South Coast Air Quality Management District

Technology Committee

SYNOPSIS: 

The Technology Committee met on January 26, 2001. Major items included an information item on ARB's modification to the ZEV regulations; Technology Advancement items reflected in the regular Board Agenda for the February and March Board meetings; and appointment of replacement representatives to the Technology Advancement Advisory Group. A summary of these topics with the Committee's comments is provided. The next Technology Committee meeting will be on February 23, 2001 at 12:00 p.m. in CC-8.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

Hal Bernson, Chair
Technology Committee

Attendance: Committee Vice-Chair Leonard Paulitz and Committee member Norma Glover were in attendance at AQMD headquarters. Committee Chair Hal Bernson participated by video-teleconference. In the absence of Committee members William Burke, Jon Mikels and Roy Wilson, and pursuant to the Procedures for Standing Committees of the Governing Board, adopted March 8, 1996, Committee Chair Hal Bernson appointed Board member Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta ad hoc member of the Technology Committee for the meeting of January 26, 2001 only.

Information Item

1. ARB Modification to ZEV Regulations - Lisa Mirisola, Air Quality Specialist in Science & Technology Advancement, presented an overview of the ZEV regulation covering its background; a 1998 amendment; AQMD's initial proposal to ARB; ARB staff's proposals for the January 25, 2001 hearing; and responses to ARB's proposals by AQMD staff, environmental groups and industry. The ARB ZEV regulation adopted on January 25, 2001 disallows credit for non-plug-in hybrids against the 4% full ZEV requirement; eliminates or decreases the early introduction credit for low-speed NEVs; and increases the future year ZEV requirements.
   
   Chairman Bernson indicated the need to take another look at how to achieve the goal of zero or near-zero emission vehicles, taking into consideration the economic ramifications. He noted the need to determine what will succeed economically, while concurrently advancing the cause of clean fuel vehicles.

February Board Agenda Items

2. Issue Program Announcement & Application for FY 2000-01 Lower-Emission School Bus Replacement and Retrofit Program Funding - The State’s FY 2000-01 Budget contains $50 million for the Lower-Emission School Bus Program. The AQMD expects to receive $16.6 million for the replacement and at least $5.5 million for the retrofit components of the program allocated for the South Coast Air Basin. In addition, at its January 19, 2001 meeting, the Board allocated $1.66 million from the Clean Fuels Fund to provide for the school bus replacement program. The proposed program announcement & application, for a total of $23.76 million, will provide funding to replace older school buses with alternative fuels and lower-emitting diesel buses, and to retrofit in-use school buses with particulate traps. Moved (Glover), seconded (Verdugo-Peralta) and unanimously recommended for approval.
   
   
3. Execute Contract for Construction Management and Consulting Services for Design/Engineering, Permitting and Equipment Specification of a Natural Gas Fueling Station at AQMD Headquarters - AQMD desires to build and operate a new natural gas fueling station at its Diamond Bar facility that can accommodate the growing District alternative fuel vehicle fleet. At its December 2000 meeting, the Board authorized the release of RFP P2001-19 - Construction Management and Consulting Services for Design/Engineering, Permitting and Equipment Specification of a Natural Gas Fueling Station at AQMD Headquarters. In response to that RFP, Pickens Fuel Corp has been selected to perform construction management and consulting services for the AQMD. The total cost of this contract is not to exceed $26,415. Moved (Paulitz), seconded (Glover) and unanimously recommended for approval.

March Board Agenda Items

4. Amend Contract to Co-Sponsor the Evaluation of Impacts and Benefits of Hybrid Electric Vehicles - The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) has assembled a working group to compare the impacts and benefits of various hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) options. The scope of work includes evaluation of HEV architecture, performance, modeling, and impacts; costs; customer preference; and commercialization issues. AQMD provided $250,000 to support this analysis which focused on a mid-size vehicle platform, although additional data was collected regarding a small car and an SUV platform. Additional funding and time is needed to complete the data analysis. Staff recommends AQMD co-funding of $50,000 to share the total project cost increase of $140,000. Clean Fuel funds are available and identified in the Technology Advancement Plan updated March 2000 in category M5-5. Moved (Paulitz), seconded (Glover) and unanimously recommended for approval.

Action Item

5. Appoint Replacement Representatives to the Technology Advancement Advisory Group - Pom Pom Ganguli, Manager of Demonstration Programs in Science & Technology Advancement, presented the backgrounds of the two individuals proposed as replacements to the Technology Advancement Advisory Group, Dr. Robert Kirk, representing DOE, and Mr. Philip J. Hodgetts, representing Clean Air Now. Moved (Paulitz), seconded (Glover) and unanimously recommended for approval.
   
   
6. Other Business - There was no other business
   
   
7. Public Comment Period - There was no public comment.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:37 p.m.

Attachment A - Attendance

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Attachment A - Attendance

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