Capital District                                                                                                September 21, 2007

Clean Communities

 

 

Capital District Clean Communities

September 19, 2007 Meeting

Meeting Notes

 

Attendance

David Ardman, Barton & Loguidice, P.L.

Pat Boudreau, National Grid

Bill Boyce, Cummins Westport

Greg Cuda, Saratoga Bridges

Glenn Havens, Cummins NE

Ruth Horton, NYSERDA

Steve Iachetta, Albany County Airport Authority

Dale Phelps, Cummins Northeast

Joe Rich, FHWA

Karin Silvernale, NYSOGS

Deborah Stacey, CDTC Staff, CDCC Coordinator

Robert Steff, NYS Thruway Authority

Jason Zogg, FHWA

 

 

SUMMARY NOTES:  Bill Boyce from Cummins Westport was invited to join the group to provide information on Cummins Westport Natural Gas Division.  Bill gave an interesting PowerPoint presentation.  Briefly, Bill noted that the Cummins ISL G (natural gas engine) currently meets 2010 emissions standards ahead of schedule with 85% lower NOx than previous engines and 34% more torque at idle.  These engines have improved fuel economy and no exhaust related maintenance costs.  Bill presented a lot of other material which can be viewed as emailed as an attachment to these meeting notes.

 

1.     CDTA 

a.      CDTA ordered 22 replacement buses this year, six were hybrid electrics.  Although CDTA could not attend this meeting, CDTA has indicated to Deb Stacey that the Hybrids are well liked by CDTA drivers and customers and have realized a significant increase (30%) in fuel efficiency over the diesel fleet. CDTA has ordered 23 hybrid-electric buses for the next round; one will be an over-the-road coach and tested on the NX service area (Commuter runs from Saratoga County to downtown Albany)

b.     The NYPTA Conference will be held in Albany this November 14, 15 and 16th.  There will likely be a segment devoted to Clean Fuels.

2.   Albany County Airport Authority: 

a.      Delta Airlines has replaced 7 diesel tugs and 2 diesel loaders with electric vehicles.  The media event showcasing this equipment will be held on September 28th.  Delta received $185,000 in a grant from NYPA for the recharging station.  Delta has made a commitment nationally to replacing their diesel tugs and loaders with electric models.

b.     The Federal Aviation Administration featured Albany Airport’s VALE program in their quarterly publication.  Houston and the ACAA are the only two Airports in the nation that have received VALE funding.  The ACAA used their VALE I funds to upgrade their CNG station so it can fuel 4 buses (up from 2) at a time.

c.      The ACAA in a joint effort with CDTA received monies under NYSERDA PON 1082 to proceed with a hydrogen pilot project. ACAA will test two hybrid pick-up trucks and CDTA will test two HICE Ford Escapes.  The hydrogen fueling station will be placed on the ACAA’s site, with access permitted to CDTA.  The hydrogen will be trucked in.  The Airport is conducting a feasibility study for producing hydrogen from the flare off gas that results from their anaerobic process that using the de-icing fluid to heat two buildings.

d.     The ACAA is working with Cummins NE to install 14 Longview kits on their diesel equipment.  The necessary engine and exhaust temperatures must be met and maintained for the Longview kits to work.  Cummins will conduct a field test on the duty cycle of the ACAA’s snow removal equipment once winter arrives.  The ACAA will use VALE II monies to fund this project.

3.    CDTC:

a.      CDTC staff has been overwhelmed with updating their long rang plan (New Visions 2030) and adopting the Transportation Improvement Program in a timeframe that is necessary to meet SAFETEA-LU guidelines.  Now that those tasks are essentially complete, CDTC staff will begin to draft the solicitation for the CMAQ diesel retrofit program. 

4.    NYSERDA:

a.      NYSERDA has three Program Opportunity Notices that might be of interest to the CDCC.  Proposals for PON 1091 are due October 2nd. This purpose of this PON is to increase the number of petroleum stations in NYS that offer renewable fuels such as ethanol and bio-diesel.  PON 1092 is Round VIII of the New York State Clean-Fueled Bus Program.  Proposals under this PON are due December 19th.  NYSERDA, under PON 1093 is accepting applications through May 2, 2008.  The objective of this PON is to increase the number of retail E85 and blended biodiesel service stations in NYS.

b.     A new PON for School Bus retrofits will be announced in the near future.  Carl Mas from NYSERDA will be the contact for that program.

c.      NYSERDA is completing a comprehensive study of the pros and cons of the usage of the various alternative fuels.  NYSERDA is willing to present the findings of the study at one of the Capital District Clean Communities quarterly meetings. 

d.     Meeting participants asked Ruth Horton about the status of the LNG usage rules in NYS.  NY is the only state that “prohibits” use of LNG as a vehicle fuel.  Coalition members have suggested that a letter from the coalition be drafted and sent to the legislature on the CNG/LNG issue.  If LNG could be used as a fuel, it would allow large alternative fuel dump trucks and snowplows to operate for longer hours without encountering a fueling issue.

5.   OTHER NEWS:

a.      Saratoga Bridges: Saratoga Bridges is building an 18000 square foot “green” building on their property just off exit 13 of the Northway. The agency used B5 in their vehicles as an experiment last year and experienced no problems with the fuel.  If the price of bio-fuel was close to the price of diesel, Saratoga Bridges would switch to bio-fuels.  Saratoga Bridges will likely apply for retrofit money when the CMAQ dollars are released.

b.   Cummins NE: Glenn Havens helped Ray Melleady gather facts and information for a white paper that Ray produced regarding the financial impact of the Governor’s Executive Order 142.  The coalition members requested a copy of Ray’s paper.  Deb Stacey will follow-up on this request.

c.    NYSOGS: OGS has mailed out EPACT ’07 materials.

d.   National Grid: The merger with Keyspan is complete.  Keyspan was a big proponent of Natural Gas vehicles.  This “culture” might spill over to the entire company.

 

Next Meeting

 

This group will meet again on Thursday December 20, 2007 from 10:00 am to noon at CDTC's offices (1 Park Place Main Floor, Albany, NY 12205).  Deb Stacey will make inquiries regarding the LNG issue to determine if there is an “expert” that can attend the December meeting and present information about the LNG issue.  Alternatively, Ruth Horton suggested that NYSERDA present the summary findings from the study that has been undertaken regarding the environmental consequences of bio-fuel production and usage.