Capital District April 22, 2009

Clean Communities

Capital District Clean Communities

March 19, 2009 Meeting

Meeting Notes

Attendance

David Ardman, Barton & Loguidice

Scott Beecher, Ward Diesel

Steve Brown, Brown Coach

Lawrence D’Arco, NYS DEC

Joe Darling, NYSDOT

Daniel DiLillo, City of Albany DGS

Dennis Dugan, CDTA

Jeff Edwards, Schenectady County Planning Department

Jeremiah Haley, Honda Corp

Glenn Havens, Troy Motor Service

Steve Iachetta, Albany County Airport Authority

Emily Riley, College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering

Steve Rock, RPI

Adam Rudar, NYSERDA

Karin Silvernale, NYS OGS

Chris Smith, Schenectady County DEPW

Deborah Stacey, CDTC Staff, CDCC Coordinator

Dana Tompkins, Green Infrastructure

SUMMARY NOTES: Much of the discussion at the meeting centered on the USDOE Clean Cities Funding Solicitation and project eligibility:

· The funding opportunity has four funding areas of interest. The deadline for the first three is March 31^st which does not provide much time for applicants to prepare the necessary paperwork if they haven’t done so already.

· Funding Area of Interest (FAI) 4 is due on May 29^th. This area of interest funds Alternative Fuel and Advanced Technology Vehicles and is of the most interest to coalition members.

· Up to $300 Million will be available under FAI 4; the minimum award is $5M and the maximum is $15M. The non-federal cost share must be at least 50%.

· Up to 100% of the incremental cost of the AFV can be applied for in most instances; the cost of the “base” vehicle can be used to cover match requirements.

· NYSERDA has offered to be the “applicant” for NYS projects. Under this arrangement, sub applicants will only need to complete one USDOE form, provide some data on cost and emission reductions and a project summary. NYSERDA will complete all of the grant forms required by USDOE.

· A support letter from the Clean Cities coalition is required.

The discussion led to the remaining items on the agenda:

1. NYSERDA

a. NYSERDA has also agreed to facilitate submissions for diesel retrofit projects under EPA’s National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program. Adam Rudar from NYSERDA is the contact for this program. EPA is soliciting applications for projects that can be commenced quickly, reduce diesel emissions, and maximize job preservation and/or creation and promote economic recovery through a variety of diesel emission reduction strategies. Eligible diesel emissions reduction solutions include: verified emission control technologies including retrofit devices, cleaner fuels, and engine upgrades; verified idle reduction technologies; certified engine repowers; and/or vehicle or equipment replacement. As of this meeting, the application deadline is Arpil 28^th. Interested applicants will need to provide NYSERDA with their project information by April 20^th at the latest.

2. CDTC:

a. A second solicitation for the CMAQ diesel retrofit program will likely be circulated this fall, once the dust settles from the stimulus funding opportunities. CDTC would like additional municipalities to put forward diesel retrofit projects.

b. CDTC has signed up several employers, including Golub Corporation, Albany Medical Center, SUNY Administration, CDTA and the NYSERDA/STEP for the iPool2 Employer Module. The Employer Module gives businesses access to some of the administrative features of iPool2, such as estimating emissions reductions based on employee participation rates. CDTC staff will meet with additional area employers during the next quarter. The Adirondack Glen Falls Transportation Council (AGFTC) , the MPO for the Glean Falls urban area is in the process of converting their ridesharing site to the GreenRide Platform, so the two databases can be linked. The conversion should be complete by mid-April.

c. CDTC and CDTA, in a joint effort with VPSI submitted a grant application to NYSERDA to begin a demonstration vanpool program for the Capital District. The application was approved, and the kick-off meeting is scheduled for early April. It is expected that fifteen to twenty vanpools will be created as a result of this $223,000 grant award; the grant monies will be used to subsidize the cost of the vanpool service to the consumer.

3. Albany Airport Authority:

a. Steve Iachetta reported that the Airport is looking into expanding their CNG station but that they are experiencing high electric costs to compress the gas. Ultra capacitors could help resolve this issue. The airport is also considering a retrofit of their maintenance garage so that the CNG and Hydrogen vehicles can be serviced on-property.

4. OTHER NEWS:

a. NYSDOT: Joe Darling reported that the NYSDOT is planning on ordering 140 CNG dump trucks, pick-up trucks and sedans very shortly. The LNG issue is also moving toward reconciliation in the state. Bio-diesel usage will increase from a 6% blend to a 10% blend this year.

b. Brown Coach: Steve Brown reported that Brown Coach is participating in the hybrid school bus demonstration project. The hybrid bus will be used, tested and evaluated against diesel powered school buses that are identical in size and that are used on identical bus routes. Brown Coach will have the hybrid bus on their property for a year. One of the next two Clean Communities meetings will be hosted by Brown Coach, so that participants can tour their electric block heater plug-in system and the hybrid school bus.

c. Jeremiah Haley from Rensselaer Honda reported that Honda Corp is trying to schedule an event to showcase their hybrid vehicles. The Honda Insight will be available by earth day. This vehicle is rated at 46mpg, but is achieving over 60mpg in the field. The Insight is a parallel hybrid system and will sell for just under $20,000. Honda is providing 500-600 hydrogen vehicles to California consumers.

Next Meeting

This group will meet again on Thursday June 18, 2009 from 10:00 am to noon. Deb Stacey will inquire about the feasibility of meeting at Brown Coach in Amsterdam to Brown’s their electric block-heater system. This meeting location is tentative at this time.