Capital District August 25, 2006
Clean Communities
Capital District Clean Communities
August 10, 2006 Meeting
Meeting Notes
Attendance
Noah Bond, NPB Computers
Pat Boudreau, National Grid
Joanne Coons, Shenendehowa
High School
Lawrence D’Arco, NYSDEC
Joe Darling, NYSDOT
David Hutchison, City of
Oneonta
Steve Iachetta, Albany County
Airport Authority
Linda Keefe, NYSOGS
Jerry King, NYSOGS
Dave Loper, BAF Technologies
Eileen Redmond, NYSOGS
Deborah Stacey, CDTC Staff,
CDCC Coordinator
Robert Steff, NY Thruway
Authority
SUMMARY NOTES:
1. NYSERDA:
a. NYSERDA received sixteen applications (statewide) for
the Clean Cities Challenge Grant. An
evaluation committee has been formed.
The committee will meet in mid-August to evaluate the submissions. Applicants will be notified of their funding
status in early fall.
b. NYSERDA will release a PON for the Clean Air Bus
program in the fall.
c. NYSERDA will initiate an incentive program that will
provide up to $50,000 to retailers to help defray the cost of installing
equipment for E-85 and bio-diesel dispensing.
2. USDOE:
a. USDOE’s Boston regional office closed in June 2006.
Mike Scarpino moved to Pittsburgh.
Initially the country was going to be divided into six territories for
Clean Cities programs. Two of the six
positions have been cut. Consequently,
Mike’s territory is now quite large. However,
the Northeast is still in Mike’s purview.
b. USDOE will announce funding awards under the Clean
Cities Transportation Sector Petroleum Reduction Technologies Program within
the next month or two.
3. ACAA:
a. The ACAA received a second VALE grant ($260,000). Monies granted under the Phase 2 VALE program
will be used to retrofit heavy duty diesels with oxidation catalysts and diesel
particulate filters.
b. The ACAA is pursuing solar technologies for the older
(1979) section of the terminal.
3. NYSOGS:
a. OGS has opened a bid for AFV’s. Hybrids, CNG and flex-fuel vehicles are all
on the state contract. Starting January,
the CNG Phill unit will be available on state contract.
b. Under the Executive Order 142, state agencies and
public authorities are required to purchase and utilize biofuels for use in
boilers, heating/cooling plants and in their motor vehicle fleets. OGS has been working on a fuel contract for
B5 and expects to have the contract in place shortly.
c. Ethanol—three ethanol plants will be built in the
state. As per Executive order 142, ethanol will be available to the public at
the rest area stations along the Thruway by the end of 2007. Ethanol will be available at the New
Baltimore Rest Area by October 1st.
4. OTHER NEWS:
a. City of Oneonta: The city recently joined the Capital District Clean Communities
coalition. The city is interested in
learning about new technologies and grant opportunities. The city plans to use
bio-diesel in their bus fleet that serves the college campuses and is also
considering a bio-diesel manufacturing project.
b. BAF Technologies: BAF continues to provide the expertise for OEM vehicle
conversions. BAF’s product list is
expanding. The company is marketing an
electric launch assist for heavy duty refuse trucks, which will result in a 40%
reduction in emissions. Grant funding is
available for this product.
c. Shenendehowa Central School District: Shenendehowa just received a hybrid-electric
school bus as a demo; they will use and test the bus during the upcoming school
year.
d. Freight Symposium: Jason Purvis from CDTC has organized a freight symposium for Thursday
October 5, 2006 at RPI. One session will
be devoted to Clean Fuels/Technology.
Members from the Clean Communities coalition are encouraged to attend
and/or exhibit. The conference fee will
be minimal ($25) and lunch will be provided.
The flyer will be emailed to coalition members in the next week or so.
e. NYSDOT: Joe Darling reported the dual fuel conversion
program for the large dump trucks/snowplows is going well. These vehicles are experiencing a 20-25%
increase in fuel efficiency. The town of
Smithtown is requiring the provider of trash services to convert their refuse
trucks to CNG. The public Hauppauge CNG
station (operated by Clean Energy under contract with NYSDOT) will have to be
expanded to accommodate the fueling needs of the refuse trucks.
f.
NPB Computers: NPB
Computers recently joined the District Clean Communities coalition. NPB has a fleet of four CNG vehicles—three
Honda Civics and one heavy-duty truck.
NPB is looking for cost information and options for on-site fueling.
Next Meeting
This
group will meet again on Thursday November 9, 2006 from 10:00 am to noon
at CDTC's offices (1 Park Place Main Floor, Albany, NY 12205).