BOARD MEETING DATE: February 7, 2003
AGENDA NO. 22

Technology Committee

SYNOPSIS:

The Technology Committee met on January 24, 2003. Major items included Technology Advancement items reflected in the regular Board Agenda for the February Board meeting, an information item and three written reports on completed projects. A summary of these topics with the Committee's comments is provided. The next Technology Committee meeting will be on February 28, 2003 at 12:00 p.m. in CC-8.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta, Chair Designate
Technology Committee

Attendance: Committee Members Fred Aguiar, William Craycraft and Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta were in attendance at District headquarters. In the absence of the Chair and Vice Chair of the Committee, Committee Member Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta served as Chair Designate.

FEBRUARY BOARD AGENDA ITEMS

1. Execute Contracts for FY 2001-02 Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Attainment Program and Executive Officer’s Mitigation Program - On September 10, 2002, proposals were received in response to an RFP for the Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Attainment Program. Staff is recommending awards not to exceed $8,995,348 from the Carl Moyer special revenue fund. Staff is also recommending awards not to exceed $2,225,089 from the Executive Officer’s Mitigation Program Fund. Lastly, staff is recommending no cost modifications of two previous awards, one under the Carl Moyer program and one under the Executive Officer’s Mitigation program.
   
   Moved (Craycraft), seconded (Verdugo-Peralta). Committee Member Aguiar abstained from voting on proposed contracts #6( with Waste Management of Orange County-Dewey’s to purchase 21 new CNG refuse haulers) and #8( with Waste Management of San Gabriel/Pomona Valley to purchase 12 new LNG refuse haulers), indicating his approval of the rest of the item. Therefore, with the exception of contracts #6 and #8, this item was unanimously recommended for approval.
   
   
2. Execute Contract to Perform a Conceptual Engineering Design Study for an Integrated Demonstration Project at the Diamond Bar Facility Utilizing Renewable and Non-renewable Hydrogen Production for Vehicle Fueling and Electricity Generation - AQMD Staff proposes to establish an integrated hydrogen energy demonstration facility to produce hydrogen at the AQMD Diamond Bar facility to be used for vehicle fueling and electricity generation. Hydrogen will be produced from an electrolyzer, powered by an upgraded photovoltaic array, and a natural gas reformer. state-of-the-art hydrogen fueling station will be established using compressor technology that can also tie-into the natural gas fueling station. Electricity will be generated from a hydrogen internal combustion engine and a fuel cell. operational options for economic scenario evaluations. Staff recommends that Northern Power Systems conduct the conceptual engineering design for the integrated demonstration facility in an amount not to exceed $45,000.
   
   Moved (Craycraft), seconded (Aguiar) and unanimously recommended for approval.
   
   
3. Execute Contract with FuelMaker Corporation to Upgrade CNG Fueling Stations at Various School Districts and Municipalities - School districts and municipalities have received funding awards to purchase natural gas vehicles and install refueling stations. It has been discovered that the natural gas supply in the San Gabriel Valley area has an unusually high water content which can lead to vehicle and refueling equipment breakdowns. To reduce the water content in the natural gas supplied to the vehicles, staff is recommending that high-capacity regenerative gas dryers be installed at sites impacted by this high water content. Total project cost is projected to be approximately $180,000; total AQMD cost will not exceed $90,000 and the Southern California Gas Company will provide matching funding.
   
   Moved (Craycraft), seconded (Aguiar) and unanimously recommended for approval.
   
   
4. Amend Contract with Ebensteiner Company to Generate Emission Credits Under State Emission Mitigation Program - On March 1, 2002, the Board approved the execution of an $833,172 project with Ebensteiner Company to re-power 12 dozers for a total annual NOx reduction of 40.8 tons under the State Emissions Mitigation Program. Due to business and operational changes the applicant was unable to execute the contract. Staff proposes to re-power nine scrapers with Ebensteiner Company for $794,178 for a total annual NOx reduction of 46.2 tons. This proposal improves the cost effectiveness of the project from $3,533/ton of NOx to $2,974/ton of NOx. CARB has approved this proposal.
   
   Moved (Craycraft), seconded (Aguiar) and unanimously recommended for approval.
   
   
5. Execute Contract to Cost Share Small-Scale Natural Gas Liquefaction Plant - At its March 1999 meeting, the Board approved $200,000 in funding for a unique small-scale natural gas liquefaction plant using innovative technology. Due to a contractual technicality and unforeseen factors, the funds were returned. With the facility constructed, the sponsors of this project are requesting the same level of funding from the AQMD as before in order to complete the field installation, calibration, testing and evaluation. Commercialization of the technology is expected to begin in 2003 – 2004. Total project cost is $5.6 million; total AQMD funding will not exceed $200,000.
   
   Moved (Craycraft), seconded (Aguiar) and unanimously recommended for approval.
   
   
6. Status Report on Contract Execution for Public EV Charging Equipment and Signage Replacement to Help Coordinate Public Charging With Vehicle Technology; and Maintain a Limited Network of Compatible Public Charging - Subsequent to the January 2003 Board meeting, an automaker announced significant reduction of EVs to be placed in 2003. Some EVs will be sold and have been sold, and the EVs on the road today are expected to remain on the road in southern California for several years. After carefully reviewing the expected EV usage in the next few years, the availability of charging stations, and the desire to promote plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in the future, staff proposes to move forward with the acquisition and installation of 25 small paddle inductive chargers as approved by the Board on January 10, 2003.
   
   Moved (Craycraft), seconded (Aguiar) and unanimously recommended for approval.

ACTION ITEM

7. Appoint Replacement Representative to the Technology Advancement Advisory Committee - A vacancy on the Technology Advancement Advisory Group has been created by the retirement of Advisory Group member Nancy Deller of the California Energy Commission. Mr. Scott Matthews, who has succeeded Ms. Deller as Deputy Director, Energy and Technology Development Department has been recommended as her replacement.
   
   Moved (Craycraft), seconded (Aguiar) and unanimously recommended for approval.

INFORMATION ITEM

8. Release CY 2002 Technology Advancement Annual Report and CY 2003 Technology Advancement Plan Update for Clean Fuels Program
   The annual update of the Technology Advancement Annual Report and Technology Advancement Plan Update for the Clean Fuels Program was explained to Committee members by Henry Hogo, Assistant Deputy Executive Officer, Science & Technology Advancement, and a draft copy of the Annual Report document was handed out at the meeting. Mr. Hogo indicated that the Technology Advancement Plan Update will be available shortly and both documents will be fully presented to the Committee at its February 28, 2003 meeting.

WRITTEN REPORTS ON COMPLETED PROJECTS

Written only reports on the following completed projects were presented.

9. Advanced Fueling Appliance Technology
   
   
10. Diesel Aerosol Sampling Methodology
    
    
11. R&D of a 50-kW High-Efficiency, High Power-Density CO-Tolerant PEM Fuel Cell Stack System

Other Business - There was no other business.

Public Comment Period - Mary Stine of Cal Spas Pomona presented an overview of the UV curing process used by Cal Spas in their manufacturing process, noting the reduction of VOCs from this technology, and requesting funding for further exploration of this technique.

The meeting was adjourned.
Attachment A - Attendance

/ / /