Capital District
Clean Communities
Capital District Clean Communities
April 14, 2005 Meeting
Meeting Notes
Attendance
Patrick Bolton, NYSERDA
Pat Boudreau,
Joseph DeFronzo, NYS Thruway
Authority
Peter Dobo, World Energy
Glenn Havens, Cummins Northeast
Mike Monahan, NYS Thruway
Authority
Carol Rodino, NYPA
Mike Scarpino, USDOE
Paul Shaffer, BAF Technologies
Deborah Stacey, CDTC Staff, CDCC
Coordinator
Robert Steff, NY Thruway Authority
Ted Thompson, NYSDOT Region 1
Edward Weber, NYS Thruway &
Canal Corporation
Summary Notes
Deborah
Stacey opened the meeting with introductions.
Ms. Stacey turned the meeting over to Paul Shaffer from BAF
technologies.
BAF
technologies is the leading provider for natural gas and propane vehicle
conversions with thousands of alternative fuel conversions completed for
industry leading companies across the US. Using PowerPoint, Paul reviewed the
products that BAF offers. BAF provides after market conversion services for
Ford trucks and cut-aways. The vehicles are ordered from local dealers, with
instructions that the vehicle will be converted to CNG. BAF converts the vehicle and provides
training to the organization/company that is purchasing the conversion. BAF information can be found on-line at www.baftechnologies.com. Paul’s PowerPoint
presentation will be made available on CD to those requesting copies.
Lawrence D’Arco brought the Honda FCX Hydrogen
Fuel Cell vehicle that is leased to NYS to the meeting. Meeting participants looked at the vehicle
and those interested went for a ride. Honda’s
goal was to create a powertrain built around the fuel cell, providing the
ultimate in green performance by combining hydrogen and oxygen in a chemical
reaction that produces electricity and water as the only byproduct. The
powertrain utilizes a high-pressure, pure-hydrogen type fuel cell system in
combination with Honda's own originally developed ultra-capacitor to power an
electric motor drive. Besides eliminating emissions of CO2 and other harmful
substances, Honda applied existing technologies, including EV (electric
vehicle) electric drive technology, NGV (natural gas vehicle) high-pressure gas
storage technology, and advanced energy management technology used in their
hybrid vehicle, to achieve greater energy efficiency. The result is a vehicle
with the performance similar to a gasoline-engine vehicle. Honda created an efficient layout that
locates the powertrain's many structural components in the front, under the
floor, and behind the rear seat. This layout provides a spacious cabin with
room for four adults, while maintaining a high level of collision safety
performance. The EPA established the
official hydrogen fuel economy estimates for the Honda FCX on
SUMMARY NOTES:
1.
USDOE:
a.
USDOE indicated that
the next round of the Special Energy Projects (SEP) grant opportunity is
underway, with proposals due this week.
The categories are basically the same as last year. There is one new category—applicants can
apply for the incremental cost (up to $100k) of a heavy duty hybrid electric
vehicles. USDOE will evaluate the SEP
applications in May/June and will announce awards in August. Grant
money will be available by the end of the year.
b.
The Clean Cities
National Conference will be held May 1-4th in
c.
The Capital District
Clean Communities just reached its five year anniversary. USDOE requires all Clean Cities coalitions to
circulate an updated Memorandum of Understanding to all stakeholders, and to
redefine goals and objectives every five years.
Deb Stacey just completed this undertaking, and submitted the paperwork
to USDOE. An unofficial transmittal
indicated that the paperwork has been accepted the coalition has fulfilled its
renewal requirements.
2.
NYSERDA: NYSERDA reported on several fronts:
a.
NYSERDA received 18
letters of interest for SEP funds. Three
are from the Capital District Clean Communities coalition. The
b.
The 2005 Tour de Sol
will be held May 13th- 15th in
c.
The next NYSERDA
sponsored Clean Cities Challenge grant opportunity will likely be announced in
June 2005.
3.
OTHER NEWS:
a.
b.
NYSDEC:
c.
CDTA: CDTA was a stop
on the Hydrogen Fueled Hybrid Electric Bus tour that was en-route from
d.
NYSDOT: Truck stop electrification usage remains
modest, with about 35% usage at the Thruway stops and 15% usage at the
e.
NYSTA: Bob Steff is
working with OGS and NYSERDA on establishing ethanol fueling stations in the
capital District (at Exit 23 and the State office campus). Tanks should be in place by the end of 2005.
f.
NYPA—Carol Rodino is
involved in a program called “Green Zone Communities”. She also works with NYS parks and suggested
that the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation be invited
to the coalition meetings and be asked to present information on their programs
at the fall meeting.
This
group will meet again on