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Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report - December 30, 2003
12/30/2003
This is the tenth issue of the Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report, a quarterly newsletter keeping you up to date on the price of alternative fuels in the U.S. and their relation to gasoline and diesel prices. This issue discusses prices that were gathered from Clean Cities coordinators and stakeholders during the weeks of December 1, and December 8, 2003, with comparisons to the prices in the previous Price Report, which were collected in February 2003.
Authors: Lott, M.
The Economic Costs of Fuel Economy Standards Versus a Gasoline Tax
12/1/2003
In recent years, there has been renewed interest in the Congress in policies that would reduce gasoline consumption in the United States. That interest has been motivated primarily by concerns about the nation's energy security and about the risk that carbon emissions, 20 percent of which come from gasoline consumption, may affect the Earth's climate. This Congressional Budget Office (CBO) study—prepared at the request of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works—compares the economic costs of two methods for reducing gasoline consumption: raising the corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards for passenger vehicles and increasing the federal tax on gasoline. In analyzing CAFE standards, the study also estimates the potential cost savings from allowing automakers to trade fuel economy credits with one another as a way of complying.
The study breaks down the costs that each of the alternative policies would impose on both producers and consumers. Further, it discusses the prospects for CAFE standards to improve social welfare given that the existing gasoline tax also provides consumers an incentive to buy more-fuel-efficient vehicles. In keeping with CBO's mandate to provide objective, impartial analysis, this study makes no recommendations.
Authors: Austin, D.; Dinan, T.
Notes: Copies of this document can be downloaded from the Congressional Budget Office Website at: ftp://ftp.cbo.gov/49xx/doc4917/12-24-03_CAFE.pdf.
Roadmap for Agriculture Biomass Feedstock Supply in the United States
11/30/2003
The Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee set forth a goal that biomass will supply 5% of the nation's power, 20% of transportation fuels, and 25% of chemicals by 2030. These combined goals are approximately equivalent to 30% of the current petroleum consumption. The benefits of a robust biorefinery industry supplying this amount of domestically produced power, fuels, and products is considerable, including decreased demand for imported oil, revenue to the depressed agriculture industry, and revitalized rural economies. A consistent supply of high quality, low cost feedstock is vital in achieving this goal. This biomass roadmap defines the research and development path towards supplying the feedstock needs of the biorefinery and achieving the important national goals set for biomass.
Authors: INEEL
Travel Matters: Mitigating Climate Change with Sustainable Surface Transportation
11/7/2003
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Report 93: Travel Matters - Mitigating Climate Change with Sustainable Surface Transportation presents information on climate change and examines how greenhouse gas emissions from transportation may be reduced. The report also looks at the capacity of public transportation to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.
Authors: Feigon, S.; Hoyt, D.; McNally, L.; Mooney-Bullock, R.; Campbell, S.; Leach, D.
Notes: Copies of this document can be downloaded from the Transportation Research Board Website at: http://trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?ID=2071
Challenges and Experiences with Electric Propulsion Transit Buses in the United States
11/1/2003
This document provides background for transit agencies and other fleets that are considering the use of electric propulsion technologies. It tells potential users what to expect and what to plan for when implementing vehicles with electric propulsion systems (such as dedicated electric vehicles, hybrids, and even fuel cells) into their fleets. This document also addresses the unique issues that electrical integration can pose for fleet personnel and points to the similarities between implementing electric propulsion and any other significant new technology.
Authors: Eudy, L.; Gifford, M.
Safety and Performance Assessment of Ethanol/Diesel Blends (E-Diesel)
9/1/2003
In this study, TIAX performed a failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) to evaluate the relative safety risks and performance risks of E-diesel use compared to standard diesel fuel use. The fuel use process evaluated included the preparation, transportation, fleet vehicle fueling station storage, and use of E-diesel. Only the use of E-diesel fuel containing up to 15% ethanol in heavy-duty vehicle fleets was evaluated.
Authors: Waterland,L.R.; Venkatesh, S.; Unnasch, S.
The Next Generation Natural Gas Vehicle Activity
9/1/2003
The Next Generation Natural Gas Vehicle (NGNGV) R&D activity is leading important advances in natural gas vehicle (NGV) technology. NGNGV Phase I engine research projects demonstrated NOx emissions well below EPA 2007 levels, and tow projects met EPA 2010 levels in medium-duty engines. NGNGV Phase II engine and vehicle projects covering a range of power and torque ratings are targeted to achieve EPA 2007/2010 emission levels in 2005. In addition, gaseous fuel expertise gained through the NGNGV activity and other government and industry NGV and infrastructure efforts is aiding the transition to a future transportation scenario based on hydrogen.
SunLine Test Drives Hydrogen Bus
8/1/2003
This evaluation is one of several DOE projects that support the research and development of highly efficient, low- or zero-emission fuel cell power systems, which serve as an alternative to internal combustion engines. The demonstration is consistent with the Hydrogen, Fuel Cell & Infrastructure Technologies (HFC&IT) goal of having advanced technology vehicles enter the marketplace by 2010.
Fuel-Cycle Energy and Emission Impacts of Ethanol-Diesel Blends in Urban Buses and Farming Tractors
7/30/2003
About 2.1 billion gallons of fuel ethanol was used in the United States in 2002, mainly in the form of gasoline blends containing up to 10% ethanol (E10). Ethanol use has the potential to increase in the U.S. blended gasoline market because methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), formerly the most popular oxygenate blendstock, may be phased out owing to concerns about MTBE contamination of the water supply. Ethanol would remain the only viable near-term option as an oxygenate in reformulated gasoline production and to meet a potential federal renewable fuels standard (RFS) for transportation fuels. Ethanol may also be blended with additives (co-solvents) into diesel fuels for applications in which oxygenation may improve diesel engine emission performance.Numerous studies have been conducted to evaluate the fuel-cycle energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission effects of ethanol-gasoline blends relative to those of gasoline for applications in spark- ignition engine vehicles (see Wang et al. 1997; Wang et al. 1999; Levelton Engineering et al. 1999; Shapouri et al. 2002; Graboski 2002). Those studies did not address the energy and emission effects of ethanol-diesel (E-diesel or ED) blends relative to those of petroleum diesel fuel in diesel engine vehicles. The energy and emission effects of E-diesel could be very different from those of ethanol-gasoline blends because (1) the energy use and emissions generated during diesel production (so-called "upstream" effects) are different from those generated during gasoline production; and (2) the energy and emission performance of E-diesel and petroleum diesel fuel in diesel compression-ignition engines differs from that of ethanol-gasoline blends in spark-ignition (Otto-cycle-type) engine vehicles.The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) commissioned Argonne National Laboratory to conduct a full fuel-cycle analysis of the energy and emission effects of E-diesel blends relative to those of petroleum di
Authors: Wang, Michael; Saricks, Chris; Lee, Hanjie
The Energy Smart Guide to Campus Cost Savings
7/1/2003
With 4,000-plus accredited, degree-granting institutions of postsecondary education in the U.S. and its outlying areas, energy efficiency improvements are impacting millions of students, faculty and staff. NACUBO and APPA are proud to have worked with the United States Department of Energy to bring you this resource guide, which is intended to give our members realworld input on a number of critical energy efficiency issues facing us today. It's also meant to alert our members to new opportunities to save both money and energy, while strengthening your institutions' contributions to environmental responsibility. And as such, it is part of our continuing services to our members. Our goal, as always, is to bring you up-to-date information you can use to make the difficult and important decisions that you face every day.
On-Road Development of the C-Gas Plus Engine in Heavy-Duty Vehicles
6/1/2003
To advance NGV technology, DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) supported on-road protoype development of the C-Gas Plus engine, beginning in November 2000. The goal of the project was to advance laboratory-developed technologies, on road and in service, for a natural gas truck and bus engine with significant improvements over the previous C8.3G natural gas engine. This goal was achieved. The C-Gas Plus was launched into production in July 2001 with increased engine ratings, reduced emissions, and lower cost compared with the C8.3G engine.
Impact of Biodiesel Fuels on Air Quality Task 4 Report: Impacts of Biodiesel Fuel Use on PM
4/1/2003
Biodiesel fuels have been investigated for a number of reasons, such as an extender for petroleum-based fuels derived from a domestic renewable energy source. But lately the primary interest is the potential for a more environmentally benign fuel. The potential for exhaust emission reductions and reductions in emissions toxicity have the most interest. Several studies have shown that large reductions in hydrocarbon, particulate, and carbon monoxide emissions are expected from its use either as a neat fuel or as a blend with petroleum-derived fuels.
There are several areas in the United States that are currently in non-attainment for particulate matter of 10 pm or less (PM10). In addition, there is a new fine particulate matter (PM2.5) which may result in new areas being in non-attainment for PM. Biodiesel fuel use is estimated to reduce several precursors to PM (e.g., PM, SO2, and VOC) and increase others (NOx). Thus, the net affect of biodiesel fuel use on ambient PM levels is unclear based on analyzing changes in emissions alone, so it is assessed using air quality modeling.
Authors: Morris, R.E.; Jia, Y.
