The companies are Active Spectrum, Inc. of Amherst, N.H., Fuss & O'Neill of Manchester, Conn. and Ion Signature Technology, Inc. of North Smithfield, R.I. The grants were issued under EPA's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.
Active Spectrum, Inc. has been awarded $69,807 to develop its proposed sensor for monitoring of particulate emissions in diesel exhaust gases. This would be a new, low-cost soot sensor for on-board measurement of soot emissions in diesel exhaust gases. The proposed technology is differentiated from existing methods because of its exceptional sensitivity, high specificity to carbon particulates, and strength against deterioration by accumulated soot. Potential commercial applications of the real-time sensor include diesel emissions reductions by the control of the engine timing in response to sensor readings. Having active control of the engine timing to reduce soot will create a new or additional technique to meet emissions standards for particulate matter beyond conventional approaches using diesel particulates filters. Industrial applications include real-time monitoring of particulate emissions from boilers, power plants, and marine diesel engines.
Fuss & O'Neill will receive $70,000 for the development of electricity generation from anaerobic wastewater treatment in microbial fuel fells. New research with Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) technology has demonstrated an ability to extract chemical energy contained in wastewater and convert it to electrical power. Chemical energy extracted from wastewater carbohydrates has the potential, in theory, to convert wastewater treatment plants from huge power users to sources of electrical power. This effort is proposed to bring to market MFC technology which could have a radically positive effect on a huge energy-consuming industry in the U.S. It also achieves three of EPA's goals for wastewater facilities: reducing energy requirements, better managing energy use, and the cost-effective production and recover of green power. This technology has the potential to generate sufficient power to operate a host treatment facility without adding or requiring additional energy – in short, it would have the potential to achieve environmental goals in an energy self-sufficient manner.
Ion Signature Technology will receive $69,989for the development of an In Situ thermal extraction detection system (TEDS) for rapid, accurate, quantitative analysis of environmental pollutants in the subsurface.
The goal of this technology is to provide data to better manage pollution site investigations and cleanup. TEDS would create a collection and analysis system that retrieves soil-bound pollutants as well as soluble and non soluble contaminants from groundwater. When the system is commercialized, it will "sniff" for the presence of pollutants; identify the pollutant, its location and quantity. This process will create conceptual models that depict the location and rate of movement of the pollution. The end result of this process also reduces the regular costs of pollution remediation.
Approximately 25 million small businesses in the United States employ more than 50 percent of the American workforce and develop most of the country's new technologies. SBIR was Three New England-based companies will share nearly $210,000 from EPA for the research and development of green technology. established to ensure that new technologies are developed to solve priority environmental problems, and is just one example of EPA's commitment to achieving real world environmental results through the use of innovative technology.
Since its inception in 1982, EPA's SBIR program has helped fund more than 600 small businesses through its two-phased approach. Phase I awards are used to investigate the scientific merit and technical feasibility of a proposed concept. If the results of this phase are successful, businesses can submit proposals for Phase II contracts, which can reach amounts up to $345,000. These three New England companies are receiving grant money for Phase I research.
Clean Cities Funding Opportunity Issued February 24, 2009 The Clean Cities FY09 Petroleum Reduction Technologies Projects for the Transportation Sector. The intent of the FOA modification will be to further domestic manufacture and use of energy efficient advanced transportation vehicles (ATVs), alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs), and alternative fuels (AFs).
As required by section 721 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, prospective applicants shall be limited to heads of state or local governments or a metropolitan transportation authority, or combinations of these, and a designated Clean Cities Coalition (designated Coalition list is at Clean Cities Coalitions) in order to apply. Areas of Interest (AOI) include
funds for refueling infrastructure for AFs on cost-shared projects (funding minimum of $1.3 million to maximum of $2.6 million);
funds for incremental costs of dedicated AFVs purchased from original equipment manufacturers (funding min. of $800K to max. of $1.6 million);
funds for education, outreach, and workshops for petroleum reduction fuels and technologies to raise awareness and foster a greater understanding of alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies (funding min. $900K to $1.8 million);
funds for cost-shared projects that expand the use of alternative fuel and advanced vehicle technologies including the installation or acquisition of infrastructure necessary to directly support these vehicles (funding max. is $300 million).
The 2008 Federal Radionavigation Plan (FRP) has been released by the U.S. Departments of Transportation, Defense, and Homeland Security. Published jointly by the three departments, the plan describes federal policy for operating and regulating common-use radionavigation systems with the goal of improving both national security and the safety and efficiency of the nation's transportation system.
The federal government operates radionavigation systems such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) to enable safe transportation and encourage commerce within the United States. The FRP outlines the policy and plan for operating federal radionavigation systems used in positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) applications and suggests how existing systems may be consolidated and improved. It also aims to strengthen the mix of civil and military systems that will advance the nation's transportation infrastructure by increasing its capacity to move people and products safely and efficiently.
Systems addressed in the plan include: GPS and GPS Augmentations; Long Range Navigation (Loran); Very High Frequency (VHF) Omni-directional Range (VOR); Distance Measuring Equipment (DME); Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN); Instrument Landing System (ILS); Microwave Landing System (MLS); and Aeronautical Nondirectional Radiobeacons (NDB).
The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) is advising travelers to prepare for a clipper system that will be moving into the state from the northwest around midday today and continue east/southeast across the state through Friday night.
The diagonal direction of the storm is expected to bring:
5 to 7 inches of snow in portions of the northeast (northeast of a line extending from Mason City southeast to Clinton).
3 to 6 inches of snow around Algona, Iowa Falls, Fort Dodge, Waterloo, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Davenport, and Muscatine.
1 to 3 inches of snow around Spencer, Storm Lake, Ames, Des Moines, Ottumwa, Fairfield, Burlington and Keokuk.
None to 1/2 inch of snow in the southwest and parts of the northwest.
Strong northwesterly winds will develop behind this system with areas of blowing snow possible before winds subside by late afternoon Saturday. Expect limited visibility in areas that receive snow, especially when winds reach up to 40 mph during the overnight hours.
Motorists are reminded to prepare for the unexpected during winter storms.
Buckle up, everyone in all seating positions.
Check road and weather conditions before making your trip.
High-speed rail corridors and intercity passenger rail service will gain significant new funding under a measure of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which President Barack Obama signed on February 17. The act provides $8 billion for the Federal Railroad Administration to provide capital assistance to such rail projects, placing priority on projects that support intercity high-speed rail service. The act also provides $1.3 billion to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, better known as Amtrak, with the majority of funds going toward the repair, rehabilitation, or upgrade of passenger rail assets or infrastructure, and for capital projects that expand passenger rail capacity.
Transit in general gains significantly under the economic stimulus act, which allocates $6.9 billion to the Federal Transit Administration for capital assistance grants. The act directs $100 million of those funds to help public transit agencies reduce their energy consumption and their greenhouse gas emissions, with priority given to those projects that save the most energy. An additional $750 million is provided by the act to support infrastructure investments in "fixed guideway" systems. A fixed guideway refers to any transit service that uses exclusive or controlled rights-of-way or rails, entirely or in part, running the gamut from heavy rail to high-occupancy vehicle lanes. Another $750 million is available for grants to "New Starts" and "Small Starts" projects, which include fixed guideway systems, system extensions, and bus corridor improvements. The act also provides $1.5 billion in supplemental discretionary grants for capital investments in surface transportation infrastructure, which could include transit systems.
Experts in transportation safety, veterans' health and medical care, and public health are identifying gaps in current knowledge and developing a strategic plan for addressing key research questions, in fields ranging from epidemiology to psychology and biomechanics.
Participants in the strategic planning process include scientists and policy officials from VA, DOT, DOD and Department of Health and Human Services, as well as non-governmental experts. The resulting strategic plan will lay out research needs and identify priorities for the initiative.
The safe-driving initiative strives to increase awareness of motor vehicle crashes among veterans and the importance of safe driving, seatbelt and helmet usage, and other measures. To reach out to veterans and their families, VA will create a national educational program using the Department's network of medical centers, community clinics, drop-in counseling centers (Vet Centers), and veterans benefits offices.
The initiative will also include outreach to mobilize national veterans service organizations; the nation's governors and state police, safety officers, and state highway safety officials; and the private sector - including employers; automobile, motorcycle and sports vehicle dealers and manufacturers; the motor vehicle insurance industry; and driving and motorcycle racing enthusiasts' organizations. NASCAR legend and safe driving advocate, Richard Petty, will also be an active partner in the initiative.
According to the Department of Transportation, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for all Americans between the ages of eight through 34. Men constitute about 70 percent of all traffic deaths. In the past decade, both deaths and injuries from motor vehicle crashes have gone down in the United States, due to increases in seat-belt use and decreases in alcohol involvement, among other factors.
The manufacturer of the world's fastest production car, the 1,287-horsepower Ultimate Aero, has developed an all-electric powertrain for the vehicle. Shelby SuperCars (SSC) has no relation to the legendary automotive designer Carroll Shelby, but it earned respect in the automotive world in 2007 when it set a record by driving its Ultimate Aero Twin Turbo at an average top speed of 256.18 miles per hour (it's an "average" top speed because the car must be driven down the same road in opposite directions, and its top speeds from both passes are averaged to remove any advantages of wind speed or road inclination). Despite the company's fascination with large, powerful engines, it's also a true believer in electric technologies, and it is building the Ultimate Aero EV to prove the electric vehicles provide more linear power and overall performance that internal combustion cars.
The Ultimate Aero EV drivetrain will feature twin motors capable of producing 1,000 horsepower and 800 pound-feet of torque, enabling it to rocket to 60 miles per hour in 2.5 seconds, reaching a top speed of 208 miles per hour. The system will have a range of 150-200 miles, but its onboard charging system will allow for full battery recharges in as little as 10 minutes. The car will feature a three-speed automatic transmission, and the entire electric drivetrain will be liquid-cooled, allowing it to be run full-out for extended periods of time without overheating. (You can be sure that the BBC's "Top Gear" boys will be testing that claim soon.) SSC plans to roll out its first full-scale, pre-production Ultimate Aero EV by mid-2009 and deliveries to customers may start before the end of the year. And to follow on the success of its Ultimate Aero, the company also hopes to claim the title of "World's Fastest Production Electric Car."
Average domestic air fares in the third quarter of 2008 reached $362, the highest level of average fares for any quarter in the 13 years measured by available data, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported.
Average domestic air fares in the third quarter of 2008 were up 10.4 percent from the third quarter of 2007 in the largest year-to-year increase since the second quarter of 2006, and average fares increased 7.4 percent above the previous July-to-September high set in 2000. The third-quarter 2008 average fare was up 22.0 percent from the post-9/11 third-quarter low of $297 in 2004.
Average fares increased 25.8 percent from the third quarter of 1995 to the third quarter of 2008 compared to a cumulative 42.8 percent inflation rate. Third quarter 2008 fares increased 10.4 percent from the third quarter of 2007 compared to a 4.9 percent inflation rate.
Of the top 100 airports based on originating passengers, the highest third-quarter average fares were in Cincinnati; followed by Knoxville, TN; Greenville/Spartanburg, SC; Grand Rapids, MI; and Madison, WI. The lowest fares in the top 100 airports were at Dallas Love; followed by Orlando, FL; Burbank, CA; Long Beach, CA; and Islip, NY. See the BTS Air Fare web page for average fares for the top 100 airports.
The largest year-to-year average fare increases for the third quarter among the 100 largest airports, ranked by 2007 originating passengers, was 26.8 percent in Minneapolis/St. Paul; followed by Islip, NY; Chicago Midway; Knoxville, TN; and Columbus, OH.
The biggest year-to-year average decrease was 4.8 percent in Long Beach, CA; followed by Burlington, VT; Salt Lake City, UT; Atlanta; and San Antonio, TX.
The largest average fare increase from the third quarter of 1995 was 212.0 percent at Dallas Love, followed by Lubbock, TX; Colorado Springs, CO; El Paso, TX; and Houston Hobby
The largest average fare decrease from the third quarter of 1995 to the third quarter of 2007 was 39.0 percent in White Plains, NY. The other top five average fare decreases over this period took place at Manchester, NH; Akron/Canton, OH; Providence, RI; and Newburgh, NY.
The nation's largest airlines had a higher rate of on-time flights this past November than in the same month last year, although the rate of delays was higher than in October 2008, according to the Air Travel Consumer Report released today by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).
According to information filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), a part of DOT's Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), the 19 carriers reporting on-time performance recorded an overall on-time arrival rate of 83.3 percent in November, an improvement over November 2007's 80.0 percent but below October 2008's 86.0 percent.
The monthly report also includes data on lengthy tarmac delays, flight cancellations and the causes of flight delays by the reporting carriers, as well as information on reports of mishandled baggage filed with the carriers and consumer service, disability and discrimination complaints received by DOT's Aviation Consumer Protection Division. This report also includes reports of incidents involving pets traveling by air, as required to be filed by U.S. carriers.
The Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) has introduced a new name and logo for its Vehicle Infrastructure Integration (VII) program that better represents the full potential of the initiative. The new name, IntelliDriveSM, still refers to innovations that offer drivers greater situational awareness of events, potential threats, and imminent hazards within their vehicle’s environment, but now encompasses a broader suite of potential technologies and capabilities than the original notion of VII.
Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico was 2.1 percent lower in October 2008 than in October 2007, reaching $72.7 billion, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico rose 1.2 percent in October from September. Month-to-month changes can be affected by seasonal variations and other factors.
Surface transportation consists largely of freight movements by truck, rail and pipeline. About 88 percent of U.S. trade by value with Canada and Mexico moves on land.
The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico in October was up 38.8 percent compared to October 2003, and up 74.9 percent compared to October 1998, a period of 10 years. Imports in October were up 75 percent compared to October 1998, while exports were up 74.8 percent.
U.S. Surface Transportation Trade with Canada U.S.–Canada surface transportation trade totaled $44.8 billion in October, down 6.1 percent compared to October 2007. The value of imports carried by truck was 17.5 percent lower in October 2008 compared to October 2007, while the value of exports carried by truck was 9.5 percent lower.
Michigan led all states in surface trade with Canada in October with $5.3 billion.
U.S. Surface Transportation Trade with Mexico U.S.– Mexico surface transportation trade totaled $27.9 billion in October, up 5.1 percent compared to October 2007. The value of imports carried by truck was 5.9 percent lower in October 2008 than October 2007 while the value of exports carried by truck was 18.4 percent higher.
Texas led all states in surface trade with Mexico in October with $9.0 billion.
Most people are aware that vehicle exhaust causes air pollution, commonly referred to as smog. Pollutants such as carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and particulates (black soot) are released from the exhaust and affect the quality of the air we breathe. Driving a car also contributes to another environmental problem: the greenhouse effect.
About the label The Fuel Consumption Label is an Australian Government initiative to promote consumer demand for vehicles with good fuel efficiency and lower greenhouse impact. All new vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle mass sold in Australia, regardless of fuel or body type, are required to have a Fuel Consumption Label on the front windscreen. This includes passenger cars, four wheel drives and light commercial vehicles.
The label indicates how many litres of fuel a vehicle will use to travel 100 kilometres and how many grams of carbon dioxide the vehicle would emit for each kilometre. The rating is based on a standard test procedure so you can reliably compare the performance of different models under identical conditions.
The lower the numbers, the better the vehicle.
Encouraging consumer preferences toward vehicles of greater fuel efficiency will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport. In addition, introducing mandatory CO2 labelling will raise consumer awareness of the role fuel efficient vehicles play in helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the relative impacts of different fuel types.
It should be noted that, while the fuel label provides standard fuel consumption and CO2 figures for comparing different vehicles, it should only be regarded as a guide. You may experience different results when actually driving the vehicle because the fuel consumption of a particular vehicle will depend on what traffic conditions it is driven in, how you drive the vehicle and how well the vehicle is maintained.
