Capital District December 1, 2004
Clean Communities
Capital District Clean Communities
September 23, 2004 Meeting
Meeting Notes
Attendance
Mark Austin, NY Thruway Authority
Patricia Boudreau, Niagra Mohawk
Jeff Brisson, Delta Airlines
Rayna Caldwell, Saratoga
Springs Resident
Lawrence D’Arco,
NYSDEC
Joe Darling, NYSDOT
Glenn Havens, Cummins
Northeast
Steve Iachetta, Albany
County Airport
Authority
Jerry King, NYS Office of General Services
Mary Marsh, CDTA
Mike Mowahan, NY Thruway Authority
Eileen Redmond, NYS Office
of General Services
Deborah Stacey, CDTC Staff, CDCC Coordinator
Robert Steff, NY Thruway Authority
Suna Stone-McMasters—SUNY Cobleskill
Summary Notes
Deborah Stacey opened the meeting
with introductions. Ms. Stacey initiated
discussion on each agenda item:
1.
NYSERDA: SLA transport and
NYSERDA resolved issues regarding use of bio-diesel. SLA transport is now
using bio-diesel in their truck fleet and anticipates using more than 500,000
gallons in the coming year.
2. USDOE: USDOE announced the 2004 Special
Energy projects (SEP) awards. No applications were submitted from entities in
the Capital District. The next round
will be announced at the end of the year or in early 2005, with proposals due
in February or March 2005.
3.
Other News:
a. NYS Office of General Services: OGS
recently distributed a special edition newsletter, which announced the new
public/private partnership with Clean Energy Fuels for operation of CNG fueling
stations that are open not only to NYS agencies, but also to the general
public. Eight stations in NY are now
operating under this partnership; the station at McCarty
Avenue in downtown Albany
is one of the eight.
b. Glenn Havens from
Cummins Northeast reported that Cummins has completed 500 retrofits for school buses,
approximately 250 in the Albany
area. Cummins will be involved in a
second round of retrofits, totaling approximately 300 additional buses.
c. NYSDOT: Joe Darling
reported that NYSDOT has completed 10 dump truck conversions and that they are
considering 40 more. The next 10
conversions will be distributed across the state, with one in the Capital
District. These trucks displace 80-90
percent of typical diesel fuel consumption..
d. SUNY Cobleskill: SUNY Cobleskill is
looking for used NEVs. They are also
interested in burning bio-diesel in the 15 farm vehicles that they have
on-site. There is also a need to replace
a 15-passenger van, alternate fuel options are being considered.
e. Albany County Airport Authority: The Authority is operating
four CNG shuttle vehicles. The Albany
Airport is the only airport in NYS
that owns a CNG fueling station and CNG fleet.
Steve is looking for hard cost data regarding actual savings by fleet
type. These data would be helpful in
“selling” the alternate fuel concept to Airport executives and tenants.
f. Saratoga Springs: Rayna Caldwell
reported that the Climate Protection Committee in Saratoga
Springs is looking at alternative fuels as a
technology that would help with air quality in the city. A transportation committee is proposing a
park and ride lot that would serve visitors.
Shuttle vans would serve the lot.
Rayna has suggested that the shuttle vehicles be fueled with CNG. Rayna was successful in reducing all-day bus
idling at the race track in the summer. Rayna is investigating the feasibility
of organizing an anti-idling campaign in the city.
Next Meeting
This group will meet again on Thursday January
6, 2005 from 10:00 am
to noon at CDTC's offices (1
Park Place Main Floor, Albany,
NY 12205).