South Coast Air Quality Management District

Technology Committee

SYNOPSIS: 

The Technology Committee met on February 23, 2001. Major items included Technology Advancement items reflected in the regular Board Agenda for the March and April Board meetings; and a committee action item to recommend a contract with Pickens Fuel Corp for demonstrating a Universal Card Reader. A summary of these topics with the Committee's comments is provided. The next Technology Committee meeting will be on March 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 Roy Wilson were in attendance at AQMD headquarters. Pursuant to the Procedures for Standing Committees of the Governing Board, adopted March 8, 1996, Committee Vice Chair Leonard Paulitz appointed Board member Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta ad hoc member of the Technology Committee for the meeting of February 23, 2001 only. The meeting was called to order at 1:37 p.m.

March Board Agenda Items

1. Adopt Update of Technology Advancement Plan for Clean Fuels Program and Approve Technology Advancement Annual Report - SB 98 (Alarcon) amended and extended the Clean Fuels Program until January 1, 2005. Amendments under Health & Safety Code Section 40448.5.1 require the submittal of an Annual Report for the past year and a Technology Advancement Plan for the current year, regarding the AQMD Clean Fuels Program. These reports are due to the State Legislature by March 31, following Board approval. These documents have been accordingly prepared, reviewed and approved by the state-mandated Clean Fuels Advisory Group, and submitted for Board approval. Furthermore, due to some recent uncertainty with future state funding situations caused by the California energy crisis, the Plan allows for the Board to execute the option to transfer funds up to an additional $11,350,000 from other project areas into the Alternative Fuel Technologies - Incentive area, in the Clean Fuels Program. Moved (Wilson), seconded (Verdugo-Peralta) and unanimously recommended for approval.
   
   
2. Submit Application to ARB to Receive Funds for Implementation of Zero Emission Vehicle Incentive Program - The Zero Emission Vehicle Incentive Program is the result of Assembly Bill 2061 (Lowenthal) signed by Governor Gray Davis on September 30, 2000. This program will provide $18 million state-wide to reduce the cost of ARB certified ZEVs bought or leased on or before December 31, 2002. On December 7, 2000, ARB’s Governing Board approved the guidelines for implementation of this program. AQMD may submit an application to the ARB to implement this program locally and receive funds for this program. ARB is proposing an initial allocation of funds to AQMD, with additional allocations in accordance with this first-come, first-served program. Match funding is not required from air districts that wish to implement the program locally. The ARB encourages air districts to provide additional incentives for ZEVs and infrastructure. Moved (Wilson), seconded (Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta) and unanimously recommended for approval.

April Board Agenda Items

3. Execute Contract to Cosponsor Demonstration of Particulate Trap Technology on off-Road Heavy-Duty Construction Equipment Fueled by Low-Sulfur Diesel Fuel This item was pulled from the agenda and will be brought before the Committee at a later date.
   
   
4. Issue Invitation to Bid for the Construction and Maintenance of a Fast Fill Compressed Natural Gas Fueling Station at AQMD Headquarters - AQMD plans to build and operate a new natural gas fueling station at its Diamond Bar facility that can accommodate the growing alternative fuel vehicle fleet. This station will be designed to incorporate advanced gas metering technology as it is proven in the field. The invitation to bid solicits competitive bids for a turnkey fast fill compressed natural gas fueling station, and provision for 12 months of maintenance service. Proposals will be reviewed by staff prior to making any recommendations to the Board. Moved (Wilson), seconded (Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta) and unanimously recommended for approval.
   
   
5. Execute Contract to Cosponsor Development of Very Low-NOx Heavy-Duty Natural Gas Engine
   
   This item was pulled from the agenda and will be brought before the Committee at a later date.

Committee Action Item

6. Execute A Contract with Pickens Fuel Corp for Demonstrating Universal Card Reader - Natural gas fuel providers generally have their own exclusive fueling cards, specific to the type of fueling dispenser and card reader located at the site. Each card reader has a proprietary software program that checks the fuel card against its internal proprietary database. There are many equipment providers and card readers do not currently share programming data. Therefore, no single card can be used today with all types of card readers, making re-fueling problematic. This project will demonstrate a seamless card system that can accept any proprietary card throughout the State. Total cost of the demonstration is $80,000. Total AQMD funding shall not exceed $30,000. Moved (Wilson), seconded (Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta) and unanimously recommended to move forward.
   
   
7. Other Business - There was no other business
   
   
8. Public Comment Period - There was no public comment.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:14 p.m.

Attachment A - Attendance

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