Capital District
Clean Communities
Capital District Clean Communities
Meeting Notes
Attendance
Chuck Berdar, CDTA
Pat Boudreau, National Grid
Barry Carr, Homeland Energy/American Honda
Joe Darling, NYSDOT
Stacey Hughes, National Grid
Steve Iachetta,
Paul Patterson, City of
Randy Premo, CDTA
Pete Rea, NYSDOT R-1
Deborah Stacey, CDTC Staff, CDCC Coordinator
Michael Wise,
SUMMARY NOTES: Ron Gulmi from National Grid was invited to address the group
(via teleconference) to provide information on the issue of operating LNG
vehicles in NYS.
Although the moratorium has
lifted and NYSERDA published a study concluding that there was no safety issue
surrounding the transport of LNG, no progress has been made to reverse Article
17 Section 23. Five amendments to
Article 17 Section 23 have been drafted, allowing for peak shaving, line repair
fortification, land fill gas recovery, alterative fueling stations and vehicles
and remote storage and distribution. This issue has become a priority with National
Grid, NYSERDA and others as it is standing in the way of expanding alternative
fuel technologies in NYS. NYS is the
only state in the nation that prohibits the siting and use of LNG.
Members of the CDCC queried
Ron about what the coalition can do the help move the amendments to the bill
forward. Ron replied that letters of
support can be written when the timing is appropriate.
The CDCC members thanked Ron
for his time on the conference call and wished him a happy holiday. Attention was then drawn to the next item on
the agenda:
1. CDTA
a. CDTA continues to collect data on the
performance of the hybrids. Because of
the stop and go nature, the hybrids are getting 5 mpg which is a significant
increase (almost 50%) in fuel efficiency over the diesel fleet(3.4
mpg). 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
b. CDTA just issued a press release—they are now
using a B5 bio-diesel blend and expect to use 120,000 gallons of B5 in the
coming year. The authority will consider
a higher blend (B10) in the summer.
2.
a. 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 resulting from the anaerobic
process that uses de-icing run-off fluid to heat two buildings.
b. The ACAA is conducting field tests on their
heavy duty diesel equipment. The
temperature data logging will enable the ACAA to install the appropriate diesel
retrofit equipment, since some equipment is temperature sensitive. VALE II
monies are funding this project.
3. CDTC:
a. CDTC drafted the solicitation for the CMAQ
diesel retrofit program. The draft was circulated
to the CDCC. Comments are needed by the
end of the year. This draft will be
presented to CDTC’s Planning Committee at its January 9th
meeting. If approved, the solicitation
will be widely distributed to agencies and municipalities located in CDTC’s
planning area (
b. CDTC staff has been pursing Transportation
Demand Management activities with the help of CDTA. The Commuter Register, an on-line carpool
matching and commuter information services is somewhat outdated. CDTC staff has drafted an RFP for a software
firm to convert the matching portion of the site to a
c. CDTC and CDTA staff had a very short (but
seemingly productive) meeting with Judith Enck,
Governor Spitzer’s deputy secretary for the environment. Her voice will guide Spitzer on global
warming, recycling, pollution, the state's park
system, the
4. NYS Office of Parks,
Recreation and Historical Preservation:
a. The NYSOPRHP has been using bio-diesel in their
equipment since November 1st.
About 200,000 gallons of B5 will be used statewide. The NYSOPRHP is working with Toro—starting
2009, all new Toro’s will be B100 compliant.
b. The Parks Department is experimenting with
geo-thermal residential park houses. The
c. The Parks Department is negotiating with an
electric car company that will produce year round vehicles (with AC and heat)
that will have a range of 100 miles.
There are 600 electric vehicles in the Parks inventory.
5. OTHER NEWS:
a. NYSDOT:
b. City
of
c. Homeland
Security/American Honda: Barry
Carr is working with universities to install zip car technology on campuses and
have the cost paid as part of tuition.
Next Meeting
This group will meet again on