News & Blog

HB 166, the State of Ohio’s General Operating Budget, is currently undergoing hearings in the Ohio General Assembly. The roughly $69 billion two-year plan is the first for Governor Mike DeWine. The Budget provides several opportunities for advanced transportation projects. While the purpose of the budget is to fund state agencies, there are a variety of program related issues that can be addressed in the budget hearing process. Clean Fuels Ohio has submitted a number of amendment concepts for the Finance committee to review including funding for a statewide electric vehicle (EV) charging needs assessment, the establishment of a state fund for public charging infrastructure using a portion

The Ohio EPA has indicated it plans to release the next funding solicitation for the 2019 Diesel Mitigation Trust Fund (DMTF) Grants with an anticipated deadline of August 2. The program is funded by the multi-million dollar federal settlement with Volkswagen for Clean Air Act violations. As with past funding opportunities, Clean Fuels Ohio has announced plans to provide informational resources, project competitiveness vetting, and a full suite of grant writing services to fleets interested in applying for funding. This is the second round of funding available from the Ohio EPA, and the main grant application requirements, scoring and competitiveness details are expected to be very similar t

On April 23, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) officially notified the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) that FHWA had approved round 3 designations for several high-traffic Ohio highways. The designations are part of round 3 in a national corridor designation process administered by FHWA. They covered both compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric vehicle (EV) charging. Overall, the FHWA Alternative Fuels Corridor Designation Initiative has received 79 nomination proposals from state and local officials in its first 3 Rounds. “The recent Round 3 nomination submitted by the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission was one of the best proposals we have received to date, said

Clean Fuels Ohio is now seeking new fleets to certify into the Ohio Green Fleets program for 2019. Blended biodiesel at levels of B5 (5%) to B20 (20%) can offer a path to certification for most fleets with a large percentage of diesel vehicles. “Using high-performing biodiesel fuel in blends from B5 (5%) to B20 (20%) is a “drop-in” win to improve fleet environmental performance without need for vehicle conversion or new infrastructure” said Andrew Conley, Fleet Services Director for Clean Fuels Ohio. “Using a blend of B20 is also a great step to earn recognition in the Ohio Green Fleets program, earning fleets recognition points by displacing 20 percent of petroleum diesel use while improvi

Muskingum County, Ohio’s air is cleaner thanks to the Sheriff department’s efforts, launched in 2015, to converting patrol vehicles to run on propane Autogas. These efforts earned the Muskingum County Sheriff certification as part of the Ohio Green Fleet Class of 2017. Their fleet continues to grow using more propane fueled vehicles and less gasoline fueled vehicles. The Propane Education and Research Council recently featured the Muskingum County Sheriff’s propane fleet in a video. According to Sheriff Lutz, "The fuel cost savings were huge. It was kind of a 'knock-out-punch' to hear that we would have the significant savings immediately." Sheriff Lutz also is happy with the performance of

Clean Fuels Ohio is working with Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D- Toledo), the Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, to continue funding for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities alternative fuels and vehicle deployment program as part of the 2020 federal budget. Clean Fuels Ohio is one of close to ninety U.S. DOE-designated Clean Cities coalitions. The mission of the Clean Cities program is to foster the economic, environmental and energy security of the United States by working locally to advance affordable, domestic transportation fuels, such as compressed natural gas (CNG), electricity, propane, biodiesel, renewable natural gas (RNG) and hyd