Capital District May 8, 2006
Clean Communities
Capital District Clean Communities
May 4, 2006 Meeting
Meeting Notes
Attendance
Patrick Bolton, NYSERDA
David Christopher, Shenendehowa Central School District
Greg Cuda, Saratoga ARC
Lawrence D’Arco, NYSDEC
Joe Darling, NYSDOT
Glenn Havens, Cummins
Northeast
Steve Iachetta, Albany County
Airport Authority
Jerry King, NYSOGS
Deborah Stacey, CDTC Staff,
CDCC Coordinator
Robert Steff, NY Thruway
Authority
Ted Thompson, NYSDOT R-1
SUMMARY NOTES:
1. NYSERDA:
a. NYSERDA released the Project Opportunity Notice (PON)
for the Clean Cities Challenge Grant.
Grant Applications are due July 6, 2006.
The program will fund:
· the incremental cost of leasing new light, medium or
heavy duty alternative fueled vehicles
· the incremental cost of converting medium and heavy
duty vehicles to alternative fuels
· the costs of purchasing and installing fueling and
recharging equipment
· costs associated with bulk storage, handling and blending equipment
for renewable fuels such as E85 and B100 (maximum funding 50%)
b. NYSERDA will release a PON for the Clean Air Bus
program in the fall. It is possible that
NYSERDA will fund a second demo for a Block Heater Control System similar to
the system that Brown Coach installed.
NYSERDA is looking toward a commercial roll-out of this technology after
the second demo.
2. USDOE:
a. USDOE’s Boston regional office is closing in June 2006. Mike Scarpino is moving to Pittsburgh and will have a much
larger territory than he did previously.
b. USDOE released the funding opportunity notice under
the Clean Cities Transportation Sector Petroleum Reduction Technologies
Program. Grant Applications are due June
8, 2006. The program will fund:
· Refueling Infrastructure for E85 and Other Alternative
Fuels
· The Incremental Cost of Alternative Fuel Vehicles
· Idle Reduction training and Awareness for school
districts
c. The budget for this funding opportunity has been
greatly reduced. About $4 million is
available nationwide.
d. The national Clean Cities Expo is scheduled for May
7-10th in Phoenix, Arizona.
3. ACAA:
a. Monies granted under the Phase 1 VALE program are
being used to electrify baggage tugs, to expand the CNG fueling facility and to
replace two diesel parking lot shuttles with CNG shuttles.
b. Monies granted under the Phase 2 VALE program will be
used to retrofit heavy duty diesels with oxidation catalysts and diesel
particulate filters.
c. Southwest Airlines has just committed to using B-20 on
all of their tugs. Southwest has
installed a tank; Accent (from Syracuse) will be their fuel provider.
d. The airport is adding generators for all buildings and
is expanding their jet fuel supply to a 2 ½ day reserve (approximately 400,000
gallons)
3. NYSOGS:
a. 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.
b. Ethanol—two ethanol plants will be built in the state.
The Governor has requested that the Thruway make ethanol available to the
public at the rest area stations.
4. OTHER NEWS:
a. Sprague Energy:
Sprague has two 20,000 gallon B100 storage tanks at the Port of Albany. Sprague
blends at the rack. NYS purchased the
first supply out of the Port. Currently the
incremental cost of B20 is about $1.50.
b. NYSTA: The
Ethanol station at Exit 23 is open. The Thruway
is moving forward with plans to install public E-85 pumps at all rest areas
along the Thruway.
c. Tour de Sol: The
Tour de Sol will be held May 10-14th. The first event is scheduled for Thursday May
11th at the Saratoga Technology and Energy Park in Malta. This event will feature 40 exhibitors.
Speakers from NYSERDA, OGS and DEC are also scheduled. School Day events are scheduled at the
Saratoga Spa on Friday May 11th and Saturday will feature Exhibits
and the Antique Car Show in the park.
d. Freight Task Force: Jason Purvis from CDTC is organizing a freight conference 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.
e.
NYSDOT: Ted Thompson reported that the ShorePower
Truckstop electrification equipment at the Northway Exit
16 Truckstop is no longer in operation. Only trucks fitted or retrofitted for the ShorePower System could utilize the equipment at Exit 16. Negotiations
are underway with Idle Aire to install equipment at
this stop. The Idle Aire
technology does not require a pre-existing infrastructure (on the trucks). On a separate note, Ted announced that he will
be retiring from NYSDOT in July of this year.
Joe Darling reported that LNG legislation
might be enacted this year which would eliminate the restrictions for LNG use
in the transportation sector. The dual
fuel conversion program for the large dump trucks/snowplows is going well. Joe is interested in applying for funds to
convert additional dump trucks/plows for use in the Capital District.
Next Meeting
This
group will meet again on Thursday August 10, 2006 from 10:00 am to noon
at CDTC's offices (1 Park Place Main Floor, Albany, NY 12205).