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Update on Blue Skies proposal

The U.S. Department of Energy announced last week that it awarded funding for a Carolina Blue Skies and Green Jobs Initiative spearheaded by the Triangle J Council of Governments, which I wrote about in July.

From a DOE press release: 

"The project will include vehicles and fueling infrastructure for electric, hybrid-electric, compressed natural gas, propane, E85, and biodiesel fuels and technologies to be deployed throughout North Carolina and South Carolina.  The project includes 45 E85 and B20 stations, eight propane stations, and 132 electric vehicle recharging sites.  New vehicles to be deployed include 55 CNG vehicles, 363 propane vehicles, 89 hybrid electric vehicles, and 56 neighborhood electric vehicles.  DOE estimates that the initiative will help displace 724,000 gallons of petroleum annually. Total DOE award: $12,975,388"

However, DOE awarded 12 percent less than what the agency requested so that means some of the North Carolina and South Carolina projects will have to be cut or trimmed. The initiative originally included several Triad area projects, including the purchase of 10 Toyota Prius hybrids for Guilford County, and two compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks, one CNG refueling station and 10 hybrid vehicles for the city of Greensboro.

Anne Tazewell of the N.C. Solar Center, which partnered with the council of governments, said today that the Triad projects could be confirmed in November when DOE and COG sign the contract.

"Honestly right now we don't know how we're going to cut 12 percent," Tazewell said.

Update (10:11 a.m.): Kathy Boyer with Triangle J COG called me back and confirmed what Tazewell said, adding that the Triad area will definitely get some funding. Keep in mind that the total initiative runs about $39 million, with the federal government chipping in about a third.