Please see below for the meeting materials of our past events:
May 22, 2012 - Fueling Your Alternative Fuel Vehicle Fleet: Partnering EPAct Mandated Fleets and Clean Cities Stakeholders to Deploy Alternative Fuels
November 3, 2011 - Lawn Equipment Workshop
October 27, 2011 - Electric Vehicles Meeting
September 15, 2011 - Clear Fuel Workshop: Narrowing Down Fuel Options
February 10, 2011 - Clean Start Kick-off: Promoting Propane as a Transportation Fuel
December 16, 2010 - Clean Fuel Forum: Biodiesel from Used Vegetable Oil: Does it really work?
September 8, 2010 - Clean Fuel Forum: Web-based Resources for Fleet Managers and Mechanics
July 14, 2010 - Clean Transportation Education Project(CTEP)
September 15, 2009- Clean Fuel Breakfast Forum: Coca-Cola Enterprise's Hybrid Delivery Fleet
April 16, 2009- Clean Fuel Breakfast Forum: Current and Upcoming AFVs
January 8, 2009- Clean Fuel Breakfast Forum: Funding Sources for Clean Fuel Projects
November 20, 2008- Introduction to Biodiesel Workshop
November 5, 2008- National Alternative Fuel Vehicle Day Odyssey
September 26, 2008- Clean Fuel Breakfast Forum: State and Federal Incentives
October 23, 2007- Kickoff Stakeholder Meeting
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Clean Fuel Partnership hosts National Renewable Energy Laboratory / U.S. Department of Energy Workshop: Fueling Your Alternative Fuel Vehicle Fleet: Partnering EPAct Mandated Fleets and Clean Cities Stakeholders to Deploy Alternative Fuels
On May 22, 2012, the Clean Fuel Partnership hosted a workshop presented by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy to promote partnerships that encourage fleets to incorporate alternative fuels and vehicles into their operations, with a special focus on fleets that are mandated to include alternative fuels and vehicles under EPAct legislation. The workshop, held at the Regional Transportation Management Center, included an overview of the various alternative fuels as well as a working session to discuss alternative fueling infrastructure challenges and regional partnership opportunities.
Presentations listed below are included in the presentation PDF available here. (3MB)
For more information about the Dept. of Energy's EPAct Transportation Regulatory Activities visit: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/epact/workshops.html.
Opening Presentations
§ EPAct-Mandated Fleet Compliance Requirements and Options to Consider (369kb)
Ted Sears, National Renewable Energy Lab
Ryan Daley, National Renewable Energy Lab
§ Mapping Fleet and Fueling Locations by Region & NREL Fleet and Fueling Tools (536kb)
Ryan Daley, National Renewable Energy Lab
Infrastructure Presentations
§ Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (1.2MB): Jeffrey Cantin, SA Electric
§ Biodiesel Blends (48KB): Troy Clark, Golden Leaf Energy
§ Compressed Natural Gas (155KB): Jimmy Ramsey, Clean Energy
§ Ethanol/E85 (45KB): Troy Clark, Golden Leaf Energy
§ Propane (710KB): Troy Hicks, AmeriGas
Lunch Presentation
§ Overview of Funding Opportunities (139KB): Rebecca Otte, Clean Fuel Partnership
Clean Fuel Partnership Hosts Propane for Lawn Equipment Workshop & Exhibition
On November 3, 2011, the Clean Fuel Partnership hosted a workshop and exhibition at the Audubon Park Golf Clubhouse to showcase the benefits of propane-powered commercial lawn equipment. Over 30 people participated including Audubon Zoo & Park, Audubon Park Golf Course, Jefferson Parish, the Port of New Orleans, Tulane University, and Research & Development Group. The event was sponsored by fuel providers Ferrellgas, Blossman Gas, and AmeriGas, as well as Bergquist, a propane technology provider. Exhibitors included Metro Lawn, Exmark, Blossman and Bergquist. John Alario, Executive Director of the Louisiana Liquefied Petroleum Gas Commission, provided information on incentives and regulations for propane mowers, including their Commercial Propane Mower Incentive which provides an incentive of $2,500 per mower for the purchase of a new, factory-direct, propane-powered, zero turn commercial mower or up to $1,500 per mower for the conversion of an existing commercial grade walk behind, belt drive or zero turn commercial mowers with less than 1000 hours of operation. A company can apply for up to four incentives per year, up to $5,000 total annually.
A panel of fuel providers and commercial lawn-cutting equipment providers presented specific information on the use and benefits of propane for lawn equipment. The panel included Casey Baker of Exmark Manufacturing Company, Troy Hicks of Metro Lawn/Heritage Propane, Ralph Poole of Bergquist, Inc., Mark Denton of Blossman Propane Gas & Appliance, Jay Yarbrough of Ferrellgas, and Walter Arceneaux of AmeriGas Propane, Inc. The panel talked about benefits of propane, cost considerations, purchasing incentives, several types and sizes of commercial lawn cutting equipment, dealer support for propane mowers, and the option of converting a gasoline mower to propane.
Following the presentations, attendees and speakers interacted one-on-one at the exhibition where participants were able to view and test-drive several different propane mowers. After the exhibition, attendees enjoyed lunch which was generously sponsored by Ferrellgas, Blossman, AmeriGas and Bergquist.
Thank you to our event sponsors:
Initial EV Network Meeting Kicks Off Dialogue about Electric Vehicles
A diverse cross-section of stakeholders gathered on October 27, 2011, at the inaugural meeting of the Clean Fuel Partnership’s Electric Vehicle Network (EV Network). The EV Network brings together those interested in EVs to build relationships, identify partnerships, share information and collectively address barriers to better prepare our region to support the growing number of EVs. Thirty-two people attended the meeting including vehicle dealers, EV owners, local universities, developers, parking garage operators, environmental groups, business groups, parish governments, electric and solar energy providers, and historic preservation professionals.
Pat Ricks of Entergy and Jeff Cantin with Solar Alternatives provided EV information. Mr. Ricks said Entergy believes the EV industry is in the “first movers” stage, with Entergy’s adoption forecast predicting that by 2015, 4,000 – 6,000 EVs will operate in their service area which includes parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and southeast Texas. His presentation included an overview of residential and commercial charging options and the types of EVs currently or soon-to-be available, including all-electric and hybrid models. He then described the four potential near-term roles for te electric utility in relation to EVs and electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE; i.e. charging stations):
§ To educate and inform,
§ To monitor change and manage customer challenges,
§ To monitor and manage grid impact, and
§ Research and development.
In the research & development role and in partnership with Coulomb Technologies, Entergy is currently funding the installation of up to 16 EV Level 2 charging stations* at college campuses in Entergy’s service area through their Environmental Initiatives Fund. The focus of the project is to determine the impact and opportunities associated with EV charging including, but not limited to, amount of time required to charge an EV, what time of day people are charging, and EV charging’s impact on electric distribution facilities. There was a question about Entergy’s ability to adapt their electrical distribution grid to the growing number of EVs. Mr. Rick’s replied that Entergy regularly adapts the grid system to new loads such as when air conditioning became prevalent, when people build an addition to their homes, or when swimming pools are installed. The key is for Entergy to be made aware of charging stations when they’re installed so they can plan accordingly.
Jeff Cantin of Solar Alternatives presented additional information about EVSE, including types of plugs, brands and features, and solar EVSE. He brought along a small charging station for viewing. Mr. Cantin also outlined Louisiana and federal incentives related to EVSE including:
§ Louisiana Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) and Fueling Infrastructure Tax Credit
- Refundable tax credit on the purchase or conversion of a vehicle that runs on an alternative fuel, including electricity, for both residential and commercial entities.
- 50% of the cost to convert a vehicle to run on an alternative fuel, or
- 50% of the incremental cost difference for purchasing a new alternative fuel vehicle, or
- 10% of the cost of the new alternative fuel vehicle (up to $3,000).
- Also includes a 50% credit on the cost of constructing a fueling station, which includes electric vehicle supply equipment/ EV charging equipment.
§ Federal Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit
- 30% non-refundable tax credit on the cost of alternative fueling equipment up to $30,000, including EVSE for equipment placed into service in 2011.
- Cap on credit for residential equipment is $1,000.
- Equipment suppliers can claim the credit when a purchaser is a nonprofit or government entity and then pass the savings on to them.
- Currently expires Dec. 31, 2011.
- Non-refundable but for commercial credits, can be carried back on year or forward 20 years.
- File with IRS Form 8911 (commercial credit can also use Form 3800).
After the formal presentations, attendees introduced themselves and their particular interest and/or concerns relative to EVs. This is the crux of the network- facilitating relationships between those interested in EVs. Each meeting will allow time for participants to provide updates on their projects, request insight on overcoming barriers, and share their experiences and information.
The group was able to view two EVs owned by fellow participants. Steve St. Angelo displayed his Nissan Leaf, which he purchased in Texas because the Leaf was not available in Louisiana at the time. The Leaf is expected to come to the New Orleans market sometime in 2012. Will Hegman, owner of Mississippi Solar, showed off his electric Tesla. Mr. Hegman commended the state of Louisiana for its proactive role in encouraging alternative fuels through incentives that mirror federal incentives.
Dialogue will continue with stakeholder gatherings hosted by the SLCFP on a quarterly basis. Check the Regional Planning Commission’s website at www.norpc.org for meeting notices or contact Maggie Woodruff at
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to be added to the meeting notification distribution list.
*Level 2 Charging Stations: Level 2 equipment offers charging through a 240 V, AC plug and requires installation of home charging or public charging equipment. Based on the battery type and circuit capacity, Level 2 adds about 10 to 20 miles of range per hour of charging time, depending on the vehicle. (http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/vehicles/electric_charging_equipment.html#level2)
Acronyms used in this article:
§ EV: Electric Vehicle
§ EVSE: Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (commonly referred to as “charging equipment”)
Partnership Workshop Outlines Process for Narrowing Down Clean Fuel Options
On September 15, 2011, the Clean Fuel Partnership outlined the process for assisting vehicles fleets with incorporating clean transportation options into their operations at a general membership meeting held at the Regional Transportation Management Center (RTMC). A diverse cross-section of stakeholders participated including local and national vehicles fleets Airport Shuttle, Dr. Pipe, Community Coffee, Entergy, Coca-Cola and Enterprise Holdings, Tulane University, and Lafayette’s Consolidated Government as well as automobile dealership Rainbow Automotive. Also at the table were fuel provider CleanFUEL USA and regulatory agency Louisiana Liquefied Petroleum Gas Commission. Based on the feedback provided at the meeting, clean transportation is catching on in southeast Louisiana and excitement is building.
Clean Fuel Partnership Coordinator Rebecca Otte gave an overview of the Clean Fuel Partnership and the various methods for helping fleets incorporate clean transportation options into their operations. Ms. Otte described the partnering process including the importance and role of the Project Champion, the information that helps inform the decision-making process, and the components of the Implementation Plan including warranty information and financial incentives available for the project. In response to a concern regarding finding mechanics to service the vehicles, Ms. Otte noted that the Clean Fuel Partnership is working to identify qualified mechanics as well as provide training for the various fuel systems. Mechanic information, including average time to service the vehicles, is included in the Implementation Plan.
Demonstrating another method of helping fleets convert to cleaner transportation- networking with clean transportation fuel and technology providers- Airport Shuttle owner Warren Reuther gave a compelling presentation on his company’s experience with propane-fueled vehicles. After converting to propane in the 1990s with positive results, Airport Shuttle converted back to gasoline when they discovered that the conversion kits were not certified to meet EPA emission standards. At a Clean Fuel Partnership propane workshop, Airport Shuttle learned that EPA-certified kits were now available and consequently switched back to clean burning propane. The 30-vehicle fleet consists of vans and minibuses which hold from 10 to 20 passengers and travel approximately 72,000 miles per year between the New Orleans International Airport and hotels in downtown New Orleans and the French Quarter.
Click here for Power Point presentation from September 15, 2011 meeting.
Clean Start Project Kick-off Event: Promoting Propane as a Transportation Fuel - February 10, 2011 On February 10, 2011, the Southeast Louisiana Clean Fuel Partnership (SLCFP) hosted a half-day kick-off workshop for the Clean Start Project to promote propane as a transportation fuel.
The workshop provided an opportunity for attendees to learn from industry leaders about the basics of using propane as a transportation fuel and gain information on how to begin transitioning their fleets to propane. A truck and van provided respectively by Ferrellgas and ROUSH gave attendees a first-hand look under the hood of propane-powered vehicles.
Clean Start is a partnership between Texas State Technical College (TSTC), CleanFUEL Holding, Inc., and Public Solutions Group, along with outreach support from the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) and 18 Clean Cities Collations nationwide. Clean Start focuses on providing education and infrastructure to support the expansion of propane as a transportation fuel.
The Clean Start kick-off workshop was a successful forum providing both educational and networking opportunities for fleets and fuel providers interested in propane as a transportation fuel.
Meeting Materials:
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Clean Fuel Forum - December 16, 2010
On December 16, 2010, The Southeast Louisiana Clean Fuel Partnership and Operation REACH's Gulfsouth Youth Biodiesel Project (GYBP) hosted a free workshop on how used vegetable oil is converted into biodiesel that meets industry fuel standards.
The workshop was held at the Delgado Community College Technical Division in Metairie which houses the GYBP's operations. Joaquin Daniel Nunez presented on how the nonprofit organization transforms used vegetable oil into collected from local restaurants into fuel-grade biodiesel and then led attendees on a tour of the production facility. The tour allowed participants to have a firsthand look at the step-by-step process that GYBP follows to ensure their biodiesel meetws ASTM standards. Currently, the GYBP has the facilities to produce 100 gallons of biodiesel a day but they hope to ramp up their production capabilities in the upcoming months.
The Clean Fuel Forum was a wonderful opportunity for fleet managers to learn more about biodiesel made from used vegetable oil and how it can benefit their fleets.
Click Here to view the December 16, 2010 GYBP Power Point Presentation
For more information on the Gulfsouth Youth Biodiesel Project contact:
Hamilton Simons Jones at (504) 529-1922 or
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For additional information regarding upcoming Clean Fuel Forums contact:
Rebecca Otte at (504)483-8500 or
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Clean Fuel Forum: Web-based Resources for Fleet Managers and Mechanics - September 8, 2010 At the September Clean Fuel Forum, fleet managers and mechanics were introduced to web-based tools that can facilitate and track the implementation of clean transportation options into their fleet operations. Rebecca Otte, Clean Fuel Partnership Coordinator, presented an overview of three websites which provide tools for fleet managers and operators:
Meeting Materials:
Other Material:
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On Wednesday, July 14, 2010, the Clean Fuel Partnership hosted a free workshop on propane and natural gas as transportation fuels. The event was part of the Clean Transportation Education Project (CTEP), a series of natinoal workshops on biodiesel, ethanol, natural gas, propane, fuel economy and idle reductions led by North Carolina State University through a grant received from the U.S. Department of Energy. CTEP provided the keynote speaker, Rich Cregar, a GlaxoSmithKline Faculty Fellow at the Institute for Emerging Issues at N.C. State University and an Instructor in Automotive Systems Technologies and Green Transportation Technologies at Wake Technical Community College. Additional speakers included industry professionals from Clean Energy, Chesapeake Energy, and CleanFuel USA as well as local businessmen Steve Chambers or Doctor Pipe and Don Duvernay of Airport Shuttle who talked about their experiences running fleets on natural gas and propane, respectively. Airport Shuttle and Ferrellgas also provided propane-powered vehicles to give attendees a firsthand look at cleaner transportation options.
Funding Sources for Clean Fuel Projects was the topic of this Clean Fuel Forum. The discussion included an introduction to the Grants.gov application process and a review of current and upcoming funding opportunities. The highlighted grant opportunity was a recently released DOE grant, "Petroleum Reduction Technologies for the Transportation Sector." For more information on this grant or others, please see the meeting material available below.
In partnership with the National Biodiesel Board, the Clean Fuel Partnership hosted an Introduction to Biodiesel Workshop at Delgado Community College. The workshop included an introduction to the benefits of biodiesel by Alison Dimond of the National Biodiesel Board, the presentation of an engine durability study by Yolanda Bartoli of Cummins Inc, and a discussion of fleet experiences with biodiesel led by Carl Thiessen of Metro St. Louis. The workshop was well attended by diesel fleet operators from the region.
Thank you to our sponsors: Veolia Transportation and the National Biodiesel Board; and to Delgado's Motor Vehicle Technology Department for use of their space in the General Motors Training Center.
On October 23, 2007, the Southeast Louisiana Clean Fuels Partnership held our first Quarterly Stakeholders meeting. The meeting, held at City Park’s Garden Study Center in the Botanical Gardens, was attended by representatives of private and public fleets, fuel and vehicle distributors, elected officials, utility companies, local nonprofit economic development organizations, state agencies, trade associations, and other Clean Cities partners.
The meeting presented an overview of the Department of Energy’s Clean Cities Program as well as the new mission of the Southeast Louisiana Clean Fuels Partnership. Melissa Howell, Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition Coordinator representing the Department of Energy, presented on the various biofuels available, including ethanol, biodiesel, compressed natural gas (CNG), propane, electricity and hybrids. Fuel quality and the importance of using only fuel that meets the ASTM (American Society of Testing Materials)
