Capital District                                                                                                              May 7, 2007

Clean Communities

 

 

Capital District Clean Communities

March 15, 2007 Meeting

Meeting Notes

 

Attendance

David Ardman, Barton & Loguidice, P.L.

Pat Boudreau, National Grid

Lawrence D’Arco, NYSDEC

Joe Darling, NYSDOT Fleet Administration

Glenn Havens, Cummins NE

Kristina Hong, A/GFTC

Stacey Hughes, National Grid

Steve Iachetta, Albany County Airport Authority

Scott Lengel, Cummins Northeast

Paul Patterson, City of Oneonta

Pete Rea, NYSDOT R-1

Joseph Rich, FHWA

Deborah Stacey, CDTC Staff, CDCC Coordinator

Robert Steff, NY Thruway Authority

Glenn Young, John Ray and Sons

 

 

SUMMARY NOTES:

 

1.    ACAA:

a.      The ACAA is progressing their second VALE grant.  This VALE grant is being used to retrofit 13 heavy duty vehicles with diesel oxidation catalysts and diesel particulate systems.  The retrofits will achieve 95% particulate reduction.

b.     The ACAA received a grant from NYSERDA ($60,000) for a photovoltaic application in Concourse A. 

 

2.   NYSOGS: 

 

a.      Under the Executive Order 142, state agencies and public authorities are required to purchase and utilize biofuels for use in boilers, heating/cooling plants and in their motor vehicle fleets.  OGS has been working on a fuel contract for B5 and expects to have the contract in place shortly.

 

3.   NYSDOT

 

a.      Joe Darling indicated that the Diesel Retrofit Order for State fleets is an expensive program, given that the NYSDOT has 1400 vehicles that need retrofits and the state owns an additional 6600 diesel vehicles.  The cost of each retrofit (for diesel oxidation catalysts) ranges between $1500 and $3000.

b.     The law prohibiting use of LNG as a transportation fuel in NYS is likely to be revoked within the next few months.  This would open up the alternative fuel vehicle market/use in Northern NYS, where natural gas is not available.  The Albany Airport and garbage recycling plants could provide much of the LNG by entering into methane liquefaction projects.

c.      NYSDOT is looking into specifications for dedicated CNG trucks and for light duty CNG retrofits.

 

4.   CMAQ Funding 

 

a.      CDTC has proposed a $2 million set-aside in CMAQ funds for Clean Cities projects.  CDTC’s Planning Committee has recommended that an emphasis be placed on off-road diesel retrofits (as specified in SATETEA-LU) and on on-road heavy duty retrofits.

b.     CDTC’s Planning Committee recommendations must go to its Policy Committee for endorsement and then must go through a public review process.  If approved, project solicitation will begin in summer/fall 2007.  CDTA projects are specifically excluded because CDTA will likely receive $8 million for bus replacements.  Joe rich noted that CSX is looking at diesel retrofits for their locomotive engines.

 

5.   OTHER NEWS:

 

a.      Ethanol Pumps/UL Issues: There are still issues regarding E-85 pumps and UL (Underwriters Laboratory) certification.  This is interfering with the installation of public E-85 pumps at the Thruway Rest Areas and at other locations in NYS.  NYSERDA has organized a working group to get the issues addressed in a timely fashion.  Barton & Loguidice is working with the Thruway Authority and NYSERDA on the design and implementation phases.

b.     John Ray and Sons: A representative from John Ray and Sons was asked to join the Clean Communities coalition because John Ray and Sons is the only local retail supplier of bio-diesel.  The company provided about eight customers with B2 during this past winter and will likely switch to a B20 blend this spring.  John Ray & Sons has had inquiries regarding bio-heat and will likely get into the home heating bio-fuel market next winter.  The company is also considering E-85 as a retail product.

c.      National Grid:  National Grid is purchasing B20 for their diesel vehicles.  This policy began in May 2006; National Grid used regular diesel during the winter and will resume use of B20 in the spring.  Approximately 35,000 gallons were consumed in 2006. 50,000 gallons are projected for 2007.

d.   National AFVI Conference: The AFVI conference is scheduled for the first week in April in Anaheim California.  Deb Stacey will attend the event along with many other Clean Cities coordinators.

e.    Cummins NE: Cummins is providing 2010 EPA certified diesel engines to Chrysler for their 2007 model year Dodge pick-up trucks. Cummins’s natural gas engines are also 2010 certified.

f.     City of Oneonta: The city’s entire fleet runs on B20, including emergency vehicles.  The city did not experience fuel problems this past winter.  The city will convert their transit fleet to bio-diesel this coming year.  The city is working with the school system to convert the school buses to B20.  The city pays a premium for the biofuel, but this has become a politically popular decision.

g.    CDTA: CDTA has ordered six hybrid-electric buses from the Gillig Corporation.  Two buses have been delivered.  The maintenance department is using these two buses for training purposes before they are put in service.  The hybrid-electrics will be placed in service on the Route 5 corridor, which is the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor.

 

Next Meeting

 

This group will meet again on Thursday June 14, 2007 from 10:00 am to noon at CDTC's offices (1 Park Place Main Floor, Albany, NY 12205).