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e-FFICIENCY NEWS: For ten years, you served at the Department of Energy as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Technologies in the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy office and then served on the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Board of Directors. What motivated you to become the Executive Director of the Transportation Energy Partnership? GROSS: The Department of Energy provided a wonderful opportunity to work on issues that I believe are important for our country. There are two main reasons why I am enthused about being Executive Director of the Transportation Energy Partnership (TEP). First, I'm pleased to have the chance to continue working on energy issues that need resolution and that I feel strongly about. Secondly, this position allows me to work with, and to support, many people for whom I have great respect and admiration. TEP's mission is to assist Clean Cities coalitions. Those in Clean Cities coalitions are on the "front lines" promoting vehicle fuel economy and the use of clean, domestic fuels for transportation. At TEP I can work with people who are very committed to making a difference in communities throughout the country. TEP's members include vehicle manufacturers, alternative fuel providers, educational institutions and Clean Cities coalitions. Both the Department of Energy's efforts and those of Clean Cities coalitions are vital in setting the stage for a transition away from nearly complete dependence on a single fuel – conventional petroleum – which comes primarily from outside the United States. e-FFICIENCY NEWS: What are the goals and objectives of the Transportation Energy Partnership? GROSS: The goal of the Transportation Energy Partnership is to enhance energy security and environmental quality by supporting the activities of Clean Cities coalitions. These activities result in increasing the use of alternative fuels and higher fuel economy vehicles. TEP's objectives include:
e-FFICIENCY NEWS: The Clean Cities Program is a voluntary effort. Aside from direct grants from the federal government, are there any specific legislative actions that the Partnership believes are necessary to accelerate the growth of alternative fuel vehicles and technology? GROSS: Clean Cities was initiated by the Department of Energy in response to an Energy Policy Act of 1992 provision requiring a voluntary program to increase the use of alternative transportation fuels. Major funding to support the initiative has been provided by DOE. Many coalitions, however, have achieved tremendous results in leveraging Federal resources by acquiring significant additional support for their activities. There are a number of policies that could accelerate growth in the use of alternative fuels. Some have been enacted by Federal and state governments. Others are being considered. I personally believe that we could be more aggressive in attacking the "addiction to oil" to which President Bush referred in his 2006 State of the Union address. TEP has taken no organizational position on needed legislative actions, other than more robust support for Clean Cities through appropriations legislation. e-FFICIENCY NEWS: The development of adequate infrastructure for alternative fuels appears to be a key focus of your organization. Where do auto manufacturers fit in? Is their focus on alternative fuel vehicles, hybrids, advanced diesel technologies or something else? GROSS: Multiple pieces of the puzzle all have to be put in place simultaneously if we are to have success in significantly displacing gasoline and conventional diesel fuel with other fuels. These include fuel delivery infrastructure, fueling stations, development and acceptance of safety codes and standards, and availability of cost-competitive vehicles that use alternative fuels. The willingness of manufacturers to produce cars and trucks that are capable of using alternative fuels, and make them available for sale, is a critical piece. Their focus is on selling vehicles that customers will buy. To date, they have not found a serious market for products that use other than conventional fuels or get better fuel economy. Auto manufacturers have made substantial investments in developing technologies required for vehicles that are more energy-efficient and that can use other than petroleum-based fuels. A number of such products have been made commercially available, at least in limited quantities. GM's "Live Green Go Yellow" campaign, in conjunction with the ethanol industry, indicates that it is willing to spend money on providing choices for its customers, and on promoting the use of alternative fuels. The investments being made by many companies in hybrid electric technologies, flexible fuel vehicles, and clean diesel technologies will provide consumers viable options to deal with rising gas prices. e-FFICIENCY NEWS: When you factor in the agricultural, manufacturing, and processing costs often associated with biofuels (e.g., ethanol and biodiesel), do these fuels net a more efficient oil displacement? What about the carbon footprint? GROSS: Ethanol and biodiesel have the potential to significantly displace conventional oil use. How much depends on source materials, production methods and delivery systems. Analysis I've seen, though, indicates that virtually any pathway to ethanol and biodiesel has some benefit from an oil use reduction vantage point. Some pathways can reduce oil use by 75% or more. Because biofuels can be made from crops, with the ability to absorb carbon dioxide, or from biological wastes, biofuels also have the potential to result in a substantial decrease in the climate change emissions associated with transportation fuels. I believe domestic renewable fuels should be a key element in decreasing dependence on unstable sources of transportation fuel supplies. e-FFICIENCY NEWS: Does the Transportation Energy Partnership feel that plug-in hybrid electric vehicle technology represents a viable near-term strategy to significantly cut U.S. oil consumption efficiently, quickly and cleanly? GROSS: Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle technology is generating much excitement, and rightly so. Additional research and development are desirable to further reduce the cost and volume required for energy storage, i.e., batteries. The willingness of manufacturers to make such vehicles available may also work against this technology being able to significantly cut oil consumption in the near term. However, in my opinion it is not too early for Clean Cities coalitions to support the efforts to lay the foundation among consumers for the commercial introduction of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. In fact, some are already doing so. e-FFICIENCY NEWS: In your opinion, what is the most important step we need to take as a country to reduce oil imports and overall consumption? GROSS: There are a number of steps that need to be taken if we are serious about reducing oil consumption. It seems to me, though, that the most desirable type of transition away from our current dependence on oil will be one based on millions of voluntary decisions by knowledgeable consumers of vehicles. So the process begins by education of customers, who will then opt to purchase different types of vehicles. Since our dependence on oil has public policy implications, including energy security and emissions, more robust government policies are needed to encourage consumers to demand products that use less oil. If we get education and policy right, then vehicle manufacturers, alternative fuel producers, and infrastructure providers will have the motivation to invest in products to meet that demand. Between now and the year 2025, I think a substantial improvement in vehicle fuel economy has the potential to reduce transportation oil use more than any other approach. Further displacement can be achieved by the use of other fuels. Clean Cities coalitions have been successful in implementing projects that are resulting in increased use of natural gas, ethanol, Anyone desiring more information on TEP can send an email to tgenergy@cox.net. This article was originally published in the May 2006 edition of e-FFICIENCY NEWS. |
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Recently, there has been renewed interest by both government and consumer groups for alternative solutions to higher than usual transportation costs. One group, the Transportation Energy Partnership (TEP), is committed to promoting and strengthening the activities of Clean Cities coalitions around the country. E-fficiency News recently had the opportunity to interview Tom Gross about the role of the auto manufacturers in the development of alternative transportation technology solutions, the efficiency of producing alternative fuels, the state of plug-in hybrids, and strategies to reduce U.S. oil consumption in the transportation sector.