• Hydrofracking
• Renewable Natural Gas (RNG)
• Greener Future For The Garden State

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions about Energy Vision

What is Energy Vision (EV)?

Energy Vision is a national non-profit organization founded in 2007 to tackle one of the greatest environmental challenges facing the US: its addiction to oil - an addiction that is threatening public health, the country's economic strength, our national security, and even the stability of our global climate.

What is Energy Vision’s Agenda?

US reliance on oil is mainly related to transportation where 65% of all our oil is consumed. The founding team at Energy Vision brought 15 years of research expertise on the alternative transportation fuels that are available today, and Energy Vision is putting this expertise to work. Our agenda includes: 1) educating Americans about the best options for shifting to the clean fuels and vehicle technologies of the future; 2) collaborating with government and business leaders to promote the shift to petroleum-free fuels where it is possible, and 3) to continue reporting on newly emerging fuel and technology choices.

What are EV’s Specific Goals?

EV has first targeted the 10 million heavy-duty buses and trucks in the US (the “workhorses” of every community as well as long-distance haulers.) This was because, while they make up only 4% of all vehicles, they consume a huge 25% of all highway fuel; they are major air polluters of cities coast to coast; and a commercial fuel option exists today to replace diesel fuel. It is natural gas, which is much cleaner, 20% lower in greenhouse gas emissions, and abundant in the US. Natural gas trucks are also 50-80% quieter!

 

EV’s goals are: 1) to promote this shift, concentrating on the East Coast where scant progress had been made (as of 2007) compared to the West Coast, and 2) to encourage communities at the same time to begin exploring the sources of organic wastes existing locally (in landfills, sewage treatment plants, agricultural operations, etc) which can be used to produce a renewable form of natural gas, called “RNG” or “biomethane.” RNG is made in Europe today and is powering hundreds of buses and trucks. While interest in this fuel is just arriving in the US, cities and fleets that shift to a gas rather than a liquid fuel today and build refueling stations that can deliver a gas fuel, are positioned to be leaders in the move to RNG.

What Strategies is EV using to achieve its Goals?

We work with the press generating visibility for the diesel to natural gas to biomethane path to sustainability for heavy duty fleets as “Phase One” of the US Green Fuels Revolution. We target areas with dense populations and high levels of vehicle-related air pollution. We reach out to communities and to fleet operators in such areas to engage their interest in exploring the possible economic and environmental benefits of a fleet fuel shift. We coordinate getting natural gas trucks to demo for them.  We organize educational events (a statewide conference in NJ co-sponsored with Rutgers University, two state-level workshops in New York and New Jersey; a seminar in NYC on the role of natural gas and the challenge of hydrofracking). We link communities to companies that can help them plan and implement alternative fuels initiatives.

 

What Impact has EV had in its First Four Years?

 

1. Through much direct outreach to communities and refuse fleet operators in the NY-NJ region, our work stirred interest that resulted in conversion of the first 100% natural gas refuse fleet shifts in the East: in Smithtown NY on Long Island and in Hamilton Township, NJ. These examples inspired similar changes in other cities and towns in this region to date: Huntington, and Brookhaven, two of the three largest towns in Suffolk County on Long Island, Oyster Bay in Nassau County, and Camden and Atlantic County in New Jersey. Atlantic City is also shifting its 190 jitney buses to natural gas. These projects will put more than 500 natural gas trucks into operation, eliminating 6 million gallons of diesel a year and 900,000 pounds of air pollutants.
2. Energy Vision has been recognized as a leading independent voice educating Americans not just on the role that natural gas can play in reducing US reliance on oil but also on the way in which the shift to natural gas paves the way to renewable and pollution-free RNG (biomethane) – the country’s first sustainable fuel! EV is now co-sponsoring a Work Group in NJ, aimed at identifying the best ways to jump start a biomethane production industry in the State as well as preparing a Guide for communities on how to explore and plan local biomethane projects. The Guide will be used, first and foremost, to train the almost 100 local “Clean Cities” alternative fuels affiliates of the US Department of Energy.
3. EV prepared the primary case in the environmental sector educating federal legislators on why heavy duty vehicles are the place to start this country’s Green Fuels Revolution. This White Paper has been widely distributed to members of Congress and helped get all of the Senators in NY and NJ on board - supporting economic incentives for promoting local action in the 2010 energy policy debate.
4. EV ran an innovative environmental leadership training course for students at Bryn Mawr College, through which they investigated the pollution and fuels use of the Philadelphia refuse fleet (251 trucks) analyzed the benefits of a shift to natural gas, and gained Philly’s commitment to a five year fleet turnover program.

 

What are EV’s Goals for 2011?

To expand the variety of fleets -- from refuse and produce delivery trucks to school buses, taxis and vans -- getting on board the clean fuels bandwagon, to publish reports documenting the trends in use of clean fuels and growth of the biomethane industry; to widely distribute our biomethane guide and train networks, communities and businesses on its use, and to expand our college environmental leadership training.

Who Supports Energy Vision?

Energy Vision is supported by government contracts, foundation grants, corporate associate contributions, and individual donors. For information on EV’s Corporate Membership Program, please contact: Anh Huynh at huynh@energy-vision.org or call (212) 228-0225.

About Energy Vision

Energy Vision is a NY-based national environmental organization, whose mission is to promote the most rapid transition in this country away from its dangerous oil addiction in transportation to the clean renewable and sustainable fuels of the future. US oil dependence threatens this country’s national security, is sapping our economic strength, damaging the health of millions of Americans, and contributing to global warming.