Capital District                                                                                                January 10, 2008

Clean Communities

 

 

Capital District Clean Communities

December 20, 2007 Meeting

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, Albany County Airport Authority

Paul Patterson, City of Oneonta

Randy Premo, CDTA

Pete Rea, NYSDOT R-1

Deborah Stacey, CDTC Staff, CDCC Coordinator

Michael Wise, NYS Parks

 

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.  Ron provided a great overview of the history of LNG use in NYS.  Essentially, in 1975, there was an accident in Staten Island that claimed the lives of 35 workers.  The workers were cleaning out a holder when the Kevlar lining was ignited with a torch.  Though a horrendous accident, this was not related to volatility of LNG.  Nonetheless, a moratorium was passed that restricted the siting of new facilities and restricted issuance of permits and transportation of the fuel. In 1976 a law was passed restricting siting of LNG facilities and the transport of LNG.  Article 17 Section 23 of the law mandated the NYSDEC to promulgate rules for the safe storage and transport of LNG.  Rules have not been promulgated to date.

 

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.  Joe Darling will keep the CDCC informed.

 

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 Saratoga County to downtown Albany).

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.   Albany County Airport Authority: 

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 (Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga and Schenectady).  Several members of the CDCC will be asked to serve on an evaluation committee to aid in the evaluation of project proposals once they are received.

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 GIS based system, that will not only identify carpool matches, but will also identify bus routes that can be taken in place of commuting by auto.  The transition should occur sometime this spring.

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 Adirondacks, the Hudson River and virtually any issue seen as green.  Ms. Enck was approached regarding some simple TDM measures that state can implement to encourage state workers to carpool or take the bus to work.  Hopefully CDTC will establish a rapport with the Enck office and which will enable staff to push for some Clean Cities activities as well.

 

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 Saratoga State Park is on the list for this technology.

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: Joe Darling applied for the EPACT Alternative Compliance Method Waiver and will meet the standards under this compliance method with the CNG fleet alone.

b.   City of Oneonta: The city’s transit fleet has switched to B20 blend of bio-diesel.  The city has not experienced difficulty with this blend even in the winter months (the city adds kerosene as an additive).

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.  Deb Stacey indicated that she is working on a project for reduced vehicular activity in the Fuller Road corridor for a lengthy construction period and that this technology will fit well with the TDM projects.  SUNYA sits at the table for these meetings.

 

Next Meeting

 

This group will meet again on Thursday March 20, 2008 from 10:00 am to noon at CDTC's offices (1 Park Place Main Floor, Albany, NY 12205).  Deb Stacey will invite NYSERDA to present the summary findings from the study that has been undertaken regarding the environmental consequences of bio-fuel production and usage.