Capital District                                                                                                           October 10, 2003

Clean Communities

 

Capital District Clean Communities

September 11, 2003 Meeting

Meeting Notes

 

 

Attendance

 

Patrick Bolton, NYSERDA

Patricia Boudreau, NIMO

Rayna Caldwell, Interested Citizen

Lawrence D’Arco, NYSDEC

Suzanne Ellis, SLA Transport

Steve Iachetta, Albany County Airport Authority

Mary Marsh, CDTA

Lisa Mueller, Spirit Haven Center

Sr. Jean Keating, Sr. of St. Joseph’s

James Miller, SLA Transport

Bob Osgood, Upstate Transit, Inc.

Jason Purvis, CDTC Staff

Carol Rodino, NY Power Authority

Y. Larry Song, Nexant Inc.

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.  Deb initiated discussion on each agenda item:

 

 

1.     NYSERDA Clean Cities Challenge Round V Grants: Under the Clean Cities Challenge program, the Albany County Airport Authority  (ACAA)  and SLA Transport, a trucking firm that is located in Amsterdam, NY (and that operates trucks throughout the Capital District) were approved for monies to cover 75% of the incremental cost of of bio-diesel.  NYSERDA, ACAA and SLA expect delivery of the bio-diesel sometime in mid-October.  The projects are on hold because of a supply/price issue.

 

NYSERDA has funded a dual-fuel program for NYSDOT.  This program is funding the research and development for installation of dual-fuel capability in heavy-duty trucks and plows.  This technology uses diesel as the pilot fuel and injects CNG. Seven additional plow trucks will be retrofitted with this technology and deployed in the state.

 

NYSERDA will re-released a PON for the NYS Clean Fuel Bus program.  $5.0 million will be available to public entities to cover the incremental cost of purchasing alternative fuel buses (including propane, CNG, hybrid-electric). 

 

Seventy school districts applied for monies under the School Bus Retrofit program.  NYSERDA will announce the awards shortly. The majority of school buses will be retrofitted with an oxidation catalyst.  This technology will require the introduction of ultra low sulfur diesel in the area.  Statewide, the program will call an annual supply of 6.5 million gallons of ultra low sulfur diesel.

 

The PON for the Clean Cities Round VI Program will be circulated this fall.  Proposals will be due in early January 2004. Awards will be made in March 2004. 

 

2.     USDOE: The State Energy Plan Special Projects solicitation was released in mid-February 2003. The Albany County Airport Authority recently received approval for funding for two additional CNG shuttle vehicles.  These vehicles will be ordered shortly. The two new shuttle buses will displace 10,000 gallons of diesel fuel per year or 120,000 gallons over their 12-year life.

 

3.     Albany County Airport Authority: Two additional CNG parking lot shuttle vehicles have been ordered.  Delivery time in expected to take up to five months.  Steve is involved in organizing a conference for the Upstate Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA).  The conference will be held October 22-24th in Saratoga Springs.  There is a workshop scheduled for Friday October 24th that will address the Clean Cities mission and American Fueled Vehicle technology. 

 

4.     NYS Thruway Authority: The ethanol station in Buffalo is still operating.  The Thruway Authority has opened this fueling station to other NYS fleets.  The current cost is $1.62/gallon, which is higher than the cost of gasoline.  Fuel economy is typically 5 mpg lower.  The Authority has not been successful in securing suppliers for Syracuse or Albany.

 

 

5.     Other Business:

 

a.     OGS is in the final negotiation stage to make the McCarty Avenue CNG fueling station fully accessible to the public.  This is timely, given that the Schenectady DPW public fueling CNG station has been shut down due to the need for a costly repair.

 

b.     Deb distributed copies of newsletters and a copy of the Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition article entitled, “2003 Gas Supply Situation Talking Points”.

 

c.      Y. Larry Song introduced himself.  He works for Nexant Inc, a consulting firm located in White Plains that is active in alternative fuels and AFV’s. 

 

 

Next Meeting

 

This group will meet again on Thursday December 11, 2003 from 10:00 am to noon at CDTC's offices (5 Computer Drive West, Albany, NY 12205).