Alternative Fuel Vehicle Workshop

March 25, 2013

Have you been meaning to learn more about alternative fuel vehicles and whether or not they can save money for your organization? If so, we invite you to participate in informative and timely workshop on Tuesday, 9 April at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington.

The agenda is loaded with champions and practitioners from across Virginia who will share their experience from the driver’s seat. Whether your organization is just beginning to explore the options, or is already on the road toward a fleet conversion, this workshop will provide the tools you need to drive your initiative forward. You can earn Continuing Education Units for workshop participation.

This is just one of many sessions offered at the 24th Annual Environment Virginia Symposium, 9 – 11 April.  Below are details about the workshop.  Here is a link to information about the full symposium agenda which includes tracks on waste recovery and energy efficiency, stormwater management, nutrient reduction, energy development, social media, environmental education, and ecology, www.vmi.edu/environmentva.

Alternative Fuel Vehicles—Track 1

Save money and build local economy

Tuesday, 9 April

9:00 a.m.                              Registration and Coffee
Host: Steven P. LeBlanc, Chief of Customer Service and Logistics, Physical Plant, Virginia Military Institute

Session A (9:30 am – 11:30 am)

  • Introduction to Alternative Fuel Vehicles—Cathie France, Deputy Director, Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy
  • SNAPSHOTS: Who’s doing what in VA?
    • Natural Gas
      • The Honorable George Hrichak, Fleet Manager, City of Chesapeake and Board of Supervisors, York County.
      • Hank Brown, Director of Fleet Maintenance, TFC Recycling;
      • Mike Kearns, Energy Services Manager, City of Richmond
    • Biodiesel— Allen Mitchell, Chief, Equipment, Arlington County
    • Propane
      • Jerry Farmer, Operations Superintendent, City of Newport News
      • Tripp Greene,  Virginia Autogas
    • Electric – Andrew Flavin, Alternative Energy Research Analyst, Dominion Resources
  • Public-Private Sector Leadership to Reduce Fuel Costs— Michael L. Bisogno, Director, Office of Fleet Management Services, VDGS
  • Alternative Fuels – Paper Session

Moderator: Major Tim Moore, Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering, VMI

    • (S)A Novel Harvesting Strategy for Algae-based fuels—Caleb Talbott, Student, and Premal Patel, Student, James Madison University
    • (S)Reducing the cost of Biodiesel Production in Virginia—Jonathan Hawkins, Student and Jason McNamara, Student, James Madison University
    • (S)Converting Waste Cooking Oil to Biodiesel – Parker Helble, Student, James Madison University
    • (S)Novel Vehicle Exhaust Emission Reduction Technology—Joseph Crosbie, Student, James Madison University 

B  and C (2:45 – 5:30)

Interest – Feasibility – Deployment
Moderator: John Warren, President of the Board of Directors, Virginia Clean Cities

  • Review Opportunities and Information (Sabrene Bader, Director of Grants Administration, Virginia Clean Cities, and Mr. Bisogno)
  • Get Buy In from All Parties  (Ms. France  and Mr. Hrichak)
  • Run the Numbers to Build your Case (Mr. Kearns and  Mr. Farmer )
  • Knowing Vendors (Mr. Brown and Mr. Warren)
  • Deployment and Evaluation (Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Kearns)
  • Breakout groups for in-depth discussion
    • Compressed Natural Gas – Propane – Biofuels – Electric
  • Closing Group Discussion and Readouts from Breakout Groups