Virginia Clean Cities (VCC) will join the Transportation Energy Partners (TEP), and clean transportation leaders from across the nation next week virtually to educate federal policy makers about the need to expand America’s use of alternative fuels, including biofuels, electricity, natural gas, and propane autogas, all of which are available as renewable fuels today. VCC and other key stakeholders will participate in Energy Independence Summit 2021, the nation’s premier clean transportation policy event, on March 17-19 and 22-26, 2021.
The Biden administration has initiated a renewed focus on practical solutions to climate change that will create thousands of new clean energy jobs. The Energy Independence Summit (EIS) is a chance for leaders in industry to discuss with key leaders in the new administration. Those who will attend EIS will include key Congressional leaders, including Senator Ron Wyden, Oregon, Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee; Congressman Peter DeFazio, Oregon, Chairman of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee; and Congressman Donald McEachin, Virginia, of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. In addition to hearing from these leaders, EIS participants will virtually visit Capitol Hill the following week to meet with individual state delegates. They have the unique opportunity to discuss the future of the Department of Energy, DOE, Vehicle Technologies national Clean Cities program with 250 Congressional offices. The transportation experts within the Clean Cities network continue to advance the deployment and infrastructure necessary to realize the new administration goals for 100% renewable clean energy fuels for America’s transportation system – the largest in the world.
Transportation Energy Partners (TEP) is a national non-profit organization that brings Clean Cities coalition leaders together with the clean transportation industry to advance policies that will reduce American dependence on petroleum-based fuels. In the released 2021 federal priorities, TEP and VCC emphasize the importance of the following areas.
TEP 2021 Federal Priorities Clean Transportation Infrastructure
- Enhance and extend alternative fuel vehicle, AFV, tax incentives through 2030
- Invest in existing clean transportation programs
- $1 billion for Department of Energy Clean Cities demonstration and deployment of clean fuels and advanced technology vehicles.
- $1billion for Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality funding to expand state and local initiatives to help transition fleets to cleaner fuels and vehicles.
- $1 billion for the Federal Transit Administration to help transit agencies to transition the nation’s 49,000 buses to cleaner alternatives powered by electricity, natural gas, propane, hydrogen, and biodiesel.
- $1 billion for the Federal Highway Administration to build alternative refueling stations along the nation’s highway system.
- $1.5 billion for the US EPA Diesel Emission Reduction grants to help school districts, government and commercial heavy fleets transition to cleaner alternatives powered by clean fuels that provide the greatest reductions in greenhouse gases and other harmful emissions.
3. Make the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) Work as Intended, by substantially increasing the annual volume requirements for renewable fuels and eliminating loopholes that allow refineries to obtain unneeded exemptions and waivers.
4. Ensure federal investments meet the needs of underserved communities, including lower income communities, communities of color, and small and rural communities.
5. Implement practical Buy America policies to advance the U.S. business and employment sector.
“American industry has demonstrated the ability to produce high performing technology to meet the demand for cleaner fuels and vehicles,” stated Alleyn Harned, President of Transportation Energy Partners. “However, insufficient and inconsistent government incentives and support hinder companies’ ability to make the long-term investments required to sustain these clean transportation solutions. We need stable and predictable federal investments to enable fleets and technology developers to make sound long-term planning and investment decisions.”
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, there are about 2 million alternative fuel vehicles on the road in the United States and over 100,000 alternative fueling stations. The transportation sector produces around 30% of the country’s total air emissions. By increasing the nation’s alternative fuels, we not only reduce harmful pollutants, but bring economic benefits to the entire United States.
Join the discussion today by registering at https://tep.sre.events/.