Capital District December 4, 2006
Clean Communities
Capital District Clean Communities
November 9, 2006 Meeting
Meeting Notes
Attendance
Mark Austin, NYS Thruway
Authority
Greg Cuda, Saratoga Bridges
Lawrence D’Arco, NYSDEC
Kristin Devoe, Albany County
Comptrollers Office
Joe Darling, NYSDOT
Ross Farrell, University at
Albany
Glenn Havens, Cummins NE
Herbert Headwall, Misty Hills
Farm, LLC
Steve Iachetta, Albany County
Airport Authority
Linda Keefe, NYSOGS
Jerry King, NYSOGS
Steven Levy, Sprague Energy
Ed Parker, EBA/NYS
Dave Radzyminski, University
at Albany
Deborah Stacey, CDTC Staff,
CDCC Coordinator
Robert Steff, NY Thruway
Authority
SUMMARY NOTES:
1. USDOE:
a. USDOE announced funding awards under the Clean Cities Transportation
Sector Petroleum Reduction Technologies Program. NYSERDA received an award for
$500,000 to aid in the installation of up to 30 publicly accessible refueling
stations across New York and to leverage the NYS Thruway Authority’s activities
in developing E85 along the Thruway.
Team members include NYSDOT, NYSDMV, NYS Department of Agriculture and
markets and the NYS Thruway Authority.
2. ACAA:
a. The ACAA is progressing two VALE grants. Using monies from the first VALE grant, ACAA
has ordered two additional CNG parking shuttle vehicles. These vehicles were converted by BAF and will
be in service in a few weeks. The
on-site CNG fueling station has also been upgraded; it now can fill 4 vehicles
per hour. Ground service equipment is
also being converted to electric; the Airport just signed an agreement with
United Airlines for the conversions. The
second VALE grant is being used to finance heavy duty retrofits.
b. The ACAA and American Wind Power and Hydrogen LLC have
submitted a proposal under NYSERDA PON 1082 for funds to cover the cost of
purchasing up to two hydrogen fueled Chevrolet Silverado pick-up trucks, a
fueling facility, and commercially produced hydrogen. If funded, the grant would also cover the
costs to maintain the vehicles and fueling facility. CDTA submitted a similar application for
three hydrogen-electric Ford Escapes.
The ACAA is also investigating the potential of producing hydrogen from
by-product gas that is currently being flared from a process that uses
anaerobic digestion of de-icing fluid to produce heat and minimize
environmental issues that go along with the de-icing process.
3. NYSOGS:
a. OGS has approved the state contract for AFV’s. Light duty hybrids, CNG and flex-fuel
vehicles are now on the state contract.
Starting January, the CNG Phill unit (home filling apparatus for CNG) 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. OGS applied for grant monies under NYSERDA PON 1082 to
add hydrogen fueling capability at the McCarty Avenue CNG station. Currently Air Products delivers hydrogen to
the state to fuel the Honda fuel cell vehicle.
However, the contract with Air Products ends at the end of the month,
while the state has use of the fuel cell vehicle until September 2007.
4. Albany County Comptrollers Office
a. Michael Conners, II the Albany County Comptroller has
been contacting newspapers and legislators regarding greenhouse gas emissions
and energy policy. Michael has been
advocating for passage of an energy policy that would focus on renewable
bio-fuels. Michael would like to state
to mandate a 10% bio-blend to all fuel.
Michael and his co-worker Kristin Devoe are looking for support for this
effort.
5. OTHER NEWS:
a. Ethanol Pumps/UL Issues: There are emergent issues regarding E-85 pumps and UL
(Underwriters Laboratory) certification.
The pump components have all passed UL testing, but the finished product
(the pump) has not. This issue is
interfering with the installation of public E-85 pumps at the Thruway Rest
Areas and at other locations in NYS.
NYSERDA has organized a working group to get the issues addressed in a
timely fashion.
b. Sprague Energy: Sprague stores B100 at the port and stores
E100 as well. These are blended at the
rack. Most of the bio-diesel out of the
Port is destined for Vermont.
c. NYS Thruway Authority: The Thruway Authority is using bio-diesel in
Larchmont, Nyack and Newburgh. The
Thruway has operated several E-85 pumps for 4 years and has experienced no seal
or leaking problems.
d. Bio-Fuels Conference: Ed Parker announced that the EBA/NYS is hosting a
bio-fuels conference in Albany on Wednesday March 14th at the Crowne
Plaza Hotel. Ed is looking for agenda
items and speakers. The fees and topics
will be determined over the next several weeks.
e. Saratoga
Bridges: Saratoga Bridges is under no
mandates to use alternative fuels or to reduce fuel consumption, but the
organization is looking at bus plug-in technology, bio-fuel usage and at green
building designs..
Next Meeting
This
group will meet again on Thursday February 15, 2007 from 10:00 am to
noon at CDTC's offices (1 Park Place Main Floor, Albany, NY 12205).