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Yellowstone-Teton
Clean Energy Coalition
Fall
Newsletter
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In This Issue |
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Coalition Development |
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DOE Grant Ups and Downs |
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Wyoming Work Group |
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Join Our List |
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Dear
Stakeholders and Friends,
Our Coalition is embarking on a new, exciting phase of its
mission. The new administration is open to alternative energy
programs, including those that advocate the displacement of
fossil fuels for transportation. New blood will be entering the
Coalition administration as we strive to share the Clean Cities
message throughout our three state region. Your continued
participation and support is needed now more that ever!
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Coalition Development
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New Executive Director
The Search Committee has been reviewing nearly 50
applications received for the newly-created position of
Executive Director. As current coordinator, I am excited and
humbled by the quality of interest, experience and ability to
help move us forward that is reflected in applications. The
Committee hopes to present its recommendation to the board by
October 1st.
In order to provide the best possible start for the first
executive director, I ask all who support the mission of our
coalition to displace the use of petroleum with cleaner,
renewable fuels and vehicles to show that support with your
wallet. Even a modest donation of $35 will be increased with
matching funds if donations are made through Old Bills Fun Run
by the close of business this Friday, September 18th at
www.oldbills.org.
While we appreciate the expressions of interest in what we are
trying to accomplish, only by engaging together will we get
there. Your financial commitment is necessary to offer
scholarships to fleet supervisors, engage in public outreach,
organize collaborative entities and write grant proposal for
projects such as new vehicles or refueling sites and much
more. We want to provide a financial springboard for new
staff. They will need more than good wishes. Each of us is an
important link in this chain. Please visit www.oldbills.org
today. Our coalition is the last non-profit on the list so
starting at the end works best!
As part of our development, we have also received Clean Cities
approval to operate with "co-coordinators," meaning two
individuals will be able to share training opportunities
provided by DOE as well as the Coalition's work assignments.
This is good news for better interaction with stakeholders
throughout the entire Greater Yellowstone region.
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DOE Grant Ups and Downs
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Infrastructure Grants Go to Metropolitan Areas
While we had hoped a broader, more collaborative approach to an
early 2009 solicitation for Clean Cities projects might improve
our prospects for an award in the Intermountain West, the late
August announcement did not include the Northwest Interstate
Corridor Project. Awards favored more metropolitan areas. We
still have a chicken and egg dilemma to resolve-we are unable to
demonstrate progress without capital financing which we have not
yet been successful in attracting, partly due to our low,
dispersed population. We await a debriefing letter which we
hope will guide us for future proposals. We understand that
fewer than 30% of approximately 100 proposals were awarded. We
continue to seek ways to assure alternative fuel access to the
public in western Wyoming, eastern Idaho and southwestern
Montana.
On the bright side, we expect to benefit from training funds
awarded to a collaborative Clean Cities Coalition group that
includes us. We will be asking either for training for mechanics
for alternative fuel vehicles or training regarding distribution
to vehicles of natural gas (CNG or LNG).
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Wyoming Work Group
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Survey Underway--Getting 'Grant-Ready'
Our coalition has been working with Wyoming DEQ, other state
agencies and local governments to survey the need for
alternative fuel and vehicles throughout the state. The intent
is to become more "grant ready'" when solicitations are
announced. The group also intends to seek private sector
partners for potential projects such as truck stop
electrification and alternative fueling sites.
Please contact Coordinator Shuptrine if you wish to be part of
this survey or have a project you would like to implement. With
additional staff there may be opportunity to do similar state
surveys in Montana and Idaho.
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I hope your summer was relaxed and rewarding and that you are
now energized to take on the enormous challenge of outreach and
education in the Coalition areas of responsibility. Happy
autumn!
Sincerely,
Sandy Shuptrine, Coordinator
sandyshuptrine@wyom.net |
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