In This Issue
Alt Fuel Highlight Propane
FTA Low or No Emission and Grants for Buses Funding Opportunity
Upcoming Webinars
Happy Retirement to our Board Member Larz Garcia
Member Spotlight: City of Phoenix
Alternative Fuel Highlight: Propane
Propane autogas is a domestically available, high energy, low cost, cleaner burning alternative fuel that can be used to power many types of vehicles. It is the world's third most common transportation fuel, behind gasoline and diesel and is produced as a byproduct of natural gas processing and crude oil refining. Propane has many benefits including a high octane rating, lower fuel, infrastructure and maintenance costs, and reduced emissions. It is also environmentally friendly in that it presents no threat to soil, surface water, or groundwater if spilled or released. It also provides comparable driving range to conventionally fueled vehicles.
When used as a vehicle fuel, propane can offer life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions benefits over conventional fuels. Argonne National Laboratory's Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation (GREET) model estimates that propane use can reduce GHG emissions by nearly 13%, and when derived as a byproduct of natural gas production, it can reduce petroleum use by 99%.
Renewable propane is also an option for fueling vehicles. This propane is made from non-petroleum feedstocks such as natural fats, vegetable oils, and various types of grease. It is chemically identical to conventional propane and can be used as a drop-in replacement fuel in all propane applications. This renewable propane can have a carbon intensity four times lower than that of conventional propane.
Propane is a just one of many alternative fuels that can be used in the transportation sector to help lower harmful emissions and improve air quality in our communities. Many fleets turn to propane powered vehicles because the fuel and associated infrastructure costs are lower than some other alternative fuel options. This cost effectiveness, as well as the environmental, and health benefits of using propane make it a popular option for school bus fleets and other medium to large vehicles.
To learn more about propane check out the Propane Education and Research Council website.
Read how The Mountain Line Transit Authority (MLTA) propane testing program in Western Virginia is showing increased efficiencies and fewer emissions by using propane vehicles in it’s fleets.
FTA Low or No Emission and Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Funding Opportunity
The FTA has announced the availability of approximately $1.5. billion to support state and local efforts to buy buses; build bus facilities; and support workforce development.
The competitive grant funds are available through a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for FTA’s Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities and Low or No Emission programs.
FTA's Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program supports transit agencies in buying and rehabilitating buses and vans and building bus maintenance facilities. FTA’s Low or No Emission Program makes funding available to help transit agencies buy or lease U.S.-built low- or no-emission vehicles, including related equipment or facilities.
FTA is prioritizing transit agencies that describe how their projects will improve the accessibility of transportation for families with young children, with a focus on improved access to jobs, healthcare and retail.
Applications are due by July 14, 2025.
Potential applicants to the FY25 Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program and Low or No Emission (Low-No) Program are welcome to register for and attend the scheduled webinar on June 4, 2025 from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m., ET.
Upcoming Webinars
Propane Presents Technology Series: First Responder Training
Date: May 29, 2025
Time: 2 PM ET
Propane safety is a core industry value and starts with each propane provider's commitment to protecting their customers, employees, and communities.
Join PERC, Thursday, May 29, 2025 at 2pm EDT for their latest webinar in the “Propane Presents” series to learn why there has never been a better time to engage with first responders in your community about propane safety training.
PERC’s Senior Vice President of Safety, Education, and Compliance, Eric Kuster, and Director of Safety and Compliance, Lyndon Rickards, will be joined by Mark Anderson of Dead River Company, Ed Otis of Star Group, and Chris Angermuller of the International Association of Fire Chiefs to discuss how building relationships and engaging with first responders helps ensure they are prepared to respond and safely work with industry experts if a propane accident occurs.
To explore upcoming webinars in the Propane Presents Technology Series, or to view past presentations, click here.
ACT EDucation Series Webinar: Creating a Future-Fit Fleet
Date: Thursday, May 29, 2025
Time: 11:00 a.m. PT
Collaboratively launched with Castrol’s Fleet masters content platform, the Future-Fit Fleet study was designed to help fleet managers navigate these challenges and ensure they are prepared for what comes next. Incorporating insights from more than 1,500 fleet managers, it is one of the largest studies to investigate the management of commercial fleets.
The upcoming webinar will feature an expert panel from the commercial fleet industry, that will focus on the insights from the different markets and how they compare.
Join this one-hour webinar to find out what it means to be a Future-Fit Fleet, learn about some of the key findings from the Future-Fit Fleet research, discover how fleets performance compare to the different markets, discover best practices to match your fleet’s unique load profile with reliable, cost-effective power, and gain first-hand insights from an expert panel on some of the solutions that can affect positive change for fleet managers across the world
Low or No Emission and Grants for Buses Programs Application Webinar
Date: June 4, 2025
Time: 2-3:30 pm ET.
Potential applicants to the FY25 Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program and Low or No Emission (Low-No) Program are welcome to register for and attend the scheduled webinar on June 4, 2025 from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m., ET. Webinar attendees will learn about program eligibility, evaluation criteria and selection considerations, and the submission process.
FTA is committed to providing equal access to these sessions for all participants. If you need alternative formats, options, or services, please email ftalownobusnofo@dot.gov.
Expanding Your Fleet with Electric Emergency Service Vehicles
Date: Aug 21, 2025
Time: 11:00 AM Arizona Time
Emergency service vehicles like fire engines, police vehicles, and transport and support vehicles, are electrifying across municipalities. Join us for a conversation with leaders around the United States on how they implemented this technology into their current system and see what an all-electric future looks like for fleet vehicles.
This webinar will be Thursday, August 21 at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT. (11:00 AM Arizona Time)
Happy Retirement to Board Member Larz Garcia!
Our long time board member Larz Garcia is retiring this month. Larz has been an active board member of our coalition for 8 years! Over the years, Larz has been a wonderful board member and friend. He has joined us at countless events and activities, always happy to lend a helping hand and share his knowledge and expertise with us from his work at the Maricopa County Air Quality Department. He has been an integral part of our coalition and has helped us and many others improve the air quality of our region. We will miss having him on our board but wish him all the best in his retirement. Thank you Larz!
VSCCC is proud to have the City of Phoenix as a member of our coalition. As one of the largest and fastest growing cities in the USA, Phoenix is a great place to live, work and visit. The city is also a leader in alternative fuel use and sustainable practices. The City of Phoenix was awarded the Top Green Fleet of 2023 Award from the National Association of Fleet Administrators (NAFA). The City’s fleet includes vehicles that run on a variety of alternative fuels including CNG, RNG, Ethanol and Electricity.
VSCCC strives to provide alternative fuel information to all people within our region. In order to increase our outreach abilities we are working with local agencies to share our newsletter and clean fuel resources with an even greater audience. We are proud to partner with the Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona's Air Quality Department, ASU's Sustainable Cities Network and Maricopa County Air Quality Department.
OUR NEWSLETTER IS ALSO AVAILABLE IN SPANISH
Translations done by Diego Montemayor- Diego@cleanairaz.org
