Capital District                                                                                               January 25, 2005

Clean Communities

 

 

Capital District Clean Communities

January 6, 2005 Meeting

Meeting Notes

 

 

Attendance

 

Mark Austin, NY Thruway Authority

Patrick Bolton, NYSERDA

Rayna Caldwell, Saratoga Springs Resident

Lawrence D’Arco, NYSDEC

Steve Iachetta, Albany County Airport Authority

Deborah Stacey, CDTC Staff, CDCC Coordinator

Robert Steff, NY Thruway Authority

 

 

Summary Notes

 

Deborah Stacey opened the meeting with introductions.  Ms. Stacey initiated discussion on each agenda item:

 

 

1.     NYSERDA:  NYSERDA reported on several fronts.

a.     Governor Pataki in the State of the State address indicated that a 1-2% blend of bio-diesel will be used in all diesel vehicles run by the state.

b.     SLA Transport is putting their bio-diesel project on hold throughout the winter months because of a potential of a jelling issue.  This is in spite of the fact that many companies within the state (e.g. Kodak, NFTA, Town of Brookhaven) successfully burn bio-diesel during the winter months.  SLA will resume their bio-diesel program in the spring.

c.      The Governor’s office received a Honda fuel cell vehicle ass part of a demonstration program.  The vehicle will be tested in cold weather.  A second demonstration vehicle will be delivered in April.  The Honda vehicle is fueled by a portable truck that is located at the Empire State Plaza.

d.     NYSERDA is leading an upstate consortium for purchasing hybrid-electric transit buses.  $8.0 million is available to cover 60-100% of the incremental cost of the vehicles.  The money would cover the incremental cost of approximately 2-3 buses per transit authority.  CDTA is interested in the program.

e.     The next Clean Cities Challenge grant opportunity will likely be announced in June 2005.

 

 

2.     USDOE: USDOE indicated that the next round of the Special Energy Projects (SEP) grant opportunity will be announced in early 2005, with proposals due in April 2005.  The categories will be 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.

 

The FY ’05 Clean Cities budget has remained in tact at a national figure of $11.0 million.  The Clean Cities National Conference will be held may 1-4th in Palm Springs, California.  Details can be viewed at http://www.afvi.org/palmsprings/.

 

3.     Other News:

 

a.     Albany County Airport Authority: The Authority is operating four CNG shuttle vehicles.  The Albany County Airport Authority Airport is applying for $750,000 in Airport Improvement Program Grants to cover the cost of converting up to 100 heavy-duty vehicles to dual fuel (diesel/cng) technology.

 

b.     Saratoga Springs: Rayna Caldwell reported that the transportation committee has proposed shuttle service from remote park and ride lots to the downtown during the tourist season..  it has been suggested that the shuttle vehicles be fueled with CNG.  There is some movement on this project.  The committee will meet in mid-January and hopes to create a steering committee for implementation.

 

Next Meeting

 

This group will meet again on Thursday April 14, 2005 from 10:00 am to noon at CDTC's offices (1 Park Place Main Floor, Albany, NY 12205). Paul Shaffer from BAF Technologies will present information on BAF’s product line of CNG vehicles.  Lawrence D’Arco will bring the Honda Fuel Cell vehicle to the meeting for display purposes and maybe a ride and drive.