Capital District                                                                                               April 22, 2004

Clean Communities

 

 

Capital District Clean Communities

March 18, 2004 Meeting

Meeting Notes

 

 

Attendance

 

Patrick Bolton, NYSERDA

Lawrence D’Arco, NYSDEC

Glenn Havens, Cummins Northeast

Steve Iachetta, Albany County Airport Authority

Mary Marsh, CDTA

Carol Rodino, NY Power Authority

Deborah Stacey, CDTC Staff, CDCC Coordinator

Robert Steff, NY Thruway Authority

Ted Thompson, NYSDOT Region 1

 

 

Summary Notes

 

Deborah Stacey opened the meeting with introductions.  Ms. Stacey initiated discussion on each agenda item:

 

 

1.     NYSERDA:  NYSERDA released the Clean Cities Challenge Round VI PON in January.  Proposals are due May 12th. NYSERDA is not aware of any applications from agencies or businesses located in the Capital District.

 

Several transit agencies across NYS formed a consortium to purchase 22 hybrid-electric buses under the Clean Fuel Bus Program.  Proposals are due April 7th.

 

2.     USDOE: The USDOE Special Energy projects program funding opportunity was announced this past winter.  NYSERDA processes applications for NYS applicants.  Eight proposals were received by NYSERDA (none from the Capital District).  NYSERDA received three proposals to fund Clean Cities coordinator positions, one proposal from Schwans to convert additional trucks to propane, one proposal from Manhattan beer to convert trucks to propane, and one proposal to install anti-idling equipment (similar to that on the Northway) at a private truck stop that is located off exit 41 of the Thruway.

 

3.     Other News:

 

a.     NYS Thruway Authority: The ethanol station in Buffalo has been opened to vehicles operated by the NYS Office of Mental Health.  15,000 gallons were dispersed in Buffalo last year.  The Thruway Authority has the infrastructure for ethanol in Albany and Syracuse, but cannot get the fuel.

 

b.     OGS:  The  McCarty Avenue station is now open to the public.  OGS recently awarded a contract to Clean Energy Fuels to lease and operate eight existing State-operated CNG fueling stations, and build one new station.  McCarty Avenue was one of the eight that was leased.  The others are located in Poughkeepsie, Utica, Rush, Hauppauge, New Paltz, Binghamton and Syracuse.  These stations will be open 24 hours a day, and will accept major credit cards.

 

c.      Glenn Havens from Cummins Northeast reported that Cummins is working on a school bus project that will decrease particulates.  Cummins is installing diesel oxidation catalysts on 2200 school buses statewide, including 300 in the Capital District.

 

d.     Albany County Airport Authority: Two CNG parking shuttle buses are on order.  The ACAA is relocating their CNG fueling station to Lot E.  The station is still accessible landside.  The ACAA is considering a shared fleet fueling project with the Town of Colonie.

 

The ACAA has delayed implementation of their B20 project (using B20 in half of their ground support vehicles) while waiting for assurances from the vehicle manufacturers that the engine warranties will not be voided if B20 is burned.  The ACAA has collected information (pros and cons) on this subject.  Field data show that use of B20 does not harm the engines, but the engine manufacturers will only support B5.

 

SLA transport will go ahead with their grant to run half of their vehicles on B20.  Most, if not all of SLA’s trucks are past their warranty period.

 

e.     NYSDOT: The new CNG station is on-line in Schenectady (Chrisler Avenue) and has good pressure.

 

Next Meeting

 

This group will meet again on Thursday June 10, 2004 from 10:00 am to noon at CDTC's offices (5 Computer Drive West, Albany, NY 12205).