Capital District                                                                                               August 1, 2005

Clean Communities

 

 

Capital District Clean Communities

July 28, 2005 Meeting

Meeting Notes

 

 

Attendance

 

Patrick Bolton, NYSERDA

Dale Button, HVCC

Rayna Caldwell, Saratoga Springs Resident

Lawrence D’Arco, NYSDEC

Peter Dobo, World Energy

Glenn Havens, Cummins Northeast

Jerry King, NYS Office of General Services

Chris Reville, Roadfry.com

Deborah Stacey, CDTC Staff, CDCC Coordinator

Robert Steff, NY Thruway Authority

 

 

Summary Notes

 

Deborah Stacey opened the meeting with introductions.  A Roundtable discussion followed:

 

SUMMARY NOTES:

 

1.   USDOE:  Mike Scarpino was unable to attend the meeting, but he emailed a short status report regarding USDOE Clean Cities activities.

 

a.      USDOE indicated that the Special Energy Projects (SEP) grant awards will likely be announced by mid or late August.

 

b.     The Senate Energy and Water development committee has proposed a consolidation of the six regional offices.  Unfortunately, the USDOE office in Boston, Mike’s home base, is slated to close.  It is not known at this time what will become of Mike’s position with the Clean Cities program.

 

 

2.   NYSERDA:  NYSERDA reported on several fronts:

 

a.      NYSERDA reported that they are involved in a multi-state initiative for a 20 bus procurement of hybrid-electric school buses.  NYS is one of the participating states.  Two school buses will be assigned to NYS; schools will receive the buses on a rotating basis and will be asked to collect data on their performance.  Each bus will cost approximately $200,000 (versus approximately $56,000-$75,000 for a traditional diesel powered school bus).  This project will likely begin in 2006.

 

b.     SLA Transport is once again using bio-diesel in their fleet.  The gelling problem experience in November was due to the fact that the temperature plummeted and SLA was still using a summer blend of bio-diesel in their tanks. SLA plans to use bio-diesel for the next year or so, including the upcoming winter season.

 

c.      Mirabuto is moving forward with the deployment of dispensing facilities near Oneonta and Cooperstown.  The company plans to retail bio-diesel and supply bio home heating oil.  A typical residential oil furnace can use up to a 30 percent bio-diesel blend without modifications to the furnace.

 

d.     The Vice president of Price Chopper has contacted NYSERDA to discuss potential Clean fuel projects.  NYSERDA suggested that Price Chopper join the CDCC coalition.

 

e.      The next NYSERDA sponsored Clean Cities Challenge grant opportunity will likely be announced in September 2005.

 

3.   OTHER NEWS:

 

a.      Albany County Airport Authority: The Albany County Airport Authority Airport has applied for a Airport Improvement Program Grant for 20 electric ground support vehicles, 20 electric charging stations and two CNG Parking Lot Shuttles.  The ACAA is the first airport in the country to apply under the Voluntary Airport Low Emissions (VALE) program. The VALE program allows airport sponsors to use the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) and Passenger Facility Charges (PFCs) to finance low- emission vehicles, refueling and recharging stations, gate electrification, and other airport air quality improvements.   The ACAA is also pursuing the expansion of their CNG station (doubling its capacity) and is considering opening the station to the public.

 

b.     NYSTA: Bob Steff is working with OGS and NYSERDA on establishing ethanol fueling stations in the Capital District at Exit 23, Syracuse and Nyack.  There are 995 ethanol vehicles in the state’s fleet. The goal is to fuel all 995 vehicles with ethanol.

 

c.      NYSOGS—Jerry King reported that Clean Energy is now operating the Rotterdam and Valhalla stations. The Schenectady Department of Public works is now, once again, using CNG in their dual fuel trucks.  There has been a marked increase in usage in the public CNG fueling stations across the state, including the McCarty Avenue station.

 

d.     HVCC—Dale Button introduced himself to the group.  Dale has been in the automotive program at HVCC for 16 years, and involved with the alternative fuels program for six years.  Dale distributed three draft course outlines.  He is proposing to expand the alternative fuel aspect of the automotive degree program from one course to three.  He asked the CDCC members to review the course outline and provide input.  The courses must be approved by the HVCC curriculum committee before they are offered.  It is anticipated that the courses will be offered in the Spring and fall semesters, and possibly during evenings as well.

 

e.      World Energy—Peter Dobo reported that Sprague is going to begin selling bio-diesel in the Capital District at the rack (terminal) which will likely make the price competitive with diesel.  Under the American Jobs Creation Act, there is a federal excise tax credit that equates to one penny per percent of bio-diesel if the fuel blend is made from agricultural products and one half penny per percent if the blend is made from recycled oils.  The incentive is taken at the blender level (distributor) and passed on to the consumer, which makes the price competitive with diesel.  This is good news for the Capital District, but does not bode well for World Energy’s market share in this area. 

 

f.       Rayna Caldwell—Rayna reported that she will no longer be a member of CDCC, as she will not have the time needed to devote to the coalition.  However, Rayna will speak with Jay Goodman, who is also a member of the Saratoga Springs Climate Control Committee inquire if he would be willing to take her place at the CDCC table.  Rayna would like the CDCC to potentially contact horse owners at the Saratoga Raceway and educate them about the health benefits (particularly to the thoroughbreds) of bio-diesel over diesel.

g.     Cummins NE--Glen Havens reported that Cummins is working on a new retrofit for particulate reductions.  Cummins is looking to do two demos--on off road and one on-road.  Cummins would like to do the demonstration project in NYS.  The E-4 conference will be held in October in Saratoga Springs; Cummins will be at that event.

 

Next Meeting

 

This group will meet again on Thursday November 3, 2005 from 10:00 am to noon at CDTC's offices (1 Park Place Main Floor, Albany, NY 12205).