Yellowstone-Teton Clean Energy Coalition

Yellowstone-Teton Clean Energy Coalition
December 2008 Newsletter

In This Issue

Scholarships for Conferences

Stakeholders, Board to Meet

Thanks, Ernie!

CC National Liked Big Sky

Alt Fuels Workshop a Hit

Progress in Eastern Idaho

INL Part of National Hybrid Test

Electric Car Drag Racing

Join Our List

December/2008

Dear Stakeholders,
These are interesting times, are they not? With oil at near $150 per barrel this summer and now less than a third of that? Still, our coalition's mission has not changed. Most experts agree that the precipitous drop in crude oil prices is due to the world economic recession/depression. When recovery begins in the next 12-18 months crude oil prices will again reflect a demand-exceed market. Please remain engaged as we sail these uncharted waters!

Scholarships Available to 2009 Biodiesel, Alt Fuel Conferences!

Conferences in California (Feb), Florida (April)

ATTENTION: BUSINESS OWNERS, FLEET SUPERVISORS, FUEL DISTRIBUTORS AND ENTREPRENEURS--

     The Yellowstone-Teton Clean Energy Coalition will, for the second year, offer scholarships up to $1500.00 to attend a national level conference or training in 2009 to several applicants. The National Biodiesel Conference and Expo will be held February 1-4 in San Francisco, CA. The Alternative Fuels and Vehicles Institute Conference and Expo is slated for April 19-22 in Orlando, FL.
     These are two of the most comprehensive conferences but applicants may suggest other programs that better suit their needs and interest. The National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium offers workshops throughout the year--check their web site.
     Scholarship applications are invited from individuals who want to incorporate biodiesel/alternative fuel into their business or government fleet operations or enhance their existing biofuel/CNG use. Up to three stipends of $1500.00 maximum will be awarded. All applications must be submitted by December 31, 2008.
      Submit them to: Sandy Shuptrine, Coordinator, P.O. Box 1954, Jackson, WY 83001 or electronically to sandyshuptrine@wyom.net.

To apply please submit a written application that includes:

1. Name, & contact information including the fleet, business or organization you represent.
2. Name the conference and the reasons you want to attend (beside the fact that it is winter here!)
3. Anticipated travel budget for the conference and your requested stipend amount.
4. How you would share the information you obtain at the conference with others in your community, our coalition, or the Greater Yellowstone region.

      Applications will be reviewed by the YTCEC Executive Committee and successful applicants will be notified by January 5, 2009. The stipend is intended to offset conference and travel expenses and YTCEC assumes no responsibility for travel arrangements or other liabilities associated with the travel and attendance at the conference. All expenses over and above the stipend are the responsibility of the scholar. YTCEC reserves the right to not award any scholarships if the applications do not meet YTCEC objectives. For more information contact Coordinator Sandy Shuptrine at (307) 733-6371.
Last year's scholarships went to Greeneck Earthworks of Teton Valley. Joe Montesano of Greeneck said "...thank you again for getting us to the biodiesel conference. It was beyond educational and answered so many questions we have had. Even though we have been running biodiesel for a year there is so much to know in order to protect our investments and time..."
       Please consider applying for one of these scholarships if you are working to sort out the best options for your fleet or business. We can vouch for the information and contacts you make being very valuable.

Winter Board and Stakeholders Meeting Jan. 28

     Our Winter Board and Stakeholders Meeting will be held in Idaho Falls Wednesday, January 28th in the Council Chambers in the City Hall Annex. Currently, Idaho Falls and eastern Idaho have some of the best prospects in our region for installing and producing alternative fuels and transportation technologies.
       The tentative agenda includes a speaker addressing conversion of vehicles to CNG or clean diesel, a report on the prospects for cellulosic ethanol production and advancement with other renewable fuels, and an update on the regional Transportation Co-op spearheaded by the Yellowstone Business Partnership. This special stakeholders program will begin at 1:30 P.M. and run through 4:30.   There will also be a board meeting from 9:30 A.M. until noon to update our strategic work plan, approve the current fiscal year budget and other board business. The board meeting is open to all wishing to attend. The City Annex may be accessed from Park Street, across from the Bonneville Hotel.
      Please join us with others in the region who are advocates for better ways of fueling and traveling. Let's work together to make ideas become reality for healthier, more fiscally secure communities.

Thank You and Best Wishes, Ernie!
Ernie Oakes, Clean Cities Northwest Project Manager is retiring from his post. We appreciate his role is guiding our coalition and for the smiles he brought to us. We will miss him and are hopeful his replacement will be as familiar with the issues of the less densely populated western states as Ernie has been. May the road rise up to meet you, Ernie!

National Clean Cities in Big Sky a Big Hit

Setting, Program Popular with Attendees

DOE Clean Cities managers and coordinators from around the country gathered in Big Sky in mid-September to share information about the Clean Cities program, learn about current alternatives fuels and equipment and plan for the future. Jim Evanoff treated conference attendees to a wonderful presentation about the greening of Yellowstone and the natural resources being stewarded in our first national park. Our coalition served as host coalition for the event, working with DOE personnel and contractors to organize the conference. Many who came expressed their enjoyment and appreciation of the conference and setting.

Successful Alt Fuels Workshop Held in Jackson

Good Turnout for Regional Workshop

Regular coalition contractor, Jake Lodato of Synetek Research, conducted a well-attended and well-received workshop in Jackson in September, immediately following the leadership retreat in Big Sky. The workshop was in collaboration with the Teton Conservation District and part of a grant received from them to support the coalition's mission to displace the consumption of petroleum for transportation. Thank you to Jake and the TC District for bringing important information to our communities!

Alternative Fuels Progress in Eastern Idaho

Fuels Availability Improving

Biodiesel is available at KJ's Super Store and Philips 66 on Sunnyside Ave. and Woodruff, thanks to Conrad and Bischoff. There are also hopeful indications that another alternative fuel, compressed natural gas (CNG), may soon be available to the public in Idaho Falls--stay tuned and check out the specs for natural gas vehicles in the mean time! Finally, the Idaho National Lab has expressed renewed interest to our coalition in being a model with their fleet choices and operations. They are particularly interested in access to E85 for their almost 400 flex fuel vehicles.

WANTED: Fuel retailer willing to install E85 fuel dispenser in Idaho Falls. Information, technical assistance and possible grant funding may be available to achieve the goal in cooperation with the Yellowstone-Teton Clean Energy Coaliton (and possibly others).

INL in National Plug-In Hybrid Test Program

Ten Plug-In Toyota Prius' Sending Data to Idaho Lab for Analysis

     Idaho's National Laboratory (INL) has partnered up with the Department of Energy and the PluginCenter PHEV Pilot Project of Washington to modify and analyze the performance of ten Toyota Prius hybrid automobiles. The vehicles were equipped with state-of-the-art Nanophosphate lithium battery packs provided by Hymotion Systems A123. The modifications took place at the Wenatchee Valley College Automotive Training Facility in Wenatchee, WA. Each Prius was equipped with V2Green data loggers, GPS units and cellular modems to collect real-time vehicle performance data. The data will be collected, analyzed and archived by INL for comparison with that of some 130 other projects around the U.S.
     The installation of the lithium battery provides plug-in recharging capability and an electric-only range of some 30 miles for the Prius. In a theoretical commute of 10 or so miles each way, the commuter would not use any gasoline, though the capability would always be there. Early test results show miles-per-gallon ratings in excess of 100 mpg. "We've done some testing where we've seen over 200 miles per gallon" under laboratory conditions, says Jim Francfort of INL's Advanced Vehicle Testing Program. "Where you have a lot of city driving, we're seeing 125 miles per gallon, plus."
     Your Coalititon will keep tabs on this program and report regularly via the newsletter. At this writing, the CEOs of the Big Three automakers were each driving to Washington, D.C. in respective GM, Ford and Chrysler hybrid vehicles.

Electric Car Drag Racing
Don't Call this Guy Out! We conscientiously refrain from burying you with web "links" that use up your valuable time viewing interesting angles on the nation's energy situation. This one, though, deserves a few minutes--a lighter side of the reemergence of the electric car. To enjoy, click on "Drag Race." Drag Race www.opb.org/programs/ofg/videos/view/56-Electric-Drag-Racing

Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for 2009!

2009 promises to be a busy, productive year for our Coalition. Perhaps the best preparation is to take a deep breath, relax and enjoy family, friends and the coming holiday before jumping into the fray. We wish you all the happiest of holidays and the very best for the coming New Year!

Sincerely,

Sandy Shuptrine, Coordinator