South Coast Air Quality Management District

Technology Committee

SYNOPSIS: 

The Technology Committee met on June 28, 2002. Major items included Technology Advancement items reflected in the regular Board Agenda for the July and August Board meetings and three information items. A summary of these topics with the Committee's comments is provided. The next Technology Committee meeting will be on July 26, 2002 at 12:00 p.m. in CC-8.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

Leonard Paulitz, Vice Chair
Technology Committee

Attendance: Committee Vice Chair Leonard Paulitz and Committee member Norma Glover were in attendance at District headquarters. Committee member Roy Wilson participated by video-teleconference.

1. Issue RFP for Development and Demonstration of Two Hybrid-Electric Transit Buses - Local transit agencies have a growing need for larger transit buses with more passenger capacity in support of Bus Rapid Transit Programs. This action is to issue an RFP to further develop and demonstrate 45-foot composite body or 60-foot articulated hybrid-electric (HE) transit buses powered by an alternative fuel internal combustion engine (ICE) or microturbine. The RFP calls for the cooperative efforts of Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in alternative fuel ICEs, microturbine, electric and HE chassis, bus, and technology integration experts. Staff anticipates receiving $1,000,000 from the Department of Water and Power to co-fund this project, with an additional $400,000 from the AQMD's Clean Fuels Fund.
   Moved (Wilson), seconded (Glover) and unanimously recommended for approval.
   
   
2. Execute Contracts with Ski Resorts to Replace Existing Snow Making Equipment and with School Districts to Install PM Traps on Backup Generators; and Approve Issuance of Program Announcement for Lower-Emission School Bus Replacement and Retrofit Program Funding - The AQMD expects to receive $5 million from EPA for school bus replacement and retrofit programs, and an additional $1.5 million is expected from CARB for school bus retrofit programs. Staff proposes to provide $10,898,853 for school bus replacement and retrofit programs comprised of $4,398,853 from State Backup Generator Program (BUG), $1.5 million from State Lower-Emissions School Bus Program, and $5 million from EPA. The proposed program announcement and application for school bus programs will provide funding to replace older school buses with alternatively fueled buses and retrofit school buses with particulate traps. Staff also proposes to fund ski facility snowmaking equipment and PM traps for an amount not to exceed $1 million and PM traps for diesel backup generators at school districts for an amount not to exceed $250,000.
   Moved (Wilson), seconded (Glover) and unanimously recommended for approval.
   
   
3. Execute Interagency Agreement with State of California Department of General Services to Purchase Natural Gas for Operation of Microturbines at AQMD Headquarters - At its November 2001 meeting, the Board approved the installation of four 60-kW microturbines for combined heat and power generation at AQMD Headquarters. With the installation of these microturbines the AQMD is required to purchase natural gas from a non-core provider. Staff is recommending that it utilize the State of California Department of General Services Natural Gas Services Program to provide this non-core gas. The estimated cost is $110,000 annually, but the heat recovery and $250,000 per year of electricity savings should result in a combined electricity and gas cost savings of more than $100,000 per year, based on current gas and electricity rates.
   Moved (Wilson), seconded (Glover) and unanimously recommended for approval.
   
   
4. Appropriate Funds from Clean Fuels Fund and Execute Lease and Purchase Agreements for Four New Advanced Technology Vehicles for Alternative Fuel Vehicle Loan Program - AQMD tests and demonstrates new advanced technology vehicles with a variety of low-emission and clean-fuel technologies from major auto manufacturers. As part of the Technology Advancement Alternative Fuel Vehicle Loan Program, vehicles are procured as new technologies become available. It is proposed that the AQMD lease one Ford Th!nk 2003 City electric vehicle for three years and purchase three Honda 2003 Civic Hybrid gasoline-electric vehicles. Total cost to the AQMD for these four vehicles will not exceed $ 85,030.
   Moved (Glover), seconded (Wilson) and unanimously recommended for approval.
   
   
5. Issue Program Announcement for Diesel Particulate Trap Retrofit Projects for Local and Regional Public Fleets; and Execute Contract with City of Los Angeles to Generate Emissions Credits Under State Emissions Mitigation Program; and Execute Contract with CALSTART for Technical Outreach Assistance - CARB has allocated an additional $3.1 million for particulate trap retrofit projects for local and regional public fleets within the South Coast Air Basin as part of the State Emissions Mitigation Program. Of this amount, $750,000 will be awarded to the City of Los Angeles for particulate trap retrofit projects. Staff recommends issuance of a program announcement for diesel particulate trap retrofit projects totaling $2.35 million; execution of a contract with City of Los Angeles for $750,000, and execution of a contract with CALSTART for $40,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund.
   Moved (Glover), seconded (Wilson) and unanimously recommended for approval.
   
   
6. Award and Amend Contracts for Technical and Management Assistance for Alternative Vehicle and Fueling Infrastructure Projects to Support AQMD’s Fleet Rules - In the past three years, the Board has approved significant incentive funding for alternative-fueling stations in the Basin. In response to requests for technical and management assistance for developing alternative fuel vehicles and refueling infrastructure projects in the South Coast Air Basin from fleet owners, staff recommends that the Board award contracts to Charles Powars for $25,000; and other unspecified consultants for $50,000; and amend contracts with USA Pro & Associates for $140,000; and Burnett and Burnet for $60,000. Total funding shall not exceed $275,000 from the Clean Fuels Program.
   Moved (Glover), seconded (Wilson) and unanimously recommended for approval.
   
   
7. Apply to U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Authority and Caltrans to Pass Through Designated Green Airport Initiative Funds and Execute Contracts for Expansion of EV Rental Cars Demonstration Project at LAX - Congresswoman Jane Harman (D-Redondo Beach) secured a $1,962,615 grant for the Green Airport Initiative proposed by the non-profit Clean Airport Partnership, Inc. to expand the environmentally friendly rental car program at LAX. Since a non-profit organization cannot apply for the funds directly, staff recommends that AQMD apply to the Department of Transportation and Caltrans to pass through the designated funds to the Clean Airport Partnership, and execute contracts with Caltrans and the Clean Airport Partnership for the expansion project. The total value of this project is $4 million, including in-kind contractual services but no cofunding from AQMD.
   Moved (Glover), seconded (Paulitz) and unanimously recommended for approval.
   
   
8. Execute Contract to Cost Share a Truck Fuel Cell Auxiliary Power Unit Development, Demonstration, and Evaluation Project - Idling truck engines are used to provide electrical power for non-driving operations. Most trucks use diesel-fueled main engines for this purpose, and some trucks use auxiliary power units (APUs). Engine idling and APUs produce significant amounts of NOx, PM, toxic, and greenhouse gas emissions. Fuel cell APUs are energy efficient and clean sources of electrical energy, and are viable alternatives for main engine idling and diesel-fueled APUs. Staff proposes to award a contract to University of California, Davis, in an amount not to exceed $300,000 to develop, demonstrate, and evaluate fuel cell APUs. The total project cost is expected to be approximately $1.2 million with cost sharing from University of California, Davis, DOE, and industry.
   
   
9. Execute Four Agreements to Cosponsor CARB Research Projects - In August 2001, January 2002 and March 2002, CARB issued three RFPs soliciting research projects. From these RFPs, six projects were selected for funding. Due to the current state budgetary constraints, CARB has requested that the AQMD cosponsor four of the research projects. These include developing an integrated autothermal cyclic reformer and polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell; developing high-performance, low-VOC waterborne coatings; developing alternatives to automotive consumer products that use VOCs and/or chlorinated organic compound solvents; and quantifying health benefits of incremental improvements in air quality in the South Coast Air Basin. The total cost of these four projects is $1,733,099. CARB funding will total $525,551, and AQMD funding will not exceed $270,000.
   Moved (Wilson), seconded (Glover) and unanimously recommended for approval.

INFORMATION ITEM

10. Development of Improved Electrode for Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Using Magnetron Sputtering
    A brief overview of this project was presented to Committee members by Howard Lange, Air Quality Engineer I of Technology Advancement.
    
    Written information only was presented on the following items:
    
    
11. Execute Contracts with Local Museums to Implement Children’s Air Quality Agenda Initiative #8
     
    
12. Demonstration and Evaluation of US Postal Service Electric Carrier Route Vehicles

Other Business - There was no other business.

Public Comment Period - There was no public comment.

The meeting was adjourned.

Attachment A - Attendance

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