September 2024 Newsletter Drive Clean Indiana

Clean Fuels, Clean Air, Clean Cities and Communities

A Final Cheers to 25 Years

a major update to the highly anticipated Annual Technology Conference. The coalition will rebrand the conference to The REACT Expo, Renewable Energy & Advanced Clean Transportation. The new acronym encapsulates the event’s focus on advancements in sustainable energy and the future of clean transportation.

Drive Clean Indiana, which is Indiana's only U.S. Department of Energy-designated Clean Cities and Communities coalition, is renaming its annual technology conference & expo; The REACT Expo. An acronym for Renewable Energy & Advanced Clean Transportation, to reflect the focus towards the future of clean transportation and recent advancements in sustainable energy technology.

Nov. 19-20

Blue Chip Casino's Stardust Event Center.

Registration and Sponsorship Opportunities

Fuel of the Month

Propane

Did you know that October 7th is National Propane Day?

National Propane Day is October 7! This year, we're "Entertaining with Propane" and highlighting all the ways propane can create affordable, reliable comfort at home for you and your guests. Follow @propane_council on Instagram to enter to win giveaway prizes like a pizza oven or a Blackstone griddle. Learn more about National Propane Day at propane.com/nationalpropaneday.

Looking to learn more about propane?

A Propane Education Program (PEP) with Recognized Instructor Sessions is availble in Indianapolis on October 22-23.

PERC is offering this in-person session for propane industry trainers who are looking to become PEP Recognized Instructors in 2024.

At this session, instructors will participate in a two-day, hands-on training workshop that will ensure the instructor will meet IACET’s verifiable standard, as well as receive feedback on teaching methods for more effective instruction. This in-person session is for propane industry trainers who are looking to become PEP Recognized Instructors.

Training Location:

Le Meridien

123 South Illinois Street

Indianapolis, IN 46225

Tentative Schedule:

Tues, Oct 22: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Lunch and beverages provided by PERC

Wed, Oct 23: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Lunch and beverages provided by PERC

Register HERE

Propane, also known as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG or LP-gas) or autogas, has been used worldwide as a vehicle fuel for decades. Stored under pressure inside a tank, propane turns into a colorless, odorless liquid. As pressure is released, the liquid propane vaporizes and turns into gas that is used for combustion. An odorant, ethyl mercaptan, is added for leak detection.

Member of the Month

MacAllister Transportation

MacAllister Transportation sells and services high-quality school buses and commercial buses manufactured by Blue Bird Corporation. As a part of Indiana-based and family-owned MacAllister Machinery, MacAllister Transportation has a rich history and a long-standing tradition of supplying top-notch equipment, first class service, and in-depth technical knowledge.

$965 Million in New Funding for CSB Program

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced up to $965 million in new funding for the Clean School Bus (CSB) Rebate Program.

This is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s agenda to transition nearly 500,000 school buses to cleaner technologies, protecting over 25 million students from harmful air pollution and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The program, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, has already allocated nearly $3 billion to replace about 8,700 buses, most of which are electric. The new round of funding prioritizes low-income, rural, and Tribal communities.

Latest funding opportunity under the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda builds on nearly $3 billion already invested into clean school buses nationwide - EPA Press Office

Ready to hear from the experts on this new funding opportunity?

Register HERE for the next the Indiana Clean School Bus Consortium Webinar

This month's guest speaker: Thomas White, Eberspaecher

Board Member Spotlight

Todd Jacobs

Innovative technologies are often born of crisis. Climate Change has spurred futurists and technologists to action - accelerating the development of the "Next Big Thing" that will help world governments meet their missions through 2024 and beyond.

Are you ready to meet your future energy needs?

Learn more about Envirogen

MACOG Level 2 Site Host Application:

Charging & Fueling Infrastructure Program

MACOG is soliciting applications from interested site hosts for Level 2 destination charging stations. Both public and private entities are invited to apply. Public site hosts (local governments, public schools and libraries, etc.) who were named in MACOG's application are considered pre-selected. Private site hosts who were named must formally apply through this open call.

PLEASE SUBMIT ONE APPLICATION PER PROPOSED LOCATION APPLICATION DEADLINE: OCTOBER 14, 2024 MACOG anticipates making site host decisions around November 1st.

Learn more

Welcome to our new member, EV Mobile Connect!

Welcome to our new member, EV Mobile Connect! Dubbed the “AAA of EV Charging,” EV Mobile Connect provides mobile EV charging services when you’re stuck without a charge in the Greater Indianapolis Area. An expanding family-owned and operated business, EV Mobile Connect is your trusted partner on the road to keep you moving forward!

Learn more about their services HERE

Pickup Trucks Had the Highest Average Age of All Vehicle Types in Operation in 2023

Of all the vehicles in operation in 2023, pickup trucks had the highest average age at 13.1 years, likely due to the relatively long duration of operation compared to other vehicle types. Among light-duty vehicles, cars and vans were nearly tied at 11.9 and 11.8 years, respectively. The SUV/CUV category had by far the lowest average age of any vehicle type with just 8.1 years, likely attributable to a recent increase in new sales for SUVs and CUVs, which lowers the average age. Heavy trucks have the second highest average age at 12.1 years.

Read the full article

Congratulations to Muncie Sanitary District, recipient for the Recycling and Reuse category of the 2024 Governor's Awards for Environmental Excellence!

"In 2023, the Muncie Sanitary District (MSD) received a grant from the Indiana Recycling Market Development Program. Through grant funding and the required 50% match, the district purchased one recycling truck, updated another and purchased 3500 new residential recycling bins to update the city's 25-year-old sort and bag residential recycling program. MSD's online opt-in pledge program allowed residents to receive a free 96-gallon blue recycling bin after receiving information on how to recycle correctly and take a pledge to do so. Over 8,000 households took the pledge in 2023. As a result, MSD added another recycling route to their daily operations; runs three recycling trucks a day to accommodate the growing recycling curbside signups; offers a weekly curbside pickup to residents on their scheduled trash day; and partners with several local businesses and other organizations, to pick up their recycling. After five months of collecting recyclables at the curb in the new totes, MSD collected an estimated 490 tons (980,000 lbs.) of recycled materials and eliminated the need for residents to sort their recycled materials by type."

National Drive Electric Week, Sep 27-Oct 6, 2024, is a nationwide celebration to raise awareness of the many benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid cars, trucks, motorcycles, and more. Are you considering going electric?