Congressman Simpson Honored with Clean Transportation Hero Award from YTCC

Idaho Falls, ID | April 17th, 2023 – Congressman Mike Simpson has been recognized for his outstanding contributions to clean transportation, economic and energy security by Yellowstone-Teton Clean Cities, a non-profit organization that promotes alternative fuels, advanced vehicles, energy efficient mobility systems and energy security in the region. Simpson was presented with the Clean Transportation Hero award at his office in Idaho Falls on Thursday, April 13th by YTCC staff, board members and stakeholders.

Simpson, who has represented Idaho in Congress for 25 years, has been a longstanding leader for clean energy and clean transportation. He has served on the House Appropriations Committee for well over a decade and has been instrumental in bringing clean energy funding to Idaho. For many years, he was the leading Republican on the House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, which funds the U.S. Department of Energy – he served as Chairman from 2014-2018 and Ranking Member from 2019-2022. Currently, he is serving as Chairman of the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, which funds the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Interior.

Simpson has played a major role in supporting funding for the Department of Energy resulting in support of the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), a longstanding stakeholder of YTCC. INL’s work includes their motor coach fleet clean transportation research and demonstration projects, which now include the use of renewable diesel in their motorcoaches and one MCI full electric motorcoach. INL’s projects have been of significant benefit to the Greater Yellowstone region in terms of reducing emissions, improving air quality, and providing examples of alternative fuels successfully deployed in this cold weather climate region. 

Additionally, he has helped to increase funding for two critical clean transportation programs that are important to Yellowstone-Teton Clean Cities: the EPA Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) grants, which replace and rehabilitate dirty diesel engines across the country, and the DOE Clean Cities Program, which enables the nation’s 75 Clean Cities Coalitions to help public and private sector fleets transition to clean fuels and vehicles, establish clean fueling infrastructure, and educate key local and state leaders and the public about the many benefits of clean fuels.

The City of Idaho Falls, another key YTCC stakeholder, is a leader in advancing alternative fuels and energy efficient mobility systems. Idaho Falls Power recently deployed an all-electric Ford Lightning F-150 in addition to their 4 other hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Last year the City of Idaho Falls also launched a micro transit system to serve the community, Greater Idaho Falls Transit (GIFT). Under GIFT director, Kade Marquez’s leadership, GIFT operates 3 plug-in hybrid vans for its services. In addition to deployments, on March 16th, the City of Idaho Falls, Idaho Falls Power, GIFT and YTCC hosted a community electric vehicle charging station engagement lunch. 

Yellowstone-Teton Clean Cities Executive Director, Alicia Cox said, “Congressman Simpson has been a consistent advocate for energy secure clean transportation in our region and country, and we are pleased to recognize his outstanding contributions with this award. His leadership and support have been instrumental in advancing critical programs and projects that are making a real difference in reducing emissions, improving air quality, and providing energy security in this region and throughout the country. We are grateful for his partnership and look forward to continuing to work together to create a cleaner, more energy secure future for all.”

L-R: Tad Pearson, INL Transportation Services Manager and YTCC Board Member; Alicia Cox, YTCC Executive Director; Representative Mike Simpson; Basil Barna, YTCC Board Member; Bear Prairie, Idaho Falls Power General Manager; Kade Marquez, GIFT Transit Coordinator

Yellowstone-Teton Clean Cities is the sole regional designee of the Department of Energy’s Clean Cities program. YTCC works to advance alternative fuels, vehicles and infrastructure, and sustainable transportation options to increase energy security and sustainability in the Greater Yellowstone region. For more information about Yellowstone-Teton Clean Cities, visit their website at www.ytcleancities.org.

Celebrating 20 Years

YTCC has been celebrating our 20th year anniversary and we continue to do so through this Spring. We compiled a timeline of our work for a poster at our in-person events and would love to share with you all here!

Charge West Launch Island Park, Idaho

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Emily Her

Email: emily.her@oer.idaho.gov

Phone: 208-332-1663

Subject: Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming ChargeWest™ Event 


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ChargeWest™ – West Electric Highway Powers-Up Regional Fast Charging for Eight Western States

Date – September 15th, 12-2 pm at 3753 US-20, Island Park, ID 83429

The ChargeWest – West Electric Highway interstate partnership will be celebrated in Idaho on September 15th, 3753 US-20, Island Park, ID 83429. ChargeWest™ is an eight state collaborative between AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, and WY and is the largest EV corridor collective in the nation. This highly collaborative western-centric project brings together the intermountain west states with their Governors, Energy Offices, Departments of Transportation, and regional Clean Cities programs. Together, the project combines the efforts of over 75 partners and is funded by the Department of Energy Vehicle Technologies Program and supported by the National Association of State Energy Offices (NASEO).

ChargeWest is committed to improving electric corridors across the western United States; building infrastructure for rural gateway communities, state and national parks, monuments, recreation areas and scenic by-ways through public-private partnership. The ChargeWest™ website provides information on consumer education, laws and incentives with state and federal programming including US DOT’s Charge Forward and National Electric Vehicle Initiative (NEVI) Formula Program with the new Joint Office of Energy and Transportation

The States of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming will celebrate their EV charging initiatives at 3753 US-20, Island Park, ID 83429, where a new charging station will be installed through the State of Idaho’s Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Program. The first half of the event will comprise of speakers and the second hour will provide the opportunity to view and test drive electric vehicles currently on the market including Tesla models and the Ford Lightning. Speakers for the event include:

  • ChargeWest lead, Tammie Bostick
  • Idaho Governor Brad Little
  • State of Montana Energy Office, Kyla Maki
  • State of Wyoming Business Council, Ron Gullberg
  • National Park Service, remarks delivered by Alicia Cox of Yellowstone Teton Clean Cities Coalition 
  • Fall River Rural Electric Cooperative, Clint Washburn

Governor Little, during his 2019 EV Day Proclamation, said that “zero-emission electric vehicles with clean energy produced in our state protects our health while creating new good-paying jobs, especially in rural communities.” The State of Idaho EVSE Program has allocated funding to install 12 fast charging stations along major travel and tourist corridors, including 3 locations under development in Eastern Idaho in Island Park, Driggs, and Ashton.

As a leading western states, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming continue to explore electric vehicle adoption and infrastructure deployments throughout supporting  the efforts of the Western Governors Association’s Electric Vehicles Roadmap Initiative, and through REV West .) 

“The intermountain west is becoming one of the most visited places in the United States” says Tammie Bostick, Executive Director Utah Clean Cities, ChargeWest™ project lead. “We want the modern traveler to experience the same highways and byways of our western heritage with today’s new electric fuel horsepower. Drivers can ChargeWest™ with range confidence.” Consumers will see over 100 new electric vehicle models coming to market in the next two years with ranges exceeding 600 miles, which will create confidence in traveling with electric vehicles.


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Charge West Launch Island Park, Idaho

CNG Video Tour

YTCC created a compressed natural gas (CNG) video tour to show how CNG is used as an alternative fuel in many vehicles and will take you on a tour of the station in Jackson, WY at Lower Valley Energy and the station in Afton, WY called Star Valley CNG. At each station, we will discuss who can fuel, how to fuel, and also explain what fleets use the station and how the station was funded.

 

Thank you to Energy Conservation Works and Star Valley CNG for partnering on this video. We hope you enjoy our CNG video tour!

 

You can access the alternative fuel station locator to find CNG stations near you here.

Electric Vehicles Roadmap Initiative Special Report

The Western Governor’s Association released their Special Report of the Electric Vehicles Roadmap Initiative. This report contains targeted recommendations on federal policy issues that affect public and private investments in EV infrastructure across the West. It also includes an umbrella agreement among states around a shared set of principles regarding EV infrastructure planning and identified a suite of voluntary standards to optimize public and private EV infrastructure investments.

YTCC is proud to have partnered on this initiative!

EV Ride and Drive with Johnny Ziem with the Town of Jackson

Follow along as Johnny Ziem with the Town of Jackson shows off the Chevy Bolt he drives for work and explains the vehicle specs, what he likes best about the Bolt, and where you can charge in Jackson, WY.

Click HERE to watch the video on YTCC’s youtube channel.

EcoFair Challenge 2021

This year we are partnering with EcoFair host, Energy Conservation Works, and other sustainability partners to host the first annual EcoFair Challenge! We collaborated to curate a list of challenges to inspire our community to take action, sustaining the spirit of the EcoFair since we won’t convene at an in-person event this year. These challenges involve simple, attainable, and impactful choices each of us can make.

 

Take on the challenges and win cool things! Challenges range from everyday activities (biking, walking, or taking the bus), weekly activities (dropping off food compost), or bigger commitments (signing up for Green Power)! Each challenge has a point value based on the difficulty, cost, and impact. Winners will be chosen each week, through raffle drawing and/or accumulated points for that week.

 

The challenges related to transportation are:

 

Check out the full list of challenges at bit.ly/jhecochallenge, and log your points on the Google Form: bit.ly/ecochallengelog. Weekly winners will be announced at our EcoTalk series at 6 pm on Tuesday. Visit the EcoFair Facebook page for details on how to attend the event: https://www.facebook.com/jacksonecofair

 

The EcoFair Challenge was made possible by collaboration from Avant Delivery, Energy Conservation Works, Hole Food Rescue, Jackson Hole Airport, Slow Food in the Tetons, START Bus, Teton Conservation District, Teton County Integrated Solid Waste & Recycling, The Riverwind Foundation & Yellowstone-Teton Clean CIties.

Summer 2021 Intern Position Available

Yellowstone-Teton Clean Cities is pleased to announce that we are accepting applications for an intern from Summer 2021. The intern program is through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities University Workforce Development Program (CCUWDP). This summer, CCUWDP is offering 40 workforce development program positions across the nation and applications are now available.  This is a wonderful opportunity for students looking to gain experience in the energy and transportation areas. Please pass this information along to anyone you know who may be interested in one of these positions. Applications can be found at https://www.cvent.com/d/zjqf1x with more information below. Applications are due May 17, 2021. If you have any questions, please email alicia@ytcleancities.org.

 

Specific Details:
– Positions are 30 or 40 hours/week (determined by the coalition) for 10 weeks
– Summer 2021 Internship Approximate Dates: June 14, 2021- August 27, 2021
– Stipends range from $3,600 – $6,000 depending on academic level and number of hours assigned by the coalition.
– Must be a current undergraduate (Junior or Senior only), graduate student, or up to one year past graduation

NEW GREEN MATTERS Release – Winter/Spring 2021

The newest issue of Green Matters in Jackson Hole is live and online, CLICK HERE! Please enjoy the news from this season’s sustainability projects, programs, and people. Sample topics from this issue include the principles of sustainable destination management, details on the next chapter of the RRR Business Leaders (2.0), resource recovery through JH Public Art, an update from the JH Climate Action Collective, guidance on bear-proof trash cans, and lots of announcements from local green leaders and organizations.

Congratulations to the 2020 U.S. C3E Award Recipients

Join us in congratulating Yellowstone-Teton Clean Cities board member and Sustainability Program Manager for the City of Bozeman. This year, Clean Energy Education & Empowerment (C3E), US Department of Energy Program, selected Natalie Meyer of Bozeman, Montana, as the award winner in the Government category. https://www.c3eawards.org/