Capital District
Clean Communities
Capital District Clean Communities
March 6, 2003 Meeting
Meeting Notes
Attendance
Glenn Havens, Cummins Northeast
Steve Iachetta,
Mary Marsh, CDTA
Carol Rodino, NY Power Authority
Matthew Shea, Interested Citizen
Deborah Stacey, CDTC Staff, CDCC Coordinator
Robert Steff, NY Thruway Authority
Marta Szewczyk,
Ted Thompson, NYSDOT Region 1
Summary Notes
Deborah Stacey opened the meeting with introductions. Ms. Stacey initiated discussion on each agenda item:
1. NYSERDA Clean Cities Challenge Round V Grant Application: The Albany County Airport Authority (ACAA) submitted two grant applications to NYSERDA. The first application is for money to pay for 75% of the incremental cost of two additional CNG Ford Shuttle vehicles. These vehicles will be used to shuttle airport patrons from the long-term parking lots to the terminal building. The second application is for money to pay for 75% of the incremental cost of bio-diesel. The ACAA would like to purchase 22,500 gallons of B20 bio-diesel. The B20 will be used in 50 percent of the ACAA’s ground support vehicles (approximately 25 vehicles). The ACAA will collect data regarding engine performance from the vehicles that are run on bio-diesel. Ultimately, the ACAA would like to use B20 in their entire ground fleet, if no major barriers are detected.
SLA Transport,
a trucking firm that is located in
2. USDOE: The State Energy Plan Special Projects solicitation was released in mid-February. Proposals are due May 5th. Eligible projects include the incremental cost of AFV’s and fueling infrastructure. Funding the Clean Communities coordinator position is also an eligible project under this solicitation. CDTC staff has decided to forego this opportunity mostly because some the required activities of a coordinator (if funded by USDOE) exceed the realistic expectations of the AFV market in the Capital District. For example, if funded by USDOE, the coordinator would be required to organize one to two niche market events with an auto or truck manufacturer, bring one to two new fleets to the National Conference and attend at least two national Clean Cities events. These requirements are in addition to many other coordinator responsibilities.
3.
NYS Thruway
Authority: The ethanol station in
4. Other Business:
a. NYSDOT Region 1 reported on the Truck Stop Idling Project that is planned for the Northway. This project is similar to the NYS Thruway Truck Stop Electrification Project that was installed in the DeWitt Rest Area and is planned for the Chittenango Rest Area. The Northway project will be a little different in design from the Thruway projects; but both are aimed at eliminating overnight truck idling. A location on the Northway has not yet been identified; there is a potential to implement the test project at exit B1 of I-90 instead.
b. Glenn Havens from Cummins Northeast reported that his company manufactures and installs a muffler on after production vehicles such as school buses, that utilizes a soot filter and trap that reduces particulate matter by nearly 90%. The mufflers must be cleaned annually and have a 10 year life. Lawrence D’Arco reported that these devices can be installed on CNG buses; this technology reduces emissions from CNG buses to negligible levels.
c. Deb distributed a copy of USDOE’s Altenate Fuel News (January 2003 edition) and the Fall 2002 edition of GM’s AltFuels.
This group will meet again on