South Coast Air Quality Management District

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Execute Contract to Cosponsor Clean Fuel Infrastructure and Demographic Optimization Study

SYNOPSIS:

Funds will be made available through a variety of sources to build an unprecedented number of new clean fuel facilities in the South Coast Air Basin as well as in the Coachella Valley. To ensure adequate geographic coverage and accessibility to fleets, a system to track these new installations and plan optimum locations for new installations is necessary. A fueling infrastructure and demographic optimization study is proposed to depict existing facilities and determine their proximity to new and proposed clean fuel fleets. The Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee will cost share this project. Total project cost is $50,000; total AQMD funding will not exceed $25,000.

COMMITTEE:

Technology, August 25, 2000, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Authorize the Chairman to execute a contract with Arthur D. Little, to perform a clean fuel infrastructure and demographic optimization study from the Clean Fuels Fund, in an amount not to exceed $25,000.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

Over 60% of the South Coast Air Basin’s NO_x emission inventory is attributed to on-road mobile sources. Heavy-duty trucks and buses are responsible for 20% of the total NO_x emissions. The AQMP has identified the use of low-emission alternative-fuel engines in these vehicles as a control measure. Rules 1192 and 1193 require the use of low emission, alternative fueled, transit buses and refuse trucks. Rule 1186.1 has a similar requirement for street sweepers. A state-funded, low-emission school bus program, and the AQMD’s Adopt-a-School Bus Program will provide incentives for the purchase of low-emission natural gas school buses. The implementation of several hundred natural gas vehicles in the near future will require establishment of fueling facilities to support these vehicles. With funding available from a variety of sources, including CEC and MSRC, it is important that these facilities are strategically located throughout the Basin, and accessible to a number of fleets.

Proposal

Staff proposes to join the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee to conduct a clean fuel infrastructure and demographic optimization study. The product will depict all existing clean fuel facilities and determine their proximity to new and proposed clean fuel fleets. The outcome will be a useful planning tool that will aid both public and private entities in planing optimum locations for new installations.

The new database will be in the form of a map that will include templates of all geographic boundaries, streets, utilities, etc., so in maintaining the system the user will not have to start from scratch. It will allow the end user to analyze the demographics within areas of one, three, and five miles, from a particular site to get a better feel of a prospective fueling station’s potential for throughput and balance the needs of fleets throughout the Basin. It will also locate areas of similar demographic composition to identify new areas in which to concentrate clean fuel outreach.

Benefits to AQMD

AQMD’s Clean Fuels Program has been active in funding the development and demonstration of low emission, alternative fuel technologies within its Technology Advancement Office. The AQMD has also supported a number of activities directed to commercialization of low-emission alternative fuel technologies. While not providing any direct emission reductions, the proposed database will aid in the location of new clean fuel infrastructure, providing long-term emissions reductions.

Sole Source Justification

Section VIII.B.2. of the Procurement Policy and Procedure identifies four major provisions under which a sole source award may be justified. This request for a sole source award is made under provision B.2.d.: Other circumstances exist which in the determination of the Executive Officer require such waiver in the best interest of the AQMD. Specifically, these circumstances are B.2.d.(4): Level of effort expert consultation services.

A level of effort contract has been awarded through competitive bid to Arthur D. Little by the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee for technical assistance to fleets as part of the FY 1999-00 AB 2766 Discretionary Fund Work Program. The objectives of this contract are to increase awareness of alternative fuel engine technologies among heavy-duty vehicle fleets; remove technical barriers to fleet usage of alternative fuels; and assist in resolving vehicle and fueling station issues should they arise. As part of this level of effort task order, a task order in the amount of $25,000 has been allocated by the MSRC for the project proposed in the board letter. Arthur D. Little is accomplished in this field of work and has demonstrated the competency to complete the task on time and on budget. An additional $25,000 is needed in order to complete the work. It is cost-effective and efficient for the AQMD to join MSRC on this project and cost-share the additional $25,000.

Resource Impacts

The proposed project is included in the March 2000 update of the Technology Advancement Plan under Project 2000M3-1 Development of Advanced Natural Gas Compressors for Refueling Stations. Before implementing advanced infrastructure technologies, it is important to be able to site these facilities in the most strategic locations. Total project cost is $50,000; total AQMD funding will not exceed $25,000. All funding for this project is from the Clean Fuel Fund and the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee.

Sufficient funds are available from the Clean Fuels Fund, established as a special revenue fund resulting from the state-mandated Clean Fuels Program. The Clean Fuels Program, under Health and Safety Code Sections 40448.5 and 40512 and Vehicle Code Section 9250.11, establishes mechanisms to collect revenues from mobile sources to support projects to increase the utilization of clean fuels, including the development of the necessary advanced enabling technologies. Funds collected from motor vehicles are restricted, by statute, to be used for projects and program activities related to mobile sources that support the objectives of the Clean Fuels Program.

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