Buckle up! This month we are jam packed with resources to help you move the needle on electrifying transportation where you live. Importantly, the Southeast Electric Transportation Regional Initiative (SETRI) – of which the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy is a founding member – have aggregated active federal, state, university, and other private and public sector funding sources, comment solicitations, research opportunities, events, and other regional participatory efforts around transportation electrification in a new hub. Check it now, and check back to the living portal often.
Speaking of jams, as part of an initiative to encourage folks across the country to purchase an electric vehicle, our friends at Generation180 are giving away an F-150 Lightning if you pledge to make your next car purchase an EV. As a part of their campaign, Generation180 is teaming up with Dave Matthews Band to enlist volunteers to spread the word about the campaign and EV truck giveaway at stops on the band's summer tour.
More on the F-150 Lightning giveaway and Dave Matthews Band concert below, but before you dive in to this month's newsletter, what would you say if you found out that the application for the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program – made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – was extended to from May 30 to June 13? We encourage stakeholders, including states or political subdivision of states, metropolitan planning organizations, local governments, Indian tribes and more, to apply for this funding and reach out to our team for any assistance in your application.
Georgia continues to be a hotbed of growth for the electric transportation sector. Not only are Clayton County and the Atlanta Public School Systems receiving 25 replacement electric school buses by the end of 2023, but as shown in our 2022 year-end updates from our "Transportation Electrification in the Southeast" report, Georgia shines above the rest of the Southeast when it comes to employment and charging deployment. The state also shows strong investment and sales in electric transportation – as of December 31, 2022, 79,738 electric vehicles have been sold in the state.
To understand EV Sales and charging deployment in a national context, please read our report. Source: “Transportation Electrification in the Southeast” report 2022 year-end updates; Atlas EV Hub + Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.
As we continue to track the progress of electric transportation growth in the Southeast and beyond, we remain grateful for our readers who stay connected to us and others on Facebook and Twitter. To receive these newsletters in your inbox, click here to sign up!
Charging Forward,
Dory Larsen
Powering the EV Movement
Don’t Leave Money on the Table and Rural Communities Behind
With the North Carolina Senate back in session to tackle the budget, there is much at stake when it comes to drawing down the state's share of the billions in federal electric vehicle infrastructure funds – especially for the state's rural communities where EV infrastructure is lacking along with the human and financial resources needed to apply for federal grants. Governor Cooper requested funds to address this, but the House stripped those funds from its budget. It's important that the Senate supports these funds to ensure North Carolina doesn't leave its rural communities behind and millions in federal funds on the table. Read more.
Get Plugged-In
Morristown Utilities Driving Electric Vehicle Leadership
In-Person Event
Join our partners at Drive Electric Tennessee to network with members of the community who can help develop familiarity with EVs and the needed infrastructure. You'll hear panels that include information on the barriers to electrification and community charging planning as well as current and upcoming federal, state, and local incentives to aid EV adoption.
Participating organizations include:
East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition
Morristown Utilities
Drive Electric Tennessee
Tennessee Department of Transportation
Tennessee Valley Authority
Morristown Utilities Driving EV Leadership Thursday, June 22 | 8 AM - 12 PM ET Walter State Community College Public Safety Center 1609 Walters State CC Drive, Morristown, Tennessee 37813 Register
The Southeast Environmental Justice Summit
In-Person Event
The Southeast Environmental Justice Summit convenes community stakeholders, advocacy organizations and groups, federal and local government agencies, public and private sector companies and leaders, climate and clean renewable energy advocacy groups in the eight states and six Tribal Nations (GA., FL., NC., SC, TN, MS, AL, KY, and six Tribes) of EPA's Region 4 to collaborate on advancing climate and environmental justice for everyone.
Goals
Direct funding and investment in community-driven projects and programs
Build relationships with states, municipalities, and industry
Create accountability through communities
Who Should Attend
Community members
Neighborhood Planning Units (NPU presidents, officers, members)
Neighborhood Associations (NA presidents, officers, members)
Students and Youth
Non-profit advocacy organizations and groups
Private sector corporations
Local and federal government agency staff
Grassroots groups
Higher Education
The Southeast Environmental Justice Summit June 7 - June 11| 5 PM - 12 PM ET Learn More + Register
National Going Electric Pledge
Pledge + Volunteer
Our friends at Generation180 just launched a new sweepstakes to – literally – get your motor running. Electric motor that is. The National Going Electric Pledge is a campaign to encourage all Americans to ‘say yes’ to making their next car, truck, or SUV electric. Help them accelerate broad support for electric vehicle driving by signing their Pledge to be entered in a sweepstakes a chance to win an electric Ford F-150 Lightning. The Pledge Sweepstakes is open May 15 – September 30, 2023.
Additionally, Generation180 has teamed up with Reverb and are actively recruiting folks to volunteer at Dave Matthews Band concerts across the country (including the Southeast) and help spread the word about the National Going Electric Pledge! For each show they are recruiting volunteers to staff the Generation180 booth for about two hours before the show and then the volunteer can attend the concert for free!
National Going Electric Pledge Sweepstakes May 15 – September 30, 2023 Take the Pledge
Volunteer at a Dave Matthews Band Concert Now – September 3, 2023 | Two Hour Time Slot Before Show Reach out to Shakaya Cooper (shakaya@generation180.org) and Nessa Stoltzfus Barge (nessa@generation180.org) if you are interested in volunteering!
OUC Fleet Electrification Planning Webinar Webinar
The Orlando Utilities Commission is hosting a webinar outlining the steps of creating an electrification plan with a focus on utility planning. The plan is a multiple-step approach to creating a reliable EV fleet hub. Inclusive fleet analysis for vehicles, site evaluations for charging, and budgeting are part of the equation to powering your fleet. Speakers from OUC’s Key Accounts team will share what to expect when you electrify your business location for on-site EV charging and how you can leverage OUC’s knowledge and support.
OUC Fleet Electrification Planning Webinar
Wednesday, May 31 | 1 - 2 PM ET RSVP
EPA Clean School Bus Program Grants
Funding
The EPA anticipates awarding approximately $400 million in competitive grant funding under the Clean School Bus (CSB) Grants Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). The program is soliciting applications nationwide for a grant competition to fund the replacement of existing school buses with clean and zero-emission (ZE) school buses.
Head to the EPA's website to find more information on:
2023 Request of Funding Opportunity
Important Dates
Application Documents
Questions and Answers
Eligible Applicants
Funding Prioritizations
Application Process
Tools and Resources
All application packages need to be submitted electronically to EPA through Grants.gov no later than Tuesday, August 22, 2023, at 11:59 PM ET to be considered for funding.
EPA Clean School Bus Program Grants Apply by Tuesday, August 22, 2023, at 11:59 PM ET
Paving the Way
How To Reduce Your Carbon Footprint At Home
There are so many ways you can take action to reduce the emissions that each of us produce in our everyday life, from eating less meat to upgrading to an electric vehicle to starting a compost pile in your backyard. On April 26, Drawdown Georgia hosted a lively conversation among a few of the experts behind their series of climate solutions toolkits that answers many common questions about the everyday climate solutions that are best suited to Georgia.
Three panelists each unpacked a climate solution related to their individual areas of expertise:
Dr. Keisha Callins, obstetrician/gynecologist, Community Health Care Systems
Khari Diop, community compost lab manager for Truly Living Well Center for Natural Urban Agriculture
Dory Larsen, Electric Transportation Program Manager at the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
These Atlanta schools are getting electric buses
Fueled with $10 million funding from the EPA's Clean School Bus Rebate Program, two metro Atlanta public school systems will replace 25 of the 40 diesel buses in their counties with electric buses by the 2024 school year. SACE's Cary Ritzler highlighted the benefits of electric school buses at an event with Atlanta Public Schools in an interview with 11 Alive stating, “A diesel bus will be emitting fume outside of the bus and also fumes that come inside of the bus that expose children up to four times of the amount that a regular vehicle would, however, an electric vehicle will have none of those emissions. You don't have to do things like change the oil and repairs are less expensive, the fuel is less expensive.” Watch.
Southeast Portal for Electric Transportation Opportunities
As part of the Southeast Electric Transportation Regional Initiative (SETRI), Duke University’s Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability has created a hub for events and opportunities related to electric vehicles and transportation in the Southeast. The portal aggregates active federal, state, university, and other private and public sector funding sources, comment solicitations, research opportunities, events, and other regional participatory efforts around transportation electrification. The list is not exhaustive, but there are a plethora of opportunities for you to plug into. Learn more.
The EV Battery Supply Chain Explained
As the electric vehicle market continues to grow, there is an increasing demand for EVs, governments, policymakers, and public and private sectors around the world will need to strengthen supply chains to rapidly scale production of EV batteries. The Rocky Mountain Institute has put together a resource level-setting and outlining the EV battery supply chain including the challenges the supply chain faces, and opportunities to improve it, in the hopes to give local and national governments, policymakers, and private and public sector actors a starting-point resource they can use to further explore these important issues. Read more.
Can the Grid Handle EVs? Yes!
A question that frequently comes up when discussing electric vehicles (EVs) is: “Can the
grid handle it?” The short answer is “yes.” Getting that answer, however, takes working through a number of other key questions and doing a little bit of math. Read more from Consumer Reports.
Kicking Gas
Every month we'll spotlight stories and photos from YOU, our readers, about how EVs play a role in your world. To be featured in an upcoming ETS newsletter, send us an email here! We'll also highlight our partners and allies from our testimonials page and feature photos from events SACE has participated in across the region.
Clean Energy Generation
Recently SACE staff (including the friendly faces pictured above posing in front of an electric vehicle) launched the "Clean Energy Generation" movement that aims to help everyone find their place in the climate movement. From pledging to buy an electric vehicle, to learning about ways to reduce energy consumption in your homes, we can all find our place in and play a part in creating healthier and stronger communities for today and tomorrow. Learn more about the movement and join our webinar about the movement on June 29 from 1:30 - 2:30 PM ET.
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