Proposal:
Execute a Contract to Cost-share the Development of an Interstate Clean Transportation Corridor
Synopsis:
Use of alternative fuels in medium- and heavy-duty trucks in the Basin could significantly reduce their emissions. However, many of these trucks come into California from other states. Until the alternative fuel infrastructure can support interstate trucks, a large percentage of fleets cannot use alternative fuels. The proposed contract with Gladstein & Associates will design an alternative fuel infrastructure to link Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah. Total estimated project costs are $413,000. AQMD funding shall not exceed $50,000.
Committee:
Technology, March 21, 1996. Chair Leonard Paulitz and member Jon Mikels communicate their concurrence with the Executive Officer's recommendation.
Recommended Action:
Authorize the Chairman to execute a contract with Gladstein & Associates for the development of the Interstate Clean Transportation Corridor, not to exceed $50,000.
James M. Lents, Ph.D.
Executive Officer
ARA:CS:kd
Background
Ozone attainment in the South Coast Air Quality Management District will require substantial reductions of NOx emissions from all significant source categories, including heavy-duty trucks. The ARB estimates that heavy-duty trucks represent 4 percent of the vehicle population in California, but will contribute nearly 50 percent of the NOx and over 80 percent of the on-road particulate matter (PM) by the year 2010. ARB has estimated that by the year 2010, the heavy-duty truck percent contributions in terms of total number of in-use vehicles (TOT), total vehicle-miles-traveled (VMT) and total emissions in the Basin are as follows:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOT VMT VOC CO NOx PM10 SOx
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2010
Gasoline 2.27 2.42 4.22 6.11 8.56 3.05 7.74
Diesel 0.77 4.95 21.74 12.52 51.77 78.50 32.08
---------------------------------------------------------------
Both 3.04 7.37 25.96 18.63 60.33 81.55 40.82
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The 1994 Air Quality Management Plan emphasizes the use of alternative fuels throughout the transportation sector as an air quality attainment strategy. Use of alternative fuels in trucks could significantly reduce their emissions, although it is estimated that about 20 percent of the heavy-duty truck vehicle miles traveled (VMT) is produced from vehicles registered outside California.
While there have been many local and state-sponsored alternative fuel demonstrations, none have attempted to link the efforts of neighboring states. The California Trucking Association (CTA), whose members travel throughout the western states, and several out-of-state consortiums have expressed an interest in pursuing a number of alternative fuel, interstate trucking demonstrations between California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona.
In developing these joint demonstrations, it is necessary to create geographic linkages not only between neighboring states, but also among engine and vehicle manufacturers, as well as potential alternative fuel truck fleet operators. Without a strategy uniting these interests, it is unlikely that a critical mass of alternative fuel vehicles and tangible fuel consumption, which are needed to encourage investments in infrastructure, will materialize to sustain an interstate alternative fuels market. It is the intent of staff to use the information and data resulting from this project as the basis for future solicitations, including request for proposals, for alternative fuel truck demonstrations.
Proposal
Gladstein & Associates, working in conjunction with the Center for Resource Management (CRM), Urban Dimensions (UD), and Acurex Environmental Corporation (AEC), proposes to develop and implement a program to create the Interstate Clean Fuel Corridor (ICTC) within the states of Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah. The purpose of the ICTC will be to mobilize and concentrate public and private resources to build the necessary refueling infrastructure to permit long-haul vehicles to use clean, alternative fuels and to ensure that the fuel infrastructure is fully utilized by local and interstate fleets of AFVs.
The goal of the proposal is to establish an initial blueprint for a sustainable alternative fuel infrastructure which can service alternative fuel truck traffic between the region's seven major non-attainment areas: Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, the San Joaquin Valley, San Diego, and Phoenix. Specifically, Gladstein and Associates shall identify the following:
Potential locations for alternative fuel dispensers which would accommodate inter-state traffic and be placed at an average distance of 180 miles apart;
Candidate interstate fleet operators who travel to and from the South Coast Air Basin to locations outside California, including the identification of their travel routes; and
Partnerships to support the installation of refueling equipment and the purchase of alternative fuel vehicles along the corridors.
This proposed project is included in the Technology Advancement Plan for the Clean Fuels Program as Project MS-11, "Development and Demonstration of Low Emission, Alternative Fuel Technologies for On-Road Applications." This project targets the implementation of 500 low-emission medium-duty alternative trucks and 250 low-emission heavy-duty alternative fuel trucks, and a fueling network to support these vehicles. Although these vehicles will not all operate exclusively in the Basin, they will still be able to provide substantial Basin reductions of NOx and PM. Low-emission medium- and heavy-duty engines currently have half or less of the emissions of conventional diesel engines.
Sole Source Justification
Section II, Step 3(C) of the Consultant Selection Policy and Procedure identifies four provisions under which the Executive Officer may award a sole-source bid: (1) cost to prepare documents exceeds cost for consultant, (2) delay would result in the endangerment of public health, (3) services are only available from sole-source, (4) other circumstances exist identifying sole-source as in the best interests of the AQMD. This request for sole-source bid is made under provision #4.
It is in the AQMD's best interests to enter into a costshare agreement with Gladstein & Associates for development and implementation of the Interstate Clean Transportation Corridor, leveraging $50,000 in AQMD funds into the approximately $400,000 required to develop this program. Capital investments in refueling equipment and vehicles necessary to fully implement the program will exceed $4 million.
Gladstein & Associates, a small business in the Basin, has assembled a team uniquely qualified to develop and implement the ICTC. The team includes recognized policy and technology leaders who have worked at the forefront of creating innovative strategies to promote alternative fueled and electric vehicles in light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicle applications. Cliff Gladstein, President of Gladstein & Associates, is currently a Program Specialist for the Department of Energy's Clean Cities Program. He also has been a consultant for Southern California Gas Company's natural gas vehicle programs, alternative energy technology programs, and related policy issues. Mr. Gladstein served on the President's Federal Fleet Conversion Task Force and wrote the Clean Air Plan for the City of Los Angeles.
Technical support will be provided by Acurex Environmental Corporation (AEC). AEC is internationally recognized as an alternative fuel technical and policy consultant. The organization has provided expertise to the ARB, California Energy Commission, and major air districts in California, and has provided technical support to a number of alternative fuel vehicle demonstrations.
AEC encourages the participation of, and uses as subcontractors, small businesses, and minority-, disabled veteran-, and woman-owned business enterprises in its programs to the maximum extent possible to ensure efficient performance and comply with contract requirements and applicable laws. AEC has a small business liaison person, whose responsibility is to develop and promote the utilization of these businesses to participate in contract performance. AEC is a member of the Industry Council for Small Business Development in California. The company utilized the Small Business Administration's Procurement Automated Source System to search for specific requirements.
Resource Impacts
Total cost of the creation of the Interstate Clean Transportation Corridor development and implementation program is approximately $400,000, with AQMD funding not to exceed $50,000. The U. S. Department of Energy has committed $135,000 and the ARB has committed $50,000. Other funding sources being pursued include the California Energy Commission, the Nevada Energy Office, and other APCDs.
Sufficient funds are available in the Fiscal Year 1995-96 Budget to fund this project.
BD13:4-96A