Capital District                                                                                               May 6, 2005

Clean Communities

 

 

Capital District Clean Communities

April 14, 2005 Meeting

Meeting Notes

 

 

Attendance

 

Patrick Bolton, NYSERDA

Pat Boudreau, Niagara Mohawk

Rayna Caldwell, Saratoga Springs Resident

Lawrence D’Arco, NYSDEC

Joseph DeFronzo, NYS Thruway Authority

Peter Dobo, World Energy

Glenn Havens, Cummins Northeast

Steve Iachetta, Albany County Airport Authority

Mike Monahan, NYS Thruway Authority

Carol Rodino, NYPA

Mike Scarpino, USDOE

Paul Shaffer, BAF Technologies

Deborah Stacey, CDTC Staff, CDCC Coordinator

Robert Steff, NY Thruway Authority

Ted Thompson, NYSDOT Region 1

Edward Weber, NYS Thruway & Canal Corporation

 

 

Summary Notes

 

Deborah Stacey opened the meeting with introductions.  Ms. Stacey turned the meeting over to Paul Shaffer from BAF technologies.

 

BAF technologies is the leading provider for natural gas and propane vehicle conversions with thousands of alternative fuel conversions completed for industry leading companies across the US. Using PowerPoint, Paul reviewed the products that BAF offers. BAF provides after market conversion services for Ford trucks and cut-aways. The vehicles are ordered from local dealers, with instructions that the vehicle will be converted to CNG.  BAF converts the vehicle and provides training to the organization/company that is purchasing the conversion.  BAF information can be found on-line at www.baftechnologies.com. Paul’s PowerPoint presentation will be made available on CD to those requesting copies.

 

Lawrence D’Arco brought the Honda FCX Hydrogen Fuel Cell vehicle that is leased to NYS to the meeting.  Meeting participants looked at the vehicle and those interested went for a ride.  Honda’s goal was to create a powertrain built around the fuel cell, providing the ultimate in green performance by combining hydrogen and oxygen in a chemical reaction that produces electricity and water as the only byproduct. The powertrain utilizes a high-pressure, pure-hydrogen type fuel cell system in combination with Honda's own originally developed ultra-capacitor to power an electric motor drive. Besides eliminating emissions of CO2 and other harmful substances, Honda applied existing technologies, including EV (electric vehicle) electric drive technology, NGV (natural gas vehicle) high-pressure gas storage technology, and advanced energy management technology used in their hybrid vehicle, to achieve greater energy efficiency. The result is a vehicle with the performance similar to a gasoline-engine vehicle.  Honda created an efficient layout that locates the powertrain's many structural components in the front, under the floor, and behind the rear seat. This layout provides a spacious cabin with room for four adults, while maintaining a high level of collision safety performance.  The EPA established the official hydrogen fuel economy estimates for the Honda FCX on July 16 2002. On an energy basis, this would translate into an EPA city/highway estimate of about 52/49 mpg of gasoline.

 

SUMMARY NOTES:

 

1.     USDOE:

 

a.      USDOE indicated that the next round of the Special Energy Projects (SEP) grant opportunity is underway, with proposals due this week.  The categories are basically the same as last year.  There is one new category—applicants can apply for the incremental cost (up to $100k) of a heavy duty hybrid electric vehicles.  USDOE will evaluate the SEP applications in May/June and will announce awards in August.  Grant money will be available by the end of the year.

 

b.     The Clean Cities National Conference will be held May 1-4th in Palm Springs, California.  Details can be viewed at http://www.afvi.org/palmsprings/

 

c.      The Capital District Clean Communities just reached its five year anniversary.  USDOE requires all Clean Cities coalitions to circulate an updated Memorandum of Understanding to all stakeholders, and to redefine goals and objectives every five years.  Deb Stacey just completed this undertaking, and submitted the paperwork to USDOE.  An unofficial transmittal indicated that the paperwork has been accepted the coalition has fulfilled its renewal requirements.

 

 

2.     NYSERDA:  NYSERDA reported on several fronts:

 

a.      NYSERDA received 18 letters of interest for SEP funds.  Three are from the Capital District Clean Communities coalition.  The Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk School District is applying for anti-idling hardware that will be installed on approximately 35 school buses.  This hardware will make it possible for buses to heat up in the winter without excessive idling.  CDTA is applying for the incremental cost of six heavy duty hybrid-electric buses.  These buses will be utilized in the first phase of CDTA’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project.  Schwans Home service is applying for monies to cover the cost of converting 32 Home service Trucks to Propane.  Six of these trucks will be deployed in the Capital District.

 

b.     The 2005 Tour de Sol will be held May 13th- 15th in Saratoga Springs at the State Park in conjunction with the Antique Car Show. A press conference announcing the event will be held at the Albany International Airport on May 12th.  The final events will be held on Monday May 16th at the Empire State Plaza.  Many hybrid and alternative fueled vehicles will be displayed at the events.  The CDCC will have a booth at the Saratoga Park.  Coalition members are encouraged to attend and display pertinent material.

 

c.      The next NYSERDA sponsored Clean Cities Challenge grant opportunity will likely be announced in June 2005.

 

3.     OTHER NEWS:

 

a.      Albany County Airport Authority: The Authority is operating four CNG shuttle vehicles.  The Authority is phasing out their diesel shuttles (two more will be purchased and converted to CNG by BAF).  The Albany County Airport Authority Airport has applied for Airport Improvement Program Grant for dual fuel retrofits (heavy duty vehicles), ZEV luggage tugs, and 14 Electric Charging stations.

 

b.     NYSDEC: Lawrence D’Arco reported that he attended a bio-diesel conference in Brookhaven LI that was very worthwhile.  A similar conference will be held in Syracuse on June 27th.

 

c.      CDTA: CDTA was a stop on the Hydrogen Fueled Hybrid Electric Bus tour that was en-route from Manitoba to California.  This bus uses a Ford V-10 internal combustion engine and has had great test results.

 

d.     NYSDOT:  Truck stop electrification usage remains modest, with about 35% usage at the Thruway stops and 15% usage at the Wilton stop.  Schenectady County CNG vehicles are in use again, fueling at the NYSDOT site.

 

e.      NYSTA: Bob Steff is working with OGS and NYSERDA on establishing ethanol fueling stations in the capital District (at Exit 23 and the State office campus).  Tanks should be in place by the end of 2005.

 

f.       NYPA—Carol Rodino is involved in a program called “Green Zone Communities”.  She also works with NYS parks and suggested that the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation be invited to the coalition meetings and be asked to present information on their programs at the fall meeting.

 

Next Meeting

 

This group will meet again on Thursday July 28, 2005 from 10:00 am to noon at CDTC's offices (1 Park Place Main Floor, Albany, NY 12205).