Capital District                                                                                                              December 4, 2006

Clean Communities

 

 

Capital District Clean Communities

November 9, 2006 Meeting

Meeting Notes

 

Attendance

 

Mark Austin, NYS Thruway Authority

Greg Cuda, Saratoga Bridges

Lawrence D’Arco, NYSDEC

Kristin Devoe, Albany County Comptrollers Office

Joe Darling, NYSDOT

Ross Farrell, University at Albany

Glenn Havens, Cummins NE

Herbert Headwall, Misty Hills Farm, LLC

Steve Iachetta, Albany County Airport Authority

Linda Keefe, NYSOGS

Jerry King, NYSOGS

Steven Levy, Sprague Energy

Ed Parker, EBA/NYS

Dave Radzyminski, University at Albany

Deborah Stacey, CDTC Staff, CDCC Coordinator

Robert Steff, NY Thruway Authority

 

 

SUMMARY NOTES:

 

1.   USDOE: 

 

a.      USDOE announced funding awards under the Clean Cities Transportation Sector Petroleum Reduction Technologies Program. NYSERDA received an award for $500,000 to aid in the installation of up to 30 publicly accessible refueling stations across New York and to leverage the NYS Thruway Authority’s activities in developing E85 along the Thruway.  Team members include NYSDOT, NYSDMV, NYS Department of Agriculture and markets and the NYS Thruway Authority.

 

2.    ACAA:

a.      The ACAA is progressing two VALE grants.  Using monies from the first VALE grant, ACAA has ordered two additional CNG parking shuttle vehicles.  These vehicles were converted by BAF and will be in service in a few weeks.  The on-site CNG fueling station has also been upgraded; it now can fill 4 vehicles per hour.  Ground service equipment is also being converted to electric; the Airport just signed an agreement with United Airlines for the conversions.  The second VALE grant is being used to finance heavy duty retrofits.

b.     The ACAA and American Wind Power and Hydrogen LLC have submitted a proposal under NYSERDA PON 1082 for funds to cover the cost of purchasing up to two hydrogen fueled Chevrolet Silverado pick-up trucks, a fueling facility, and commercially produced hydrogen.  If funded, the grant would also cover the costs to maintain the vehicles and fueling facility.  CDTA submitted a similar application for three hydrogen-electric Ford Escapes.  The ACAA is also investigating the potential of producing hydrogen from by-product gas that is currently being flared from a process that uses anaerobic digestion of de-icing fluid to produce heat and minimize environmental issues that go along with the de-icing process.

 

3.   NYSOGS: 

 

a.      OGS has approved the state contract for AFV’s.  Light duty hybrids, CNG and flex-fuel vehicles are now on the state contract.  Starting January, the CNG Phill unit (home filling apparatus for CNG) will be available on state contract.

b.     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.

c.      OGS applied for grant monies under NYSERDA PON 1082 to add hydrogen fueling capability at the McCarty Avenue CNG station.  Currently Air Products delivers hydrogen to the state to fuel the Honda fuel cell vehicle.  However, the contract with Air Products ends at the end of the month, while the state has use of the fuel cell vehicle until September 2007.

 

4.   Albany County Comptrollers Office 

 

a.      Michael Conners, II the Albany County Comptroller has been contacting newspapers and legislators regarding greenhouse gas emissions and energy policy.  Michael has been advocating for passage of an energy policy that would focus on renewable bio-fuels.  Michael would like to state to mandate a 10% bio-blend to all fuel.  Michael and his co-worker Kristin Devoe are looking for support for this effort.

 

5.   OTHER NEWS:

 

a.      Ethanol Pumps/UL Issues: There are emergent issues regarding E-85 pumps and UL (Underwriters Laboratory) certification.  The pump components have all passed UL testing, but the finished product (the pump) has not.  This issue 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.

b.     Sprague Energy: Sprague stores B100 at the port and stores E100 as well.  These are blended at the rack.  Most of the bio-diesel out of the Port is destined for Vermont.

c.      NYS Thruway Authority:  The Thruway Authority is using bio-diesel in Larchmont, Nyack and Newburgh.  The Thruway has operated several E-85 pumps for 4 years and has experienced no seal or leaking problems.

d.   Bio-Fuels Conference: Ed Parker announced that the EBA/NYS is hosting a bio-fuels conference in Albany on Wednesday March 14th at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.  Ed is looking for agenda items and speakers.  The fees and topics will be determined over the next several weeks.

e.    Saratoga Bridges: Saratoga Bridges is under no mandates to use alternative fuels or to reduce fuel consumption, but the organization is looking at bus plug-in technology, bio-fuel usage and at green building designs..

 

Next Meeting

 

This group will meet again on Thursday February 15, 2007 from 10:00 am to noon at CDTC's offices (1 Park Place Main Floor, Albany, NY 12205).