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Celebrate Your Newfound Independence from Fuel this July

Clean transportation has the power to get you where you want to go! 

The North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center at NC State University is here to remind you that you can find increased independence from fuel– even if you own or drive a gasoline powered vehicle. 

Pollution from gasoline-powered vehicles is a major cause of health problems such as asthma. Everyone can benefit from clean air and, no matter who you are, there are actions you can take to reduce the amount of pollution caused by cars. You can help make a difference today by adopting clean transportation technologies and behaviors.

There are a wide variety of clean transportation technologies and behaviors available for nearly every application and lifestyle. If you have questions about which clean transportation option is best for you, Fuel What Matters is here to help you figure out the option best suited for your needs and interests.

Reduce Fuel Consumption

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) found Americans used about 135 billion gallons of gasoline in 2021, including 134.83 billion gallons of finished motor gasoline – that’s about 369 million gallons per day. Additionally, total gasoline consumption accounted for about 58% of transportation sector total energy consumption and 16% of U.S. total energy consumption, and 45% of total petroleum consumption.

Light-duty vehicles account for about 91% of all gasoline consumption in the United States, according to the EIA. Most gasoline is used in cars, sport utility vehicles, recreational vehicles and boats, light trucks, and motorcycles. Luckily, you can help reduce fuel consumption by changing your driving behaviors and improving your driving efficiency.

EFFICIENT DRIVING

If you are in the driver’s seat, you can learn how to adapt your driving behaviors to have a positive impact on fuel economy and adopt techniques that will save you fuel and money. 

  1. Slow Down and Drive Conservatively
  2. Combine trips
  3. Reduce Vehicle Load
  4. Get Direct Feedback
  5. Observe the Speed Limit
  6. Avoid Excessive Idling
  7. Use Cruise Control

The Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC), a resource of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office, has more information about techniques for drives to conserve fuel. You can also visit FuelEconomy.gov for information about driving efficiently.

RIDESHARING & CARSHARING

Rideshare programs help connect people traveling to the same or similar destinations so that they can travel together whereas carsharing is a form of shared vehicle ownership which provides members with vehicles for personal use without the costs and commitment of individual car ownership. 

Some local and regional governments provide incentives to encourage ridesharing, such as access to high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, discounted fees on roads or lanes, special parking privileges for vehicles with multiple passengers, or tax breaks for companies with a high level of pooling among employees.

To learn more about employee rideshares, ridematching systems, ridesharing resources, and carsharing programs, visit the AFDC website.

Explore Alternative Transportation Options

Alternative transportation options are a great way to save fuel, improve environmental health and even improve your personal health. Some of these options even require little to no upfront costs. According to the American Public Transportation Association, a household can save nearly $10,000 by taking public transportation and living with one less car. 

Clean transportation options such as biking, riding transit and walking can help to improve the air quality in areas of high congestion. ​​WalkBikeNC.com provides resources on biking in North Carolina, including an interactive map to explore regional bike routes as well as nearby destinations.

Use Alternative Fuel 

Alternative fuels are cleaner than regular gasoline or diesel. As AFDC explains, more than a dozen alternative fuels are in production or under development for use in alternative fuel vehicles and advanced technology vehicles. Using alternative fuels including electricity and advanced vehicles instead of conventional fuels and vehicles helps the United States conserve fuel and lower vehicle emissions. 

All-electric vehicles use a battery pack to store the electrical energy that powers the motor. According to the AFDC, although electricity production may contribute to air pollution, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency categorizes all-electric vehicles as zero-emission vehicles because they produce no direct exhaust or tailpipe emissions. 

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) use batteries to power an electric motor, as well as another fuel, such as gasoline or diesel, to power an internal combustion engine or other propulsion source. PHEVs can charge their batteries through charging equipment and regenerative braking. PHEV fuel consumption is dependent on the distance driven between battery charges so it is best to consistently charge the vehicle to maximize the electric benefits.

Today’s hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) are powered by an internal combustion engine in combination with one or more electric motors that use energy stored in batteries. HEVs combine the benefits of high fuel economy and low tailpipe emissions with the power and range of conventional vehicles.

The electric vehicle (EV) market is rapidly growing as transportation electrification paves the way towards an emissions-free future. Drivers who purchase EVs are eligible for tax credits and incentives for making the green choice. Some all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles purchased new are eligible for a federal income tax credit of up to $7,500. In North Carolina and many other states, qualified EVs may use HOV or carpool lanes, regardless of the number of occupants, allowing them to bypass high congestion traffic areas. 

NCCETC published a resource for both commercial and public sector customers interested in purchasing an EV or installing a charging station. The new guidance document – Electric Vehicles & Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Incentives in North Carolina – will help customers navigate the variety of direct financial incentives for electric vehicles (EVs) and supporting EV infrastructure and planning offered throughout North Carolina. Incentives are available through federal, state, regional and electric utility funded programs. 

Renewable energy can also help diversify the nation’s reliance on petroleum products. Coming from sources that are naturally replenishing but flow-limited, renewable resources are virtually inexhaustible in duration. Renewable fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel are often domestically produced, making them more accessible and reducing transportation costs for businesses and consumers.

We can all take steps to reduce pollution from cars and trucks. All of the options mentioned above may not work for you all the time, but reducing your dependence on gasoline will ultimately help avoid more pollution from vehicles. Get the basics and find resources for you, your family or work to learn how clean transportation can get you where you want to go. 

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Everything You Need to Know About Electric Vehicles & Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Incentives in North Carolina

The North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) at NC State University has released a new resource for both commercial and public sector customers interested in purchasing an electric vehicle or installing a charging station.

The new guidance document – Electric Vehicles & Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Incentives in North Carolina – will help customers navigate the variety of direct financial incentives for electric vehicles (EVs) and supporting EV infrastructure and planning offered throughout North Carolina. Incentives are available through federal, state, regional and electric utility funded programs. 

Heather Brutz, Director of the Clean Transportation program at NCCETC, is seeing a frenzy to electrify in both the commercial and public sectors of the transportation industry. “We are seeing light-duty electric vehicle ownership skyrocket and medium duty and heavy duty vehicles are following close behind,” Brutz said. 

With a burgeoning EV market, transportation electrification has gained significant momentum and is leading the way towards an emissions-free future. North Carolina, along with the rest of the United States, is poised to make substantial advancements in the development and adoption of clean transportation technologies in order to affirm the state’s commitment to reducing statewide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and drive the adoption of zero emission vehicles (ZEVs). 

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) released a statewide GHG inventory in 2018 which found that North Carolina’s transportation sector contributed almost 36% of the state’s total greenhouse gas emissions. NCDOT states reducing GHG emissions in the transportation sector is a critical component of the state’s strategy, and the department has been working with stakeholders to develop plans and strategies to reduce transportation emissions. 

On Oct. 29, 2018, Gov. Roy Cooper signed into law Executive Order No. 80 (EO 80), “North Carolina’s Commitment to Address Climate Change and Transition to a Clean Energy Economy.” EO 80 calls to reduce greenhouse gas emission to 40 percent below 2005 levels by 2025. 

In January 2022, Gov. Cooper signed Executive Order 246 (EO 246), “North Carolina’s Transformation to a Clean, Equitable Economy.” EO 246 builds upon EO 80 and calls for a 50 percent reduction in economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. It also sets a transportation-specific goal to increase the total number of registered zero-emission vehicles to at least 1,250,000 by 2030 and increase the sale of zero-emission vehicles so that 50 percent of all in-state vehicle sales are zero-emission by 2030.

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 is the most significant action Congress has taken on clean energy and climate change in the nation’s history. The bill includes $370 billion in investments committed to building a new clean energy economy through a combination of grants, loans, rebates, incentives and other investments. 

The IRA makes several changes to the tax credit provided for qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicles, including adding fuel cell vehicles to the tax credit. The IRA also added a new credit for previously owned clean vehicles. 

Legal and regulatory barriers can affect the pace of EV technology adoption and deployment, but clear policy goals can both provide market certainty and help accelerate deployment. Incentive programs are driving demand higher across the nation, resulting in an increase in EV adoption as electric and hybrid vehicles move past early adoption and into mainstream use.

Drivers who purchase EVs are eligible for tax credits and incentives for making the green choice. Some all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles purchased new are eligible for a federal income tax credit of up to $7,500. In North Carolina and many other states, qualified EVs may use HOV or carpool lanes, regardless of the number of occupants, allowing them to bypass high congestion traffic areas. 

If you place in service a new plug-in electric vehicle (EV) or fuel cell vehicle (FCV) in 2023 or after, you may qualify for a clean vehicle tax credit. Find information on credits from the IRS for used clean vehicles, qualified commercial clean vehicles, and new plug-in EVs purchased before 2023. The IRS has also released a fact sheet with frequently asked questions related to new, previously owned and qualified commercial clean vehicle credits. 

Visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) to learn more about federal, state and utility policies and incentives to assist with upfront costs of electric vehicles and electric vehicle supply equipment. Maintained and operated by the NCCETC, DSIRE is the most comprehensive source of information on clean energy related policies and incentives in the United States with summaries of more than 2,600 incentives and policies.

If you are considering making other energy improvements to your home, NCCETC recently published a new Word to the Wise resource to help you become a better educated consumer and navigate the financial incentives offered to you by electric utilities, localities, states, or the federal government. This edition of the Word to the Wise features “Your Guide to Home Energy Upgrades with the Inflation Reduction Act” and includes information about the many incentives expanded or made available via the IRA. To help as many interested individuals as possible, NCCETC has also produced a version en español: Unas Palabras para el Sabio – “Su Guía para Mejorar su Energía en la Casa con la Ley de Reducción de la Inflación.”

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2023 “Keep Our Air Clean” Student Art Contest Winners Share Their Story

Students from kindergarten, middle, and high schools across North Carolina were invited to submit their artwork for a chance to be featured on billboards across the state for the sixth annual “Keep Our Air Clean” Student Art Contest hosted by the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC).

Students were asked to create art focused on actions that people can take to reduce air pollution from vehicles and help keep the air clean. NCCETC congratulated three artists located in Kernersville, Hampstead, and Cary, NC. 

Heather Brutz, Director of NCCETC’s Clean Transportation Program, created the Student Art Contest while drawing on her previous experience as a middle school teacher. “The art contest is an engaging way to get young people involved in spreading awareness about the ways we can reduce air pollution from vehicles,” Brutz said. 

Air pollution can harm children and adults in many ways. The American Lung Association reports that particle pollution and ozone are a threat to human health at every stage of life, increasing the risk of premature birth, causing or worsening lung and heart disease, and shortening lives. According to the 2023 “State of the Air” report, more than 1 in 3 Americans live in places with unhealthy levels of air pollution. 

“Clean air is vital for health,” said Brutz. “Children are not only more susceptible to harm from air pollution, but are also more likely to be exposed to it than adults. Exposure to air pollution for children can be harmful to the growth and development or their lungs and breathing ability, increasing their chances of getting asthma, which is a life-long detriment to their health.”

Brutz tried a variety of different teaching methods to capture students’ attention during her teaching days, and artwork emerged as a powerful tool to do so. “That thinking is what inspired me to first come up with the idea for the art contest- I wanted to find a new way to reach our audience than what we were already doing,” she explained. “Young people have a lot of creativity and I wanted to capture that self-expression and merge it with an opportunity to learn more about transportation technologies and practices that help improve air quality.”

NCCETC received submissions from students in elementary, middle and high schools across the state. “I’m very pleased with the number of submissions we received this year. More than 80 elementary, middle and high school students participated,” Brutz said. “It was a very competitive year for selecting winners, and while we are only able to choose three winners to have their artwork displayed on billboards, every single young artist who took time to participate should feel proud of their contribution.” 

To learn what clean air means to them, we asked the winners some questions about their artwork:

Elementary School Winner – Sophia Mira DeBusk | Piney Grove Elementary School | Kernersville, NC

Why did you want to enter the contest?

I wanted to enter the contest because of how recent incidents (of forest fires before in CA now in Canada) have impacted our air quality to a lower condition than before. This makes me sad, and I wanted to attract attention to this problem. I believe we can make a difference through art.

What does your artwork mean/what were you trying to express?

I wanted to show that it’s important to prevent air pollution. At the center of my picture, there is a car. That car is dividing tree to two as if it is killing it, but you can also see flowers are coming from exhaust because if we can use clean energy, cars may not be that harmful to nature. 

What does “Keep Our Air Clean” mean to you? Why do you think keeping our air clean is important?

“Keep Our Air Clean” means to keep the atmosphere healthy. I think keeping our air clean is important because breathing harmful gasses is not good for you or the wildlife around you.

Are you doing things in your own life– like riding your bike, carpooling, walking, etc.?

I have been composting as much as I can so that less waste goes to landfills to be burnt. I also ride the bus to school so that there are less pollutants coming from our car. Also, my family and I plant trees because trees are lungs of the nature and help keep air clean. I planted my first tree when I was 4 with Virginia Tech community on a creek week.

What was your reaction when you found out you won the contest?

I was so excited that I jumped! I didn’t really expect it, but I am so happy that I have won now.

What do you hope will come out of your artwork being up on a billboard for people to see?

I hope people will take it as advice to help keep our air healthy along with me and many others who believe good air quality is important. I hope they can really see that we have a beautiful world to live in, and we need to treat our nature kindly if we want to live healthily. This is important not only for people but also animals and plants.

Anything else you’d like to share?

I think having my artwork up on a billboard will do something to get all people of North Carolina to help renew our air to a better state. Thanks for this contest. It made me think more about our air.

Middle School Winner – Caiya Medlin | Surf City Middle School | Hampstead, NC

Why did you want to enter the contest?

I entered because I think the contest really has a great impact on North Carolina. Art is an amazing way to express ideas, and so I am using this opportunity to speed awareness on global issues such as idling cars. 

What does your artwork mean/what were you trying to express?

I created an art piece with cars and the message “Stop Idling” on billboards throughout our state to raise awareness about the harmful effects of vehicle idling on the environment. My goal is to inspire people to take action and change their habits. Let’s work together to reduce unnecessary idling, protect air quality, and create a cleaner and healthier environment for everyone.

What does “Keep Our Air Clean” mean to you? Why do you think keeping our air clean is important?

“Keep Our Air Clean” means ensuring the preservation of air quality for the well-being of our planet and all living beings. To me, it signifies the responsibility we have to maintain a sustainable and healthy environment by minimizing pollution and harmful emissions.

Are you doing things in your own life– like riding your bike, carpooling, walking, etc.?

In my life, I am constantly using clean modes of transportation to lower my carbon footprint. My town, Surf City, is becoming a more pedestrian-friendly town everyday. I often find myself walking to get dinner, or to the beach. I am Also an avid user of my trusty skateboard, that can get me anywhere I need to go.

What was your reaction when you found out you won the contest?

I was so excited! I honestly had to double check to see if the email was correct, because I was so blown away. I have been entering this art contest for 3 years now, so when I have finally won, I felt really accomplished!

What do you hope will come out of your artwork being up on a billboard for people to see?

I hope that when people see my art work, they will just stop to think. Well, not actually stop, we are on the road! I just want people to recognize the meaning of my work and what it stands for.

High School Winner – Audrey Song | Cary Academy | Cary, NC

Why did you want to enter the contest?

I entered this contest because I was motivated to utilize my artistic abilities and contribute to the cause of promoting clean air. The breathtaking beauty of nature that surrounds me daily, too, serves as a constant inspiration. I firmly believe in the transformative power of art to inspire change and raise awareness. Thus, I saw this contest as a wonderful opportunity to make a positive impact through my artwork.

What does your artwork mean/what were you trying to express?

Through my artwork, I aim to convey the simple importance of keeping our air clean in a way that is accessible and relatable. I wanted to express that maintaining clean air can be a manageable task without excessive effort or complex solutions. Instead, it should be viewed as something enjoyable, simple, and integral to our daily lives.

What does “Keep Our Air Clean” mean to you? Why do you think keeping our air clean is important?

To me, “Keep Our Air Clean” signifies an appreciation for life and the well-being of our future generations. It encompasses the notion that clean air is essential not only for our planet’s health but also for our communities thriving. By spreading the message to keep our air clean, we are actively taking responsibility for preserving our limited yet essential resources and acknowledging the action we need to take.

Are you doing things in your own life– like riding your bike, carpooling, walking, etc.?

Absolutely! One of my favorite activities is walking, especially hiking. Recently, I went on a week-long hiking/camping trip in Linville Gorge with my classmates through the Wilderness Club at my school, Cary Academy, to appreciate the areas of nature where our air is clean. These experiences serve as a constant reminder of the importance of our environment and motivate me to make sustainable choices such as walking, using public transportation, and generally adopting energy-efficient practices.

What was your reaction when you found out you won the contest?

When I received the news of winning the contest, I was just overwhelmed with excitement. It was an incredible honor, and I still find it hard to believe that my artwork was selected as the winning piece for the High School age group. Sharing my voice and contributing to the NC Clean Energy Technology Center’s mission is truly a humbling and gratifying experience.

What do you hope will come out of your artwork being up on a billboard for people to see?

I hope to raise awareness and foster a sense of environmental consciousness among the public through my art. When people see my artwork, I aim to capture their attention through visual appeal and inspire them to take action and positively impact their lives by using less fossil fuel-powered transportation. By provoking conversations and spreading awareness, I aspire to instigate a ripple effect of change that motivates individuals to prioritize and actively work toward keeping our air clean.

Anything else you’d like to share?

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the NC Clean Energy Center and everyone involved in making this contest possible. This opportunity is not only incredible for me but for many other aspiring artists as well. I am also immensely thankful for the Wilderness Club offered at my school, which has provided me with fantastic experiences and inspired me to be more environmentally conscious. Participating in the NC Clean Energy Technology Center’s Art Contest and having my artwork recognized has been a true honor.

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New Resource from NCCETC is Your Guide to Home Energy Upgrades with the Inflation Reduction Act

If you are considering making energy improvements to your home, you may be eligible for financial incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act.

The NC Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) has released a new Word to the Wise resource to help you become a better educated consumer and navigate the financial incentives offered to you by electric utilities, localities, states, or the federal government. This edition of the Word to the Wise features “Your Guide to Home Energy Upgrades with the Inflation Reduction Act” and includes information about the many incentives expanded or made available via the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). To help as many interested individuals as possible, NCCETC has also produced a version en español: Unas Palabras para el Sabio – “Su Guía para Mejorar su Energía en la Casa con la Ley de Reducción de la Inflación.”

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 is the most significant action Congress has taken on clean energy and climate change in the nation’s history. The bill includes $370 billion in investments committed to building a new clean energy economy through a combination of grants, loans, rebates, incentives and other investments.

“The IRA isn’t just for those in the industrial or commercial sectors,” noted Justin Lindemann, Policy Analyst at NCCETC. “Homeowners, renters, landlords, and building owners can participate in the national effort to decarbonize, electrify, and upgrade their energy efficiency through tax credits, deductions, and even forthcoming rebate programs.”

Residential customers interested in making certain energy efficient updates to their homes could qualify for home energy tax credits to lessen the cost of these upgrades. Some two dozen tax provisions included in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) will save families money on their energy bills and accelerate the deployment of clean energy, clean vehicles, clean buildings, and clean manufacturing.

DSIRE Insight, a project of NCCETC, previously published a blog post – “The Many Incentives for Homeowners in the Inflation Reduction Act” – discussing provisions in the IRA that target the residential sector. The post provides an overview of five tax credits that can benefit homeowners or prospective car owners which are available now as well as future incentives currently in development as a result of the IRA.

The IRA expanded the credit amounts and types of qualifying expenses, giving taxpayers multiple opportunities to offset the cost of energy and energy efficiency upgrades, from tax credits to rebates; as well as a tax deduction for owners of multifamily buildings over three stories. Lindemann added, “Through these incentives, even low to moderate-income communities have the chance to purchase technologies and install equipment that can make their homes resilient against changes in our climate.”

The bill distributes $4.3 billion to state energy offices through 2031 to implement the Home Energy Performance-Based Whole-House Rebate (HOMES) programs. The state energy offices will determine the final design of these programs, but the Inflation Reduction Act provides the broad parameters and sets the maximum incentive levels. Larger incentives will be available for qualifying low- or moderate-income houses.

The North Carolina State Energy Office has announced it will receive nearly $200 million in funding provided by the IRA to help make energy efficiency upgrades to single and multi-family homes in North Carolina. The Inflation Reduction Act Home Rebates guidance that can be found here on the NC Department of Environmental Quality’s website explains these rebates are split into two programs; the HOMES program and the High-Efficiency Electric Home rebate program (HEEH).

As with the HOMES program, the IRA establishes the general guidelines for the HEEH and the maximum incentives that the resulting programs can provide. The bill also includes a list of the appliance types and non-appliance upgrades eligible for incentives through the program, including heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, electric stoves, cooktop ranges, electric heat pump clothes dryers, insulation, air sealing, ventilation, and electric wiring.

Heat pumps are a clean, affordable and efficient substitute for traditional fossil fuel furnaces and other heating/cooling systems. “The Good Kind of Global Heating (And Cooling)” article delves into the incentives stipulated in the IRA as well as state incentives currently available to support clean technologies like heat pumps.

The State Energy Office also provides a table summarizing the maximum allowed rebate amounts defined in the law for different types of home efficiency and electrification projects. Currently, the State Energy Office is soliciting public input on how to make rebates easily accessible. Click here to submit comments.

If you are not a North Carolina resident, you can find the State Energy Office in your state for updates on program availability by clicking here.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) provides more guidance for taxpayers interested in Home Energy Tax Credits. You can claim either the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit or the Residential Energy Clean Property Credit for the year when you make qualifying improvements according to the IRS.

Visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) to learn more about federal, state and utility policies and incentives to assist with paying for energy-saving home improvements or purchases. Maintained and operated by the NCCETC, DSIRE is the most comprehensive source of information on clean energy related policies and incentives in the United States with summaries of more than 2,600 incentives and policies.

The Residential Energy Efficiency Tax Credit was created by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and provides a tax credit for certain energy efficient purchases by homeowners. While the credit previously had a lifetime cap of $500 and periodically expired altogether, the Inflation Reduction Act extended it through December 31, 2032 and increased its value for purchases made after December 31, 2022. The lifetime cap for the credit was removed in favor of caps on the amount of tax credit for each individual purchase or improvement, and an annual cap of $1,200 with some exceptions.

The Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit was also created by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and provides a tax credit for renewable energy equipment purchased by homeowners. Previous legislation had established a phaseout of the credit, decreasing to 22% in 2023 and expiring completely in 2024. The Inflation Reduction Act delayed the phaseout of the credit and extended the expiration date. Eligible equipment placed in service by December 31, 2032 can receive a tax credit of 30%. Additionally, the IRA also made standalone energy storage systems eligible for this tax credit for the first time.

Additionally, the IRA makes several changes to the tax credit provided for qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicles, including adding fuel cell vehicles to the tax credit. The IRA also added a new credit for previous owned clean vehicles.

If you place in service a new plug-in electric vehicle (EV) or fuel cell vehicle (FCV) in 2023 or after, you may qualify for a clean vehicle tax credit. Find information on credits from the IRS for used clean vehicles, qualified commercial clean vehicles, and new plug-in EVs purchased before 2023. The IRS has also released a fact sheet with frequently asked questions related to new, previously owned and qualified commercial clean vehicle credits.

Many of the tax credits included in the IRA allow direct payments to be made in lieu of a reduction in tax liability (“direct pay”) and/or an option to monetize the credits by transferring them to an entity with greater tax liability (“transferability”). Direct pay is limited to certain tax exempt and governmental entities for most of the eligible tax credits. The U.S. Department of Energy has more information about these options in their Inflation Reduction Act Summary.

You have the power to save money and energy in your own home. U.S. homeowners and renters can find strategies for saving energy and keeping energy costs down during the spring and summer here. If you’re interested in pursuing a renewable energy option like solar power, read our tips for financing a successful and sustainable residential solar photovoltaic system.

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The 50 States of Electric Vehicles: States Examine New Fees, Utility EVSE Ownership, and Telematics Use During Q1 2023

Raleigh, NC – The N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) released its Q1 2023 edition of The 50 States of Electric Vehicles. The quarterly series provides insights on state regulatory and legislative discussions and actions on electric vehicles and charging infrastructure.

The report finds that 49 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico took actions related to electric vehicles and charging infrastructure during Q1 2023 (see figure below), with the greatest number of actions relating to rebate and grant programs; registration, mileage, or charging fees for electric vehicles; planning activities; and state procurement of electric vehicles. States also continued to take actions planning for National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program funding distribution.

A total of 621 electric vehicle actions were taken during Q1 2023, with the most active states being California, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Hawaii, and Texas. So far in 2023, state legislatures have considered at least 500 bills related to transportation electrification, with 14 states enacting legislation as of late April 2023.

Q1 2023 State and Utility Action on Electric Vehicles

The report discusses three trends in electric vehicle actions taken in Q1 2023: (1) states considering fees based on miles traveled or vehicle charging, (2) lawmakers addressing utility ownership of charging infrastructure, and (3) utilities increasingly using telematics to collect electric vehicle charging data.

“Many states are looking to separate the EV public charging market from the electric utility market,” said Rebekah de la Mora, Policy Analyst at NCCETC. “Bills preventing utilities from owning public charging stations were filed in various states, usually on the grounds of market protection. Regulators in some states have also shown concern regarding utility ownership of public EVSE.”

The report notes five of the top policy developments of the quarter:

  • Georgia and Utah lawmakers advancing electric vehicle charging taxes;
  • El Paso Electric and Xcel Energy proposing new electric vehicle programs in Texas;
  • New York regulators approving demand rate alternatives for commercial charging;
  • AEP Ohio filing an electric transportation plan as part of its electric security plan; and
  • The Colorado Energy Office releasing its 2023 electric vehicle plan.

“This quarter, additional states indicated an intention to adopt the California Air Resources Board’s Advanced Clean Cars II rules, which require increasing percentages of zero-emission sales in their states until reaching 100% in 2035,” noted Vincent Potter, Policy Analyst at NCCETC. “The Governors of Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey each announced intentions to adopt the ACC II this year. The states conducted workshops and outreach, with additional stakeholder engagement planned going forward.”

View the 50 States of Electric Vehicles 2023 Q1 Executive Summary

View and Purchase the 50 States of Electric Vehicles 2023 Q1 update FULL Report

View other 50 States Reports – Solar, Grid Modernization and Electric Vehicles

ABOUT THE N.C. CLEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY CENTER

The N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center, as part of the College of Engineering at North Carolina State University, advances a sustainable energy economy by educating, demonstrating and providing support for clean energy technologies, practices and policies. It serves as a resource for innovative, sustainable energy technologies through technology demonstration, technical assistance, outreach and training. For more information about the  Center, visit: http://www.nccleantech.ncsu.edu. Twitter: @NCCleanTech

Media Contact: Shannon Helm, NCCETC, shannon_helm@ncsu.edu

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NCCETC Drives Awareness & Adoption of Clean Transportation Technologies at Alternative Fuel Vehicle Demonstration Days

The North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) at NC State University welcomed hundreds of attendees celebrating Earth Month for two Clean Transportation Demonstration Days as well as several vehicle displays and Ride & Drive events hosted throughout April.

The Clean Transportation program at NCCETC hosts Ride & Drive and Vehicle Displays for a variety of audiences to provide an opportunity for attendees to learn more about clean transportation technologies including electric vehicles (EVs) and other alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs), along with dealers and local EV drivers onsite to answer questions about the driving experience behind the wheel of an EV. 

 

On April 11 and 12, NCCETC’s Clean Transportation program hosted two Demonstration Days ‒  one in Garner, North Carolina and another in Jacksonville ‒ to give government entities across North Carolina and the Southeast the opportunity to access information and experience with clean transportation technologies.

Attendees were able to hear real-world case study results and learn about the U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization during the classroom instruction portion of the event. Key speakers and presentations included NCCETC’s Executive Director Steve Kalland, Heather Hildebrandt of the NC Department of Transportation, Annie Lee from the Triangle J Council of Governments’ Clean Cities Coalition, Sam Spofforth of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory,  and representatives from companies leading the way in alternative fuel options, technologies, and more. 

Speakers from Alliance Autogas, Potter EV, Cenntro, Cary Cartco, Pioneer eMobility and Electrify EVSE presented on topics such as telematics, safety, idle reduction technologies, vehicle electrification, and other strategies that improve fleet sustainability. The Southeast Propane Alliance and Propane Education and Research Council were also sponsors of the event. An overview of the presentation slides are available to download on NCCETC’s website.

Following classroom instruction, attendees explored a diverse display of vehicles and alternative fuel technologies such as electric and alt-fuel vehicles, buses, police vehicles, utility vehicles, charging equipment and more. View the graphic below for a preview of the display lineup.

“Demonstration days are a great opportunity for government employees to gain hands-on experience with alternative fuel vehicles and network with others to learn more about the benefits of clean transportation,” said Heather Brutz, Director of the Clean Transportation program at NCCETC. Attendees were even able to test drive some of the vehicles themselves or ride-along as they took a lap around the track. 

The local community in Raleigh, NC was also able to test drive electric vehicles at NCCETC’s Earth Day EV Ride & Drive at The Corner on NC State University’s Centennial Campus on April 21, 2023. Students as well as the surrounding community were invited to explore alternative fuel vehicles and grab lunch from a food truck across the street. Some of the vehicles featured at the event included a Tesla Model 3, Tesla Model Y, Tesla Model S, Ford F-150 Lightning, Ioniq Electric, Kia EV6, Kia Niro Electric, Nissan Leaf, Polestar 2, and a Toyota RAV4 Prime.

 

The following day, on Earth Day, NCCETC joined the Piedmont Triad Regional Council, the regional EV Association Chapter, TEVA of NC, and the Triangle Clean Cities Coalition for an electric vehicle showcase booth at the 18th Annual Piedmont Earth Day Fair. Attendees were able to see, feel and sit in EVs from the region while getting answers to questions from EV owners themselves. 

NCCETC’s Clean Transportation program propels the development, awareness and use of alternative fuels and advanced transportation technologies. Our clean transportation program’s outreach and education initiatives include workshops, meetings, conferences and communication campaigns highlighting the benefits of using clean transportation technologies- from alternative fuel to sustainable fleet management.

NCCETC recently published two new resources to support individuals and organizations planning a ride and drive and vehicle display event:

  1. NC Ride and Drive and Vehicle Display Guidebook for the General Public
    • This guidebook provides answers to frequently asked questions about hosting Ride & Drive and Vehicle Display events to target the general public.
  2. NC Ride and Drive and Vehicle Display Guidebook for Specialized Audiences
    • This guidebook provides answers to frequently asked questions about hosting Ride & Drive and Vehicle Display events to target specialized audiences.

NCCETC hosts several Ride & Drive events throughout the year for a variety of audiences. For general audiences, NCCETC hosts Ride & Drive events at public events such as NC State University football games where fans are invited to explore a lineup of electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles before kickoff during the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Demonstration & Tailgate event.

Specialized events are held for handpicked audiences. The audience can represent special interest groups such as fleet managers, law enforcement, first responders or emergency management, policy makers, and state and local government personnel. NCCETC’s Clean Transportation Demonstration Days for government entities are one example of these specialized events.

Ride and drive and vehicle display events are one of the biggest opportunities to promote driver awareness and advance the adoption of clean transportation technologies. These events enable interested drivers to experience driving EVs and AFVs, find educational resources, and assimilate a wide variety of information about the vehicles’ operability, handling, availability, costs, environmental benefits, fun factor and more. We hope these event guidebooks will empower others to start hosting ride and drive events in their own communities!

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Vote Now: “Keep Our Air Clean” Student Art Contest Polls Open

The polls are open for the “Keep Our Air Clean” Student Art Contest – vote now for your favorites!

Vote for your favorite art in each age category (kindergarten through high school). Artwork should focus on actions that people can take to reduce air pollution from vehicles and help keep our air clean. Examples: walking, biking, using public transportation, carpooling, using electric vehicles or biofuels, and more.

Winners in each category will be featured on billboards across the state!

The contest poll closes at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, May 17.

Winners will be announced in June. Stay tuned on nccleantech.ncsu.edu and FuelWhatMatters.org. For more information or any questions, email Amira Ferjani at aferjan@ncsu.edu.

Vote Now to Support a Student’s Artwork→

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DEADLINE EXTENDED: Submit Your Artwork through May 8 for the 2023 “Keep Our Air Clean” Student Art Contest

DEADLINE EXTENDED THROUGH MAY 8, 2023

North Carolina students from kindergarten through high school can submit their artwork for a chance to be featured on billboards across the state

Show how you can help keep the air clean for Earth Day this year! Submissions will now be accepted through Monday, May 8 at 11:59pm.

The North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) has officially launched the 6th Annual “Keep Our Air Clean” Student Art Contest, where students in North Carolina from kindergarten through high school can submit their artwork for a chance to be featured on billboards across the state!

Students’ artwork should focus on actions that people can take to reduce air pollution from vehicles and help keep our air clean. Examples include walking, biking, using public transportation, carpooling, using electric vehicles or biofuels, and more. Please make artwork family-friendly, non-partisan and non-copyrighted. You can learn about the alternatives at cleantransportation.org or fuelwhatmatters.org or see examples from past winners and best practices for art submissions here.

Students now have until Monday, May 8 at 11:59 to submit their artwork. Please read the rules below to find out how to submit your artwork. Public voting will begin on Wednesday, May 10 and last through Wednesday, May 17 – stay tuned for a link to vote once submissions have closed!

For more information or questions please email Amira Ferjani at aferjan@ncsu.edu.

Winners will be announced in June. Stay tuned on www.facebook.com/NCCleanTech and www.FuelWhatMatters.org!

View the 2023 Student Art Contest announcement for guidelines and specifications as well as contest rules.

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Submit Your Artwork for the 2023 “Keep Our Air Clean” Student Art Contest

North Carolina students from kindergarten through high school can submit their artwork for a chance to be featured on billboards across the state.

Show how you can help keep the air clean for Earth Day this year!

The North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) has officially launched the 6th Annual “Keep Our Air Clean” Student Art Contest, where students in North Carolina from kindergarten through high school can submit their artwork for a chance to be featured on billboards across the state!

Students’ artwork should focus on actions that people can take to reduce air pollution from vehicles and help keep our air clean. Examples include walking, biking, using public transportation, carpooling, using electric vehicles or biofuels, and more. Please make artwork family-friendly, non-partisan and non-copyrighted. You can learn about the alternatives at cleantransportation.org or fuelwhatmatters.org or see examples from past winners and best practices for art submissions here.

Students now have until Monday, May 8 at 11:59 to submit their artwork. Please read the rules below to find out how to submit your artwork. Public voting will begin on Wednesday, May 10 and last through Wednesday, May 17 – stay tuned for a link to vote once submissions have closed!

For more information or questions please email Heather Brutz at hmbrutz@ncsu.edu. 

Winners will be announced in June. Stay tuned on www.facebook.com/NCCleanTech and www.FuelWhatMatters.org!

GUIDELINES & SPECIFICATIONS

The winner will be chosen based on:

  • Relevance and appropriateness of the message, judged by NCCETC and our panel of judges
  • Visual design, judged by NCCETC and our panel of judges
  • Public votes on our Facebook account

ARTWORK SPECIFICATIONS

Artwork in a more horizontal rectangular shape (about the shape of a billboard) is recommended.

The student may choose the medium for their artwork but a 2-D work is best for billboard display. Digitally made art is accepted in addition to hand-drawn or painted work.

Recommended dimensions:

  • 400h x 840w pixels at 72 ppi
  • 400h x 1400w pixels at 72 ppi 
  • Save as JPG, PNG or BMP at maximum quality in RGB mode

Note: Make sure to leave space in the submission to include the “Keep Our Air Clean” tagline on the final billboards if it is not incorporated into your artwork.

RULES

  1. Students must reside in North Carolina and be enrolled in homeschool, elementary, middle or high school within state lines.
  2. Artwork should focus on actions that people can take to reduce air pollution from vehicles.
  3. Please make artwork family-friendly, non-partisan and non-copyrighted.
  4. Only one entry per student is allowed and all submissions must be made via the submission form or by emailing Amira Ferjani at aferjan@ncsu.edu.
  5. Teachers may submit artwork on behalf of their students through email or the submission form; all artwork submitted must return a signed permission form with each submission.
  6. Artists who are over 18 or parents/legal guardians submitting on behalf of their children can submit artwork in one of two ways:
    1. You may email artwork directly to Amira Ferjani at  aferjan@ncsu.edu, please include a signed permission form with each submission.
    2. You may submit artwork via the Facebook submission poll. By submitting this work, you will be agreeing to the legal terms listed below. 

Legal Terms

By submitting this photograph, image, graphic, or video (collectively the “work”) you hereby agree to the following:

  • You certify and warrant that you are the legal guardian of the minor who is submitting the artwork or are the artist and are legally an adult.
  • You certify and warrant that the work is your work or your child’s own original creative work and does not violate or infringe the copyright or other proprietary or intellectual property rights of others.
  • You retain all copyright and equivalent rights but grant permission for NC State to use, reproduce, distribute, and/or release the work to the public in any manner and in any medium without payment of any fee, and in perpetuity.  
  • North Carolina State University reserves the right to use contestants’ names and works for educational publicity and/or promotional purposes, including website or exhibition of winning entries. You understand that the works will be shared with reporters covering these awards and for promotion of the competition itself. You hereby give North Carolina State University nonexclusive rights to use yours or your child’s name, likenesses, quotes and submissions for educational publicity and/or promotional purposes. This includes but is not limited to website display, print materials and exhibits.
  • You hereby agree to indemnify NC State, its trustees, officers, agents, and employees, from any and all claims, demands, and liabilities (including attorneys’ fees) incurred as a result of a final judgment or settlement or any claim or legal proceeding arising out of or resulting from a breach or claimed breach of the foregoing representations and warranties.
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Mapping Electric Vehicle Charging Station Site Suitability with New GIS Tool by NCCETC

Global momentum towards zero-emissions vehicle (ZEV) adoption has continued to accelerate over the last year. For 2022, annual passenger electric vehicle (EV) sales were on track for around 10.6 million units, up from 3.1 million in 2020 and 6.6 million in 2021, according to a November 2022 report from Bloomberg New Energy Finance. Moreover, some assert that a tipping point has already been reached, with 5 percent of new U.S. car sales being EVs.

With the market share of EVs continuing to grow, there is a nationwide call to establish robust charging infrastructure and electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) needed to fuel the electrification of transportation in the United States. Utilities and fleet technology companies are still in the early stages of deployment, and charger site selection is a multi-criteria process with varying considerations for each site.

To help planners and developers select the perfect site to fit their needs, the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) at NC State University recently developed a customizable tool for prioritizing the placement of EV chargers. The EVSE Suitability GIS product is not only able to consider several variables relevant to determining charging infrastructure siting benefits, but also has a custom weighting function so developers can tailor the weight of each variable being considered to their unique situation. The GIS product was created using data for the five counties covered by Roanoke Electric Cooperative: Bertie, Gates, Halifax, Hertford, and Northampton.

NCCETC’s Alexander Yoshizumi coordinated with Roanoke Electric Cooperative (REC) while creating the EVSE Suitability GIS tool, identifying factors to include in the suitability tool in addition to the approximate weight that each factor should be given. Last month, Yoshizumi presented the results and deliverables of the project to REC staff and lent his expertise to ensure a seamless transfer of the EVSE Suitability GIS tool.

“Tools like these are going to be invaluable for selecting charging sites that are sustainable and accessible while helping meet community needs and statewide sustainability goals,” said Yoshizumi. North Carolina’s Executive Order 246 established goals to reduce economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent no later than 2030 and increase the number of registered ZEVs to at least 1.25 million by 2030.

The EVSE Suitability GIS tool enables utilities and other EVSE developers to efficiently and accurately determine site suitability with the flexibility to explore alternative weighting schemes. For the scope of NCCETC’s project, the suitability tool was applied over a 5-county region that REC serves, and several variables of interest to include were determined according to REC.

Yoshizumi explained how this tool differs from others in that it pairs customizable variable weighting with a fine scale unit of analysis, providing a much more granular understanding of where suitability is highest. For example, the Regional EV Charging Infrastructure Location Identification Toolkit uses the census tract as its unit of analysis. “Not only can census tracts vary substantially in size, but many are also of a coarse resolution,” stated Yoshizumi. The median census tract area in North Carolina is approximately 369 acres, whereas the EVSE Suitability GIS product’s unit of analysis is just 40 acres.

“Prioritizing charging sites is a complex process and, for each site, there are a variety of factors to consider and weigh for an accurate depiction of the site’s value,” noted Yoshizumi. The variables of interest were grouped into five categories: infrastructure, population and vehicle density, hazards, equity and other points of interest.

Infrastructure variables of interest included data on existing EVSE, roads and highways, proximity to interchanges, and electric grid accessibility and interconnection capabilities. The geographic distribution of EVs is not uniform, so population and vehicle density can be valuable for identifying opportunities to construct new EV charging infrastructure.

“For REC’s territory in particular, in eastern North Carolina, flooding is a key concern that could limit site access or damage installed equipment, so the tool can take this hazard into consideration, too,” Yoshizumi said.

Points-of-interest in the EVSE Suitability GIS product can indicate businesses or amenities that could be valuable to the public like nearby parks or restaurants that can occupy a driver’s time while they wait to charge. Another consideration is that certain types of points-of-interest are more likely to coincide with facilities, safety and visibility such as access to public restrooms or parking areas monitored by surveillance cameras.

As EVSE developers map out charging infrastructure and EVSE locations, they will need to maximize site selection to support an equitable and swift transition to zero-emission vehicles. “By incorporating all of these datasets into one adaptable tool, users can explore multiple scenarios with different priority weights with ease,” stated Yoshizumi.

The staff behind NCCETC’s Clean Transportation program are committed to helping diversify fuel supplies and support cleaner, more vibrant local and state economies. The end result – cleaner air and greater energy security for all.

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