals that truly have the desire, attitudes, and genuine care for our students here in Leander ISD.”
The department operates out of two transportation terminals (North and Central) with a fleet of over 300 buses, of which 140 are propane fueled. The LISD bus fleet travels more than 15,000 miles per day, running approximately 160 bus routes and travels over 3.8 million miles annually transporting more than 16,000 students daily and almost 6, 000 extracurricular field trips annually.
Relevant Article: Breaking Down Alternative Fuels School Bus Infrastructure Costs
Propane: a “Relatively Seamless” Switch
Renewable Diesel: An Overnight Change
Compressed Natural Gas: Good to Go After Conversion
Electric School Buses: Grant Opportunities Aplenty
Case Studies:
On July 24th, LSCFA Board member, CEO and Founder of eCab Chris Nielsen participated in an EV Charging Infrastructure South a panel discussion on Electrifying Transportation from Municipal and City Perspectives. Chris added the entrepreneur perspective. eCabs are low speed electric vehicles providing first/last mile microtransit and are availble in in downtowns in Austin and San Antonio.
Lori Clark, Senior Program Manager, Clean Fleet and Energy programs and DFW Clean Cities Director also spoke on the panel and dicussed the new Chargingsmart.org program which can help local governents reduce the soft costs of installing EV charging. Soft costs are things like permitting.
UT Austin Smart Mobility & AI Symposium – August 16
Join eCab and Lone Star Clean Fuels Alliance for our panel discussion.
A day-long gathering of UT students and interdisciplinary professionals across academia and industry to inform, examine, and discuss how Autonomous Vehicles (AV), Electric Vehicles (EV), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) impact transportation system and urban climate. This symposium aims to promote knowledge sharing, networking, and cooperation among all participants, and provide students with a space for interdisciplinary learning, relationship building, and problem-solving as AV/EV/AI techniques continue to shape our transportation systems.
EV Summit USA- Austin – October 15
Join us for a day of networking.
Following the model of the sucessful 7-year track record of the EV Summit- UK, the EV Summit USA will spark collaboration and partnership, driving the American e-mobility sector forward and sustaining its crucial industry growth trajectory. The SUMMIT promises to deliver a day of transformative panels, visionary discussions, and opportunities to connect with industry leaders.
Thank you to all those who could attend our Webinar and to presenters Jesse Blair from Synthica, Joshua Hull from Morrow Energy, and John Reis from EDL Energy! This webinar was made possible through the collaborative efforts of The Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas, the American Energy Institute, the Alamo Area Council of Governments, and Lone Star Clean Fuels Alliance.
Interested in learning more about Renewable Natural Gas?
DOWNLOAD our resource guide.
*Technical Error to Download in JULY EDITION
This is our SECOND YEAR recognizing stakeholder organizations for their use of alternative fuels, advanced vehicle technologies, and fuel-saving strategies. We collect data through an annual Fleet and Fuel Survey which helps us provide targeted education, identify funding, and peer mentoring opportunities as well as publicize these efforts.
How to receive the Fuel Economy Badge
for your organization.
What is Fuel Economy?
Fuel economy refers to the measure of how efficiently a vehicle uses fuel, typically expressed as miles per gallon (MPG).It indicates the distance a vehicle can travel on a given amount of fuel. Higher fuel economy means that a vehicle uses less fuel to travel the same distance, which is beneficial for both cost savings and reducing environmental impact.
What are some of the ways to improve Fuel Economy?
Improving fuel economy can be achieved through various practices and technologies:
Regular Maintenance: Keeping the engine well-maintained, including regular oil changes and air filter replacements, ensures optimal performance and fuel efficiency.
Proper Tire Inflation: Maintaining the correct tire pressure helps reduce rolling resistance, which improves fuel economy.
Advanced Technologies: Utilizing fuel-efficient technologies, such as hybrid or electric drivetrains, and incorporating advanced engine management systems can further improve fuel economy
Source: www.fueleconomy.gov
Emissions Reduction Incentive Grants (ERIG) Program $55M
Grants for Locomotive, Marine, Stationary or Select Non-road Equipment
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP) is now accepting applications for the ERIG program provides financial incentives to re-power or replace older locomotive, marine, stationary equipment, or select non-road equipment to reduce NOX emissions in ozone non-attainment areas and affected counties in Texas. Grants are available for individuals, state and local governments, corporations*, or any other legal entity.
Eligible Projects:
Select non-road equipment*
Stationary equipment
Marine vessels
Locomotives
*Note: If your non-road equipment is listed in the Maximum Eligible Grant Tables for the Rebate program, it is NOT eligible for ERIG. Applicants with eligible projects may request additional funding for refueling infrastructure that will be installed on-site. Allowable alternative fuels are: electricity, hydrogen, compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), propane (LPG), or methanol.
Limited funding available. This is a competitive grant based on criteria described in the Request for Grant Applications, accepting applications for grants through October 29, 2024.
Here are the step-by-step instructions to apply.
Free Technical Assistance to Develop Bus Fleet Electrification Plans
Technical Expert Assistance to Support Planning for Bus Electrification
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation are working together to provide The Clean Bus Planning Awards (CBPA) Program. The CBPA is not an incentive program, and fleets do not receive direct funding—rather, selected applicants will be allocated technical assistance resources by NREL.
Applications for assistance are open on a rolling basis through Sept. 30, 2024, giving fleets an opportunity to fully understand their needs before applying for support. This new program will reduce the burden of electrification by helping fleet managers create a step-by-step plan to transition their bus fleet. Click here to apply.
The Lunch and Learn featured CBPA Project Lead, Mike Jones who discussed how this project benefits the electrification process of your Fleet!
Texas Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Program (TxVEMP) $86.6M
Grants for repowering or replacing eligible vehicles and equipment with all-electric models, along with supporting infrastructure.
The Texas Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Program (TxVEMP) is a program that provides grants to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions in Texas. The program is part of the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP) and is overseen by the Air Grants Division of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Grants are available individuals, state and local governments, corporations, or any other legal entity. This may include a corporation headquartered outside of Texas, but which operates vehicles or equipment primarily in an eligible priority area in Texas.
Eligible Projects:
To be eligible for a grant, an applicant must be replacing or repowering a vehicle or a piece of equipment from one of the categories listed below, and may request additional funding for refueling infrastructure.
Class 8 Local Freight and Port Drayage Trucks
Class 4-8 School Bus, Shuttle Bus, & Transit Buses
Class 4-7 Local Freight Trucks
Airport Ground Support Equipment
Forklift and Port Cargo Handling Equipment
Refueling Infrastructure
TCEQ is accepting applications under the All-Electric Program. They will award grants on a first-come, first-served basis. Unless the application period is suspended by TCEQ prior to the deadline, applications must be received at TCEQ no later than 5:00 p.m., CST on August 31, 2025.
EVENTS
In celebration of 30 years as a coalition, we will reveal details of our rebrand.
Our decision for our name and logo transformation coincided with the rebranding of the Department of Energy’s Clean Cities partnership as “Clean Cities and Communities” in February 2024.
On August 30th, our name will be Central Texas Clean Cities and will reveal our new website.
Join us for a webinar covering an overview of Clean School Bus federal and state funding available to school districts. This webinar will cover clean school bus funding programs and discuss helpful resources available to school districts for electric school bus deployment planning, technical assistance, driver training and more.
Funding Programs:
TCEQ Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP) Clean School Bus Program
Applications due October 14, 2024
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) TXVEMP All-Electric Grant Round
Applications due August 31, 2025
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean School Bus Program
Opening soon
Offical Date Coming Soon -October 2024
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A U.S. Department of Energy designated coalition in the Clean Cities and Communities partnership.