Capital District                                                                                                              February 2, 2006

Clean Communities

 

 

Capital District Clean Communities

February 2, 2006 Meeting

Meeting Notes

 

 

Attendance

 

Mark Austin, NYS Thruway Authority

Patricia Boudreau, National Grid

Greg Cuda, Saratoga ARC

Lawrence D’Arco, NYSDEC

Tom Garrett, Siemens Building Technologies

Ken Goewey, Interested Citizen

Glenn Havens, Cummins Northeast

Jeff Mirel, Manchester All-Mobile

Craig Johansen, Siemens Building Technologies

Steve Iachetta, Albany County Airport Authority

Jerry King, NYSOGS

Mark Riley, Clean Energy

Carol Rodino, NY Power Authority

Paul Rogers, Siemens Building Technologies

Mike Scarpino, USDOE—Northern Regional Office

Deborah Stacey, CDTC Staff, CDCC Coordinator

Robert Steff, NY Thruway Authority

Suna Stone-McMasters, SUNY Cobleskill

Ted Thompson, NYSDOT R-1

Michal Vojtisek, Atmospheric Sciences Research Center

 

 

SUMMARY NOTES:

 

1.   ACAA:

a.      Monies granted under the Phase 1 VALE program are being used to electrify baggage tugs, to expand the CNG fueling facility and to replace two diesel parking lot shuttles with CNG shuttles.

b.     The Albany County Airport Authority has been notified of a $300,000 Phase 2 grant award under the VALE program. Projects will be identified shortly.

 

2.   USDOE: 

 

a.      USDOE’s Boston regional office is closing in June 2006. Six offices are being consolidated to two.  The Clean Cities program has been folded into USDOE’s Freedom Car Program.

b.     USDOE will release a funding opportunity notice shortly for State Energy Plan Special Projects (SEP).  The budget for this program has been cut in half which means that project selection will be very competitive; projects that displace large quantities of petroleum will be looked upon more favorably.  

c.      Mike reported that emphasis on plug-in hybrids was beginning to emerge; a “Sprinter” van has been produced which will be circulating on a demonstration tour for three years.

 

3.   NYSERDA and NYSOGS: 

 

a.      NYSERDA expects to release the Project Opportunity Notice (PON) for the Clean Cities Challenge Grant within a few weeks.  Because of reduced funding, this program might be significantly reduced in scope.

b.     Governor Pataki has issued Executive Order 142. Under the Executive Order, state agencies and public authorities will be required to purchase and utilize biofuels for use in boilers, heating/cooling plants and in their motor vehicle fleets.  In 2007, at least 2 percent of fuels used in the State fleet must be bio-diesel, with this percentage rising to 10 percent by 2012.  By 2012, at least 5 percent of the heating fuel used in state buildings will be bio-diesel.  The Governor’s Clean Fueled Vehicle Council, directed by OGS, will develop and implement plans to increase the number and accessibility of ethanol refueling stations.

c.      Governor Pataki announced a series of measures in his 2006 executive budget which will help the state reduce its dependence on foreign oil.  The measures include tax credits for hybrids, competitive grants for the production of flexible fuel plug-in hybrid vehicles, funds for advanced vehicle research and development, production tax credits for renewable fuel producers and resources to construct a pilot cellulosic ethanol production facility in the state.  The budget proposal also offers a $2000 income tax credit to help defray the incremental costs of purchasing a hybrid-electric vehicle.

d.     The Governor also plans to work with retail fuel suppliers to develop legislation allowing stations to dispense renewable fuels regardless of contractual agreements with gasoline fuel providers. This effort will address a barrier to the widespread use of biofuels—agreements that retail service stations have with fuel providers requiring them to use a specific brand of fuel.  If that brand does not offer a renewable fuel, the retailer is prevented from dispensing renewable fuel from another source.

e.      Ethanol—two ethanol plants will be built in the state. The Governor has requested that the Thruway make ethanol available to the public at the rest area stations.

 

4.   OTHER NEWS:

 

a.      Siemens Building Technologies: Siemens has entered into an agreement with the City of Albany to develop a project that will convert landfill gas to CNG.  Siemens has formed a partnership with Sysco, which has the largest diesel fleet in the US.  Through this project, Sysco will convert 108 diesel vehicles to dual fuel technology (diesel/CNG). Approximately 1 million gas gallon equivalents of CNG will be produced annually; Sysco will purchase all of the CNG. .  Dry ice will also be produced as a by-product of the process. Nitrogen will be sold to Albany Nanotech and 1-2 megawatts of electricity will also be produced annually.

b.     NYSTA: The Thruway Authority has all the pieces in place to start dispensing E85.  E85 is available in Nyack, Newburgh, and Buffalo.  Equipment is being installed in Syracuse as well.  Troop T is beginning to use E85 in some of their fleet.

 

c.      Tour de Sol: Ken Goewey has rejoined the Clean Communities coalition after a several year hiatus.  Ken is working on the 2006 Tour de Sol event.  The Tour de Sol will be held May 10-14th.  Many events and activities are in the works.

d.     SUNY Cobleskill: SUNY Cobleskill will be hosting a sustainability conference in April.  Suna is looking for speakers/topics for the conference.

e.      Saratoga ARC (Bridges): The ARC moves 400 people per day and drives 800,000 miles per year.  The ARC is building a “green” building and would like to explore the possibility of switching to bio-diesel. Mike Scarpino will research whether nearby suppliers (i.e. Brattleboro) can supply the ARC.  National Grid is also interested in a supply for their local fleet.

f.       Cummins: Glenn Havens reported that Cummins is revisiting the warranty issue regarding B-20.  Basically, Cummins will warranty an engine using B-20 when the spec of B-20 fuel becomes standardized.

g.      Clean Energy: Mark Riley introduced himself to this Clean Communities coalition, having transferred from the Phoenix region recently.  Clean Energy has signed an agreement with Hallahan Truck Sales on LI to build a natural gas refuse truck which will meet NYC specs.  The truck will be demonstrated for eight months and will be shown in the Capital District at some point.  Clean Energy also has a finance arm which aids in the financing of alternative fuel vehicles.  This division of Clean Energy also helps applicants with tax incentives, tax codes, etc.

Next Meeting

 

This group will meet again on Thursday May 4, 2006 from 10:00 am to noon at CDTC's offices (1 Park Place Main Floor, Albany, NY 12205).