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Yellowstone-Teton Clean Energy Coalition
December Newsletter
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In This Issue |
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Now is the Time to Grow |
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Coalition is Looking for a Director |
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DOE has Funds for Fuel Projects |
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Join Our List |
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Dear Stakeholders and Friends,
We are in a state of transition and your coalition needs
your attention and support more than ever. In many ways,
today's economic situation is a result of our blase'
attitude toward energy--especially our transportation fuels
in the United States since the 1970s. Some experts in the
energy industry predict a very rocky path ahead. Our mission
to achieve some measure of energy independence in the U.S.
simply will not happen without your involved dialogue and
support. Thank you for being there.
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Now is the Time for the
Coalition to Grow!
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Please--Your Help is Needed Now!
What if you had ready access to a Clean Cities
Coalition staff person--whether you live in Idaho, Montana
or Wyoming? A staff person acquainted with regional fleet
managers and fuel distributors and available to work right
now with governmental bodies, students and state level
contacts? Can you see this person speeding and
strengthening the use of alternatively fueled vehicles and
access to the fuels needed to run them?
This is the goal of our Coalition board as they seek
to improve staff coverage of the coalition area, beginning
with hiring the first regular employee to oversee
organizational matters, respond to multiple grants
opportunities and implement Clean Cities program workshops
and events in collaboration with additional part-time staff
and volunteers. The current coordinator is a part-time
contractor contemplating retirement. (See accompanying job
announcement.)
While there is currently widespread concern about
the economic climate, this is exactly the right time to
begin to build the capability of the coalition. Both money
and mandate regarding renewal fuels and vehicles, as well as
the creation of new jobs, now specifically support such a
move. The only thing holding back realization of this
vision in our Coalition is the cost of start-up.
Old Bill's Fun Run in Teton County, WY offers an
excellent opportunity to stretch contributions made to our
coalition by offering matching funds for participating
non-profits (us). Donations made through Old Bill's will be
used for informational materials, public advertising
campaigns, community outreach and scholarships to training
events--freeing up other resources for the organizational
development described above. For our first two years of
participation in Old Bill's, approximately $2,000.00 was
raised each year. Many organizations are able to raise more
than $50,000.00 with the participation of their volunteers
and supporters. We are hoping we may be able to raise a
modest $8,000.00 which means we need approximately $4,000.00
in donations to Old Bill's before September 18, 2009.
Please help expand our Yellowstone-Teton Clean Energy
Coalition's reach and effectiveness in facilitating and
promoting the use of fuels and vehicles supported by the
U.S. Department of Energy including hybrids, electric
vehicles, compressed natural gas (CNG), biodiesel and E85.
We are also promoting idle reduction and radical
conservation of fuels for transportation. Our work is
directly associated with alleviating climate change,
decreasing our dependence on foreign oil and increasing the
United States' energy security.
Please go to www.oldbills.org to
make your donation via the Community Foundation of JH.
Every contribution counts!
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Y-T Clean Energy Coalition Seeks Executive Director
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New Director Sought to Expand Outreach
Help green up the Greater Yellowstone region! Our
start-up non-profit needs an energetic individual
enthusiastic about greening transportation systems and
related energy usage in eastern Idaho, southwest Montana and
western Wyoming. The Executive Director will work with
stakeholders across the region including board members,
local governments and US Department of Energy Clean Cities
program staff to create public access to alternative fuels
and vehicles and promote alternatives to sole occupancy
driving.
Key duties include project facilitation, public
outreach and fund raising. The offered position is
currently funded for three/four months with continuation
dependent on the individual's ability to develop new revenue
streams and secure identified resources. This is a great
opportunity for an individual passionate about sustainable
transportation options and alternative energy usage. For
more information
email
sandyshuptrine@wyom.net.
Applications are due by August 28, 2009.
The above opening is part of the board's desire to
improve our local relationships with fleet managers, fuel
distributors, the general public and decision makers.
Please pass along the opportunity to those you may know that
are eager to carve out a career niche in the Northern
Rockies and possess the following skills and/or experience:
Organizational/business management; computer
proficiency--Word, Excel, email, Power Point, webinairs, web
site maintenance, publishing, etc.; good communication,
presentation and facilitation skills, written and oral;
strategic planning experience; understanding of accounting
principles; positive fundraising attitude and knowledge;
ability to grasp comparative technical aspects of engine
performance and fuel properties (with training); project
implementation and management; grant writing; legislative
understanding; good network of relevant contacts; creative,
dedicated to Clean Cities mission and able to work with
diverse groups of collaborators.
Coordinator Shuptrine will assist with training,
mentoring and collaborating with the successful candidate at
least through the initial start-up period. You may contact
her at (307) 733-6371 or email (above) for more information.
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DOE Announces
Funding Opportunity
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Ethanol
Blends Infrastructure Grant
The
Department of Energy's (DOE) Golden Field Office has
posted a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) that aims
to increase the availability and use of potential
gasoline/ethanol blends up to E85 (85% ethanol) through
two topic areas: (1) Refueling Infrastructure for Ethanol
Blends (cost-shared projects to modify, upgrade, or expand
the infrastructure at retail fueling locations to
accommodate gasoline-ethanol blends up to E85); (2)
Outreach for Ethanol Blends (projects which will increase
public awareness of the benefits, safety, and use of
ethanol blends as a transportation fuel).
Topic Area 1: Refueling
Infrastructure for Higher Ethanol Blends
Acceptable projects could include: upgrades to existing
dispensing infrastructure; addition of new dispensing
infrastructure; modifications or replacement of
underground storage tanks; or addition of increased
storage capacity for ethanol or ethanol blends at the
retail station. Projects that include electronic card
readers with updated product codes to track the amount of
ethanol dispensed, will receive higher consideration. All
modifications, upgrades, or additions must result in
refueling infrastructure compatible with all
gasoline/ethanol blends up to E85. Proposed projects must
result in a minimum of an additional five dispensers/pumps
capable of dispensing ethanol blends up to E85. Corridors
which provide fueling at no more than 100 miles apart, and
projects which concentrate the availability of ethanol
blends up to E85 in a targeted geographic area are
strongly encouraged. Up to 25% of the federal portion of
funding in individual projects may be used for permanent
signage to promote the availability of the ethanol blends
up to E85. Permanent signage includes highway signs,
street level directional signs, and other signage which
directs motorists to the fueling site. Projects which
include informational materials as part of the dispenser
display to include fuel energy content, mileage impact,
and greenhouse gas reductions are encouraged. Topic Area 1
cost share must be at least 50% of the total allowable
costs of the project
Topic Area 2: Outreach for
Higher Ethanol Blends
Projects that exhibit the potential for future growth,
without additional Federal funding, are encouraged.
Projects that include materials as part of the dispenser
display showing fuel energy content, mileage impact, costs
per mile and greenhouse gas reductions are encouraged.
DOE is interested in projects that include a component
that focuses on providing accurate, unbiased information
to the media and the driving public. Projects should
include specific and detailed plans for education of the
chosen target audience(s) with corresponding metrics and
milestones to measure progress and program effectiveness.
The intention is to reach a very large number of general
consumers to educate them on the benefits, safety and use
of ethanol blends up to E85. Social network websites and
other forms of new media will be considered. Cost sharing
is not required but is encouraged for Topic Area 2.
Approximately $5.5 million is expected to be
available, $3.5 million for topic area 1 (awards between
$50,000 and $200,000 per project) and $2 million for topic
area 2 (awards between $250,000 and $1 million per
project). DOE anticipates making awards that will run for
up to 4 years. The following domestic entities are
eligible to apply for this announcement: (1) institutions
of higher education; (2) nonprofit and for-profit private
entities; (3) State and local governments; and (4)
consortia of entities (1) through (3). All types of
domestic entities, including DOE/NNSA National Laboratory
Contractors, are eligible to apply, except other Federal
agencies, non-DOE Federally Funded Research and
Development Center (FFRDC) Contractors, and nonprofit
organizations described in section 501(c)(4) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that engaged in lobbying
activities after December 31, 1995.
Applications are due by October 4, 2009, 11:59pm
Eastern Time.
Applications must be submitted through
www.fedconnect.net
Use "Search Public Opportunities" and refer to Reg. No.
DE-FOA-0000125. You must first be registered with
FedConnect to submit an application in response to this
FOA. Information on how to submit applications can be
found by visiting www.FedConnect.net.
Please contact coordinator Sandy Shuptrine if you
have an interest in the above announcement. Sandy has
been meeting with Wyoming state level representatives of
DEQ, the state fleet, the Dept. of Transportation,
municipalities, counties, the University of WY and other
agencies to become more "grant ready" when such
opportunities are announced. Let her know if you are
interested in such collaboration in your area.
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2009-2010 offer a great opportunity to expand our
Coalition's outreach and influence in the Greater
Yellowstone-Teton region. Please stay engaged in this
critical energy issue.
Sincerely,
Sandy Shuptrine
Coalition Coordinator.
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