BOARD MEETING DATE: April 5, 2002
AGENDA NO. 3
Execute Contract to Cosponsor Development of Outreach Video on Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Fuel Usage
SYNOPSIS:
Hydrogen 2000, Inc., a non-profit corporation, has been working on increasing public awareness of the benefits of hydrogen and fuel cell usage. Hydrogen 2000, Inc. is proposing to develop a 26-minute hydrogen safety video entitled Hydrogen Energy: The Safe and Clean Alternative, and a safety booklet to provide information on the latest hydrogen refueling, fuel cell, and safety technologies. Staff recommends that AQMD cosponsor this project in an amount not to exceed $45,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund. The U.S. Department of Energy, Natural Resources Canada, and Energy Advancement Association of Japan will join AQMD in this project. Total project cost is estimated at $240,000.
COMMITTEE:
Technology, February 22, 2002, Recommended for Approval
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:
Authorize the Chairman to execute an agreement with Hydrogen 2000, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $45,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund to cosponsor the development of a hydrogen safety video and booklet.
Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer
Background
Hydrogen 2000, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation comprised of partners with scientific and media expertise. Their main goal is to educate the public and build support for the use of hydrogen fuel and fuel cell vehicles. In support of this mission, Hydrogen 2000, Inc. has developed numerous educational videos and booklets, which have been broadcast worldwide in six languages and eleven countries.
Proposal
The proposed 26-minute video and booklet will cover relevant safety issues and compare hydrogen’s safety and handling characteristics to those of other fuels. The video will demonstrate systems that are currently being tested that will allow the average person to refuel a hydrogen vehicle safely and easily. It will also show how hydrogen can be stored and used both commercially and in private homes, with a high degree of safety. The booklet will be distributed with the video. The video will include footage from commercial and residential hydrogen fueling in Germany, Japan, and Canada. In the U.S., SunLine Transit’s fueling facility will be used. The video is expected to have a shelf life of five years. AQMD staff will be able to provide input to Hydrogen 2000, Inc. throughout the video and booklet production process. The video will be distributed to schools, libraries, and broadcasted on public broadcasting stations. The AQMD will receive 50 VHS copies for distribution, with rights to duplicate and reprint.
Hydrogen 2000, Inc.’s production team consists of William Hoagland as Executive Producer, Susan Leach as Supervising Producer, and Alexandra Paul as the host and narrator. All three have been extensively involved in productions of other videos related to education and outreach of renewable power and hydrogen safety.
William Hoagland, Chairman of Hydrogen 2000, Inc. and Director of Business Development at the Western Research Institute, has extensive experience in technical issues relating to renewable energy sources. He is also the author of numerous publications and presentations in the area of hydrogen technology.
Geoffrey Holland is the president of Cognizant Media, Ltd., and also has extensive experience in developing feature film and documentary video production. He also serves as the director of Hydrogen 2000, Inc.
Hydrogen 2000, Inc. is working with the U.S. Department of Energy, Natural Resources Canada, and Energy Advancement Association of Japan to develop the latest video and booklet. The total budget for the project is estimated to be $240,000. The AQMD would provide $45,000 in funding, which equates to a greater than 1:5 leveraging of funds.
Staff proposes that the Board authorize the Chairman to execute an agreement with Hydrogen 2000, Inc. and provide funding of $45,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund to cosponsor the development of the above-described hydrogen safety video and booklet.
Benefits to the AQMD
The proposed project is included in the 2002 Update of the Technology Advancement Plan under Category 2002CFT-1, "Assessment and Technical Support of Advanced Technologies and Information Dissemination." This project will result in outreach and education to the public, and promote the use of clean fuels and clean technologies. The video and booklet will also assist with commercialization of fuel cells and hydrogen fuel and public acceptance of new cleaner technologies.
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, clause B.2.d.(1): Projects including cost-sharing by multiple sponsors. This project is being developed in partnership with the U.S. DOE, Natural Resources Canada, and Energy Advancement Association of Japan, who are the major contributing partners.
Resource Impacts
AQMD’s total cost for the proposed contract shall not exceed $45,000. 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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