BOARD MEETING DATE: March 1, 2002
AGENDA NO. 37

Technology Committee

SYNOPSIS: 

The Technology Committee met on January 25, 2002. Major items included Technology Advancement items reflected in the regular Board Agenda for the March Board meeting. A summary of these topics with the Committee's comments is provided. The next Technology Committee meeting will be on February 22, 2002 at 12:00 p.m. in CC-8.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

Hal Bernson, Chair
Technology Committee

Attendance: Committee Vice-Chair Leonard Paulitz was in attendance at AQMD headquarters. Committee member Roy Wilson and Chair Hal Bernson (delayed arrival) participated by videoteleconference. In the absence of Committee members William Burke, Jon Mikels and Norma Glover, and pursuant to the Procedures for Standing Committees of the Governing Board, adopted March 8, 1996, Committee Vice-Chair Paulitz appointed Board member Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta ad hoc member of the Technology Committee for the meeting of January 25, 2002 only. Chair Bernson was able to participate in the recommendation for agenda item #4. The meeting was called to order at 12:10 p.m.

Committee Vice-Chair Leonard Paulitz indicated that Chair Bernson had suggested the Committee consider a consent calendar format for this meeting, with the exception of agenda item #1. Requests were also made to hear items #2 and #4. Hearing no requests for presentations on other items, agenda items # 3 and #5 were approved by consent.

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 covering the past year’s Clean Fuels Program activities to the Legislative Analyst and air quality committees of the State Legislature by March 31, following Board approval. The law also requires the Board to adopt the Technology Advancement Plan for the current year. These documents have been accordingly prepared, reviewed and approved by the state-mandated Clean Fuels Advisory Group, and submitted for Board approval.
   Moved (Wilson), seconded (Verdugo-Peralta) and unanimously recommended for approval.
   
    
2. Execute Contract to Cost Share Development of Odorant for Liquefied Natural Gas - Gaseous odorants are used in commercial and residential natural gas to alert consumers of gas leakage. These odorants are also found in compressed natural gas (CNG) which originates from odorized pipeline natural gas. However, liquefied natural gas (LNG) is a cryogenic liquid in which normal natural gas odorants freeze, separate and are not useful. Current LNG vehicles have methane detectors to warn of leakages instead of odorants. Staff proposes the initial development of an LNG odorant to provide an option to methane sensors. Total project cost is approximately $418,320. Total AQMD cost to fund this project will not exceed will not exceed $123,835.
   Moved (Wilson), seconded (Verdugo-Peralta) and unanimously recommended for approval.
   
    
3. Execute Contract to Conduct Indoor and Outdoor Air Quality Study in Mira Loma Area - A special PM2.5 program is being conducted by the University of California at Riverside's College of Engineering - Center for Environmental Research and Technology (UCR CE-CERT). The study includes chemical characterization of PM2.5 outdoors and within 20 homes and a school in the Mira Loma area. Mira Loma has been identified as the area with the highest ambient (outdoor) PM2.5 mass concentrations in the Basin. The total cost of the study is $360,000. The County of Riverside has awarded $310,000 to this project. This action is to execute a contract with CE-CERT for an amount not to exceed $35,000 and $15,000 in-kind AQMD technical analysis. Funds are available in the Clean Fuels Program.
   Approved by consent.
   
    
4. Execute Contract to Cosponsor Study for Commercialization of Advanced Hybrid Electric Vehicles - The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) assembled a working group that compared the impacts and benefits of various hybrid electric vehicle options for light- and medium-duty vehicles. Technology developments in the areas of fuel cell hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles with vehicle-to-grid power capability and other advancements have enhanced the paths to commercialization. The total cost of this project to evaluate the paths to commercialization of advanced hybrid electric vehicles is $1,300,000. The AQMD’s contribution shall not exceed $250,000, with contributions of $250,000 from CARB, $150,000 from Department of Transportation, and $650,000 from EPRI and its members. Clean Fuel funds are available in the Technology Advancement Plan updated March 2002 in category M5-4.
   This item was moved by Vice Chair Paulitz and approved by consent.
   
    
5. Execute Agreement for Membership in Hybrid Electric Truck Operator's Forum - The Hybrid Electric Truck Operator's Forum (HETOF) is an industry/government program to enable and accelerate the hybrid-electric, medium-and heavy-duty truck market. Primary goals of the HETOF include coordinating efforts in advancing hybrid-electric technology and increasing the fuel efficiency of medium- and heavy-duty trucks. CALSTART will work with the National Automotive Center, a research and development organization within the Department of the Army, to launch HETOF. This action is to execute an agreement with CALSTART to provide $25,000 from the Technology Advancement Professional and Special Services Account for cosponsoring the HETOF in Calendar Year 2002.
   Approved by consent.
   
    
6. Other Business - There was no other business.
   
    
7. Public Comment Period - There was no public comment.

The meeting was adjourned.
Attachment A - Attendance
 

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