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Michigan Clean Energy Coalition helps administer grants that help companies with large transportation fleets reduce their dependence on petroleum by switching to alternative fuel and advanced vehicle technologies. PHOTO COURTESY OF CRYSTAL FLASH ENERGY

By Chad D. Lerch | MiBiz
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WEST MICHIGAN — The Ypsilanti-based Clean Energy Coalition, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing petroleum consumption and promoting healthier communities, is in the driver’s seat for administering federal grants for “green” transportation projects in West Michigan.

The Clean Energy Coalition recently assumed management responsibilities of the West Michigan Clean Cities Coalition, which had a difficult time gaining “designated status” to administer U.S. Department of Energy grants aimed at reducing petroleum consumption.

The Clean Energy Coalition believes it has the inside track to gaining that designation, which will allow it to serve as a hub for businesses to connect with federal funds for switching to vehicles that use cleaner fuels and environmentally friendly technology.

“West Michigan is rapidly becoming an attractive innovation and technology center for sustainable enterprises,” Sean Reed, executive director of the Clean Energy Coalition, said in a news release. “The Clean Energy Coalition is working to ensure the type of emerging technologies developed in West Michigan are also deployed in West Michigan.”

The grants come from the Clean Cities Network, a program of the U.S. Department of Energy. Specifically, the grants help companies with large transportation fleets reduce their dependence on petroleum by switching to alternative fuel and advanced vehicle technologies.

The coalition has administered grants in Detroit and Ann Arbor worth $15 million, said Kevin Bush, a project manager with the Clean Energy Coalition.

Bush said West Michigan is already making significant strides in green projects, including LEED-certified manufacturing plants and others. Now, he said it’s time for the transportation industry to take advantage of grants that can help them lower operational costs and improve emissions.

The Clean Energy Coalition’s expanded area now includes a large chunk of West Michigan: Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Kent, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Ottawa, Van Buren, Kalamazoo and Berrien counties.

Bush said the West Michigan business community will benefit from the Clean Energy Coalition’s presence here.

“We can do nothing but good things for the business community,” he said. “In this economy, people are looking for ways to save across the board. We can educate them on the technologies that are available and help them get funding. We will save them money over the long run.”

William A. Stough, president and CEO of the Grand Rapids-based Sustainable Research Group LLC, said the Clean Energy Coalition will take inventory of large transportation fleets in West Michigan, track how much petroleum is consumed, and use that data to identify companies that could benefit from the program.

The coalition will recommend companies for grants as the funding becomes available.

“The region benefits because they match needs with resources. It should be a positive thing for West Michigan,” Stough told MiBiz, noting that getting grant funding is competitive and that a regional approach is the way to go. “As we move forward and gas prices appear to be heading up, more and more companies will find the Clean Cities program useful. It will be nice to have some kind of infrastructure in place to help companies connect the dots and be less dependent on petroleum.”

A big hurdle for adopting new technologies is upfront costs; federal grants help ease the sticker shock, Bush said.

“But unlike some forms of renewable energy at the utility scale, if you buy a new car that is cheaper to operate, you’re saving money on the operation right away,” Bush said. “If there are people who can put together partnerships to make it easier for you to buy a hybrid, why not take advantage?”

According to statistics provided by the Clean Energy Coalition, over the past 15 years, Clean Cities coalitions and stakeholders “have displaced more than 2.4 billion gallons of petroleum” and are on track to reach 2.5 billion gallons of gasoline displaced by the year 2020.

The Department of Energy grants help local governments, universities, private companies, state governments and public fueling stations, among other organizations.

Many grants cover incremental costs of alternative fuel or advanced technology vehicles up to a 50-percent match. For example, if a city wanted to purchase a new refuse truck for $200,000, but a hybrid hydraulic truck cost $400,000, a Department of Energy Grant could cover the extra $200,000, Bush said.

The grants are not paid back by the company or public institution that receives assistance; a local match is required in most cases, Bush said.