Valley Sky-Lines  eNewsletter - August 2010

Back to Home

August 2010 - In this Edition

Finding an Alternative: Valley's Fleets Leading Charge in Moving Away From Oil-Based Fuels
By Kasia McBride

In June 2010 Vegas Seven published the article “Funding an Alternative”, written by David Davis. The article featured local organizations and their efforts toward the use of alternative fuel vehicles.

According to the Harris poll, fewer than one out of five Americans would buy alternative fuel vehicles. Consumers do not want to buy vehicles due to the lack of fuel availability, and stations will not sell the fuel until there is a sufficient number of vehicles on the road.

“This is not true for one important group of car buyers," Davis writes. "Fleet managers can avoid the chicken-and-egg problem by fueling vehicles at one central location, and the cost of maintaining a fleet can even make it economical for a manager to build a fueling station."

The article included local fleets that have experienced the advantages of having alternative fuel vehicles in their fleet such as Yellow Checker Star Transportation, City of Las Vegas, Clark County School District and Regional Transportation Commission. It also featured Haycock Petroleum, a fuel provider that has been selling alternative fuels for over 15 years.

To view the full article, please click here.

Back to Top

Clean Energy's Solution 
By Lindsay Harrison

The last two years have certainly been fiscally challenging, and while we are seeing signs of economic recovery, we still have a long way to go. During these difficult economic times, vehicle and transportation operators have seen costs increase, margins decrease and once lucrative contracts become unprofitable.

With a broad customer base in transit, refuse, regional trucking, and airport markets, Clean Energy offers a solution to provide operators with a lower budget, by saving money with fuel costs while also using a clean and domestic fuel.

Founded in 1997 by T. Boone Pickens, Clean Energy is the largest compressed natural gas (CNG) provider in North America, with over 200 stations that currently fuel over 18,000 vehicles every day.

In 1970, the United States was importing 24% of our oil; today we are importing over 65%, and that number is growing.  In 2008, we spent more than $485 billion dollars on foreign oil — money that could be invested in our own cheaper, cleaner and domestically produced fuel, natural gas.  

Natural gas is currently the cleanest burning fuel available in the commercial market. Emissions regulations thus far have focused on particulate matter (PM) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx), however there continues to be an increased emphasis on regulation of greenhouse gases (GHG).  Natural gas as a transportation fuel produces up to 30% fewer greenhouse gas emissions as compared to gasoline and 23% compared to diesel based on the “well to wheels” comparative study conducted by the California Energy Commission. 

Natural gas costs up to $1 per gallon or more less than gasoline for large users who operate their own stations, and $0.50 or more per gallon less at retail stations, compared to gasoline. We all remember when gas and diesel fuel were well above $4.00 per gallon mark. The opportunity is now to look at all the options available and make a decision that could save your company hundreds of thousands of dollars each and every year in fuel costs.

Clean Energy is pleased to offer a solution to challenges that operators face with rising fuel costs.  With seven public access fueling stations to be in service in Las Vegas by the end of the year, we look forward to working with local fleets to solve their fueling needs.

Back to Top


Introducing Nevada Coaches
By Mike Verna

Nevada Coaches, dba Showtime Tours, was established in 1998 to provide airport shuttle and sightseeing tours throughout the Las Vegas area. Over the years we have evolved into a full service transportation provider featuring airport shuttle, sightseeing tours, convention shuttles, custom charters and meet & greet services.

Our administrative and maintenance facilities are located at 1550 South Industrial Ave, Las Vegas.  From this location we operate a fleet of (36) 17- to 20-passenger shuttle buses and (17) 57-passenger motorcoaches.  In September 2008 we switched 20 of the shuttle vehicles to B20.  In January 2010 we increased this number to 31 shuttle vehicles.   To date the B20 has allowed us to reduce our diesel fuel consumption by 44,344 gallons.

Nevada Coaches recycles all of our waste scrap metal, paper, refrigerants, motor oil and other fluids.  We work with several recycling companies who provide us with one container recycling for cardboard, printer cartridges and other types of recyclable materials.  We are also in the process of completing our application into the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Green Roots Program.

We at Nevada Coaches strongly believe that our commitment to going green is not only good business but is the right thing to do for the community in which we all live.  Nevada Coaches lives by our core principles of Wellness, Integrity, Innovation, Relaionship and Profit.  It is our belief that if we adhere to these principles then our success will result in profit.

Back to Top


Summer Speed Networking Event
By Debi Kinney

In August the Las Vegas Regional Clean Cities Coalition (LVRCCC) will be hosting a new event – speed networking!  This business equivalent of “speed dating” provides a unique opportunity to network one-on-one with other LVRCCC members. 

The event will take place on Thursday, August 26 from 4:30 – 7:00 p.m. at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar.   After registration, the event will kick off with an introduction by Executive Director of the LVRCCC, Dan Hyde.  Instructions about the flow of the event will be explained, and then the speed networking will commence.  LVRCCC members will be paired up in seats around the room, and each person will have up to two minutes to introduce themselves and their company to the other.  At the end of the first person’s introduction, the other person will have the chance to speak about their company.  After each person has had a turn, an announcement will be made for everyone to switch partners and it will all begin again.  After an hour of the formal speed networking format, light hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be served while informal networking takes place.  Each participant will receive a complimentary roster of the event’s attendees at the conclusion of the event.

Participation is limited to the first fifty RSVPs received.  Invitations were emailed in July and RSVPs are due on or before August 18.  Due to limited capacity, advance reservations are required and on-site registrations will not be accepted.

For more information about this event please contact Debi at admin@lasvegascleancities.org or (702) 254-4180.

Back to Top


Biodiesel Helps Green One of World's Largest Sustainable Developments
From Biodiesel Bulletin, May 2010 published by National Biodiesel Board

Reaching high into the Las Vegas skyline is CityCenter, billed as one of the world's largest environmentally sustainable developments. The general contractor for the project, Perini Building Company, relied on biodiesel blends to power heavy construction equipment and crew vehicles. Their focus on environmentally friendly practices resulted in six LEED Gold Certifications for the 67-acre urban development. This is the highest LEED achievement of any hotel, retail district or residential development in Las Vegas.

A B20 blend of biodiesel was used in construction equipment such as excavators, front end loaders and dump trucks for excavation and site work that began in 2006. This use of biodiesel resulted in a LEED Innovation Credit for reducing carbon emissions and utilizing local yellow food grease.

CityCenter is a city within a city. It includes a casino, eight hotels, condominiums, numerous retail shops, restaurants, theaters and other entertainment venues. During its peak construction period, more people worked on CityCenter than worked during the peak construction period of the Hoover Dam. The project was developed by MGM MIRAGE.

“MGM MIRAGE’s initiative to build such an unprecedented environmentally sustainable project has changed the Las Vegas construction and hospitality industry,” said Craig Shaw, president and chief executive officer of Perini Building Company. “There is a new level of understanding of the importance of environmentally responsible construction.”

Back to Top

Incentives, Laws and Regulations Related to Alternative Fuel Industry
By Clean Cities Technical Response Service Team

The federal government and many states provide incentives to encourage individuals and organizations to reduce petroleum consumption through the use of alternative fuels and advanced vehicles. Likewise, these entities also have laws and regulations ensuring that transportation fuels will be used in a safe and efficient manner. The Alternative Fuels & Advanced Vehicles Data Center (AFDC) Incentives and Laws Website (http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/laws/) contains information on these incentives, laws and regulations. This database features short summaries of relevant incentives or laws with a Web link, legislative reference, and/or point of contact for additional information. The federal information in the Incentives and Laws database is updated on an ongoing basis to include new or updated information resulting from legislation enacted by Congress and signed into law by the president, as well as new and updated regulatory programs. The state information is updated on an annual basis after each state legislative session ends. Information about incentives offered by private companies and utilities is also included.

The Incentives and Laws website was recently redesigned to make it more user-friendly. Check out the updated format and search tool at http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/laws/search.

Other useful resources for incentives and funding information include:


Back to Top


Upcoming LVRCCC Meetings

Summer Speed Networking Event
Thursday, August 26, 2010

Board of Directors Meeting
Thursday, September 2, 2010

Board of Directors Meeting
LVRCCC Stakeholders and Board of Directors Holiday Luncheon
Thursday, December 2, 2010

 

 
HOME | ABOUT LVRCCC | ALT. FUELS & VEHICLES | MEETINGS & EVENTS | PUBLICATIONS | MEMBERSHIP | CONTACT
All images and content are copyright © 2009 Las Vegas Regional Clean Cities Coalition