08/19/2008 09:02 AM

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Weekly Clean Energy Roundup: September 3, 2008

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Ford Invests $75 Million to Convert Truck Plant for Small Cars

Ford Motor Co. is following through on its plans to produce more small cars with a $75 million investment in the body shop of its Michigan Truck Plant. Starting in November, the company will begin disassembling the tooling and equipment for the Ford Expedition and the Lincoln Navigator, and by mid-2009 that same equipment will start producing those vehicles at Ford's Kentucky Truck Plant. That will pave the way for small-car production to begin at the Michigan Truck Plant in 2010 (it's not clear yet if Ford will also change the name of the facility). Meanwhile, Ford will add a third shift to the nearby Wayne Assembly Plant at the start of 2009, and the 1,000 employees from the Michigan Truck Plant will be put to work at that plant, producing the hot-selling Ford Focus.

The Michigan Truck Plant is one of three Ford plants in North America that will be converted from trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) to instead build small fuel-efficient compact and subcompact cars. A facility in Mexico that currently produces F-Series pickups will begin building the new Fiesta subcompact car in 2010, while the Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky, currently the home of the Ford Explorer, will start producing other small vehicles in 2011. See the Ford press release.

Producing more compact and subcompact cars will yield significant gains in fuel economy for Ford, but of course those gains will be gradual and incremental. Looking more towards those technologies that can yield revolutionary gains in fuel economy, the Progressive Automotive X Prize announced last week that it is now accepting official registrations for its competition. To date, more than 120 teams from 17 countries have declared their intent to compete for the $10 million prize, which will be awarded those that can design and build production-capable, market-friendly vehicles able to achieve the equivalent of at least 100 miles per gallon.

Teams have until the end of this year to register, and those that qualify will participate in a long-distance stage race that will be judged on speed, distance, urban driving, and overall performance, while also having to meet the fuel economy goal and strict emissions standards. DOE is providing nearly $3.5 million for education and outreach related to the prize. See the press release on the Progressive Automotive X Prize Web site.

San Francisco Approves a Tough Green Building Standard

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom approved a green building ordinance in early August that imposes strict requirements on newly constructed residential and commercial buildings within the city, as well as building renovations. For homes, the ordinance requires ratings from the GreenPoints rating system, developed by a non-profit organization called Build It Green. Starting next year, new "small" residential buildings (those with four dwellings or fewer) must achieve 25 GreenPoints (equal to the "Elements" rating), but do not need to be rated.

For 2010 and 2011, the homes must be GreenPoint Rated and building applications must demonstrate that a minimum of 50 GreenPoints (equal to the "Whole House" rating) will be achieved. And starting in 2012, building applications for new homes must demonstrate that at least 75 GreenPoints will be achieved. The same rules apply for mid-size residential buildings, except that the requirement for 75 GreenPoints starts earlier, in 2011.

For commercial buildings and high-rise residential buildings, the ordinance adds in requirements from the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED rating system. Starting in November (if the California Energy Commission approves the legislation), new permit applications for high-rise residential buildings must include documentation to achieve LEED certification (or 50 GreenPoints), and starting in 2010, they must include documentation to achieve LEED Silver certification (or 75 GreenPoints). A number of specific LEED standards must also be met for landscaping, water use reduction, and construction debris management.

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