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SAVE THE DATE!
The next Maine Clean Communities'
Stakeholder Meeting
will be held on
May 2, 2012
9:00 a.m. at GPCOG in Portland |
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President Obama's "EV-Everywhere" Challenge
On March 7th, President Obama launched the "EV Everywhere" Challenge, allowing scientists, engineers, and businesses to collaborate to make electric vehicles (EV) more affordable than gasoline-powered vehicles in 10 years.
Chevy Volt and Lithium-Ion Battery Credit: GM
The challenge is part of a strategy to help reduce dependence on foreign oil.
The challenge will bring together several Federal agencies and the private sector in order to make electric vehicles affordable by making dramatic technological and cost improvements in batteries, electric motors, power electronics, lightweight structures, and fast-charging technology.
The goal is to enable U.S. companies to be the first to produce a 5-passenger affordable EV with a payback time of fewer than 5 years.
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Free Community Seminars on Sustainable Vehicle Design at SMCC
A series of discussions will be held over the next several months with the owners and builders of a wide range of alternative vehicles, covering technical aspects, design philosophy, performance data, legal issues, cost, efficiency, historical and current trends, and personal anecdotes.
These seminars will be held on Monday evenings from 6-8 p.m. at Southern Maine Community College's (SMCC) Sustainability and Energy Alternatives Center.
"Roopod" Credit: C. Michael Lewis
April 2, 2012: Vintage Utility Vehicles
Historic perspective of small practical vehicles, featuring the Piaggio Ape, for decades the simplest and cheapest form of transportation in Europe and developing countries around the world. Speaker: Stuart Vreeland, Yarmouth, ME, collector and aficionado.
Click here for the free seminar schedule.
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Alternative Fuel Vehicle Odyssey Day 2012
October 19 & 20 at SMCC
Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Odyssey Day will build awareness and enthusiasm for alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles, showcasing a wide range of technologies and fuels, including electric, propane, natural gas, biodiesel, hybrids, and idle reduction.
Maine Clean Communities and Southern Maine Community College's (SMCC) Transportation Technology Department are teaming up again to offer "Odyssey Day" in South Portland on Friday October 19, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Saturday, October 20th from 10:00-3:00 p.m. at SMCC. (In case of bad weather the event will be held inside.)
Numerous alternative fuel vehicles, along with displays and exhibitors of fuel reduction techniques, speakers and experts will be on hand to promote the newest in alternative fuel vehicles and technologies.
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Maine Clean Communities in the News!
to read the recent article, "Will CNG Become a Leading Fuel Choice?" that was featured in the Maine Townsman. Maine Clean Communities and Stakeholders Greater Portland METRO and SAD #6 are featured. |
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ACT Expo, to be held May 15-17 in Long Beach, CA is North America's largest alternative fuel and advanced vehicle technologies event and largest convergence of stakeholders committed to air quality improvement by reducing emissions from mobile sources.
This event will showcase all alternative fuel types including electric, hybrid, hydrogen, natural gas, propane and renewable fuels. Over the course of 3 days, the ACT Expo agenda will include keynote speakers, plenary and breakout sessions, networking events, technical tours and a ride-and-drive event to walk attendees through the economic, energy, and environmental benefits of alternative fuel use.
For more information click here or call (888) 993-0302 or email info@actexpo.com.
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Successful Alternative Fuel Workshops for Fleets Held
Maine Clean Communities held two successful workshops for fleets; one focused on compressed natural gas
(CNG), the other biodiesel, as transportation fuels for fleets.
All together over 120 people attended the two workshops held in September, 2011 in Brunswick and February, 2012 in Portland.
To access speakers' presentations for the natural gas workshop click here.
To access speakers' presentations for the biodiesel workshop click here.
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2011 Petroleum Reduction Annual
Report Results
Are In!
Maine's Fleets Reduced Fossil Fuel Consumption by Over 1.3 Million Gallons in 2011
A big thank you to all those fleets who participated in the Maine Clean Communities' 2011 Alternative Fuel and Petroleum Reduction Annual Report (Annual Report)! Your responses help Maine Clean Communities receive funding for its important petroleum reduction work here in Maine.
Overall, in 2011, the Annual Report results showed that alternative fuels, hybrids, idling policies and other petroleum reduction efforts reduced Maine's dependence on gasoline and diesel by over 1.3 million gallons (gasoline gallon equivalent or GGE). These same efforts reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by over 10,000 tons.
Specifically, the Annual Report showed an increase in the amount of alternative fuels consumed last year as well as a large, 500,000 gallon, increase in the use of biodiesel. Fuel economy improvements remained about the same as last year while the use of on-board idle reduction technologies increased. There was an increase in the purchase and use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles which included the addition of one light-duty truck and four school buses. As a result there was a decrease of 2,167 tons of GHG emissions in these two categories alone.
Thanks again to those who participated in the 2011 Annual Report. Thanks to you, the Maine Clean Communities' Annual Report continues to grow in breadth.
*Note: This Annual Report does not reflect all alternative fuel and petroleum reduction efforts in Maine. The survey is sent to fleets only, and does not capture individual efforts. Further, it relies on self-reporting. Maine Clean Communities cannot assure the accuracy of fleet reports, and not all fleets respond to information requests. We are grateful to those who do.
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Compelling Case for Natural Gas Vehicles Workshops
If you missed our recent natural gas workshop you might want to attend a similar "Compelling Case for Natural Gas Vehicles" workshop. These workshops, co-hosted by Clean Cities Coalitions and the Clean Vehicle Education Fund are designed for public and private fleet operators and policy-makers.
Upcoming workshops include:
Click here for more information including key topics to be addressed and additional upcoming workshops!
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Maine Movie Premiere of "Revenge of the
Electric Car"
Tuesday, May 22nd
6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
One Longfellow Square
Portland, ME
This film is a follow-up to the very successful "Who Killed the Electric Car" which chronicled the demise of the Electric Vehicle (EV) market and destruction of electric cars in the early 1990s.
The newest film follows four entrepreneurs battling from inside GM, Nissan, Tesla and a private business who stake everything on the comeback of the electric car.
 | | Official Trailer: Revenge of the Electric Car |
This event is organized by Maine Clean Communities and Sierra Club of Maine and will feature an outdoor EV display, introduction to the film and a reception with a cash bar and snacks.
For more information and to purchase tickets
click here.
SPONSORS
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2012 Clean Cities' Vehicle Buyer's Guide
Now Available!
The 2012 alternative fuel vehicle and advanced vehicle Buyers Guide from Clean Cities is now available.
Click here to read the guide and find out which electric, propane, compressed natural gas (CNG), ethanol and biodiesel vehicle models are hitting the streets. |
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Green Your Fleet!
Fleet Manager Workshop
June 1, Nashua, NH
Back by popular demand, this free workshop, co-hosted by Nashua Community College and Granite State Clean Cities Coalition, will include speakers, panelists, informative breakout sessions, vendor exhibits and vehicle displays.
Fleet managers will learn about the experiences of their peers in the areas of:
* Alternative Fuels
* Advanced Vehicle Technology
* Fuel Economy Strategies
The event will be held at Nashua Community College from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Health, Science and Humanities Building at
505 Amherst Street in Nashua.
For directions click here.
Vehicles will be located in the parking lot directly in front of the Automotive and Health, Science, and Humanities buildings.
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Steve Linnell Coordinator, Maine Clean Communities |
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