Capital District
Clean Communities
Capital District Clean Communities
January 6, 2005 Meeting
Meeting Notes
Attendance
Mark Austin, NY Thruway 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
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
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
3. Other News:
a.
b.
This group will meet again on