BOARD MEETING DATE: September 5, 2003
AGENDA NO. 25

Technology Committee

SYNOPSIS:

The Technology Committee met on August 22, 2003. Major topics included Technology Advancement items reflected in the regular Board Agendas for the September and October Board meetings. A summary of these topics with the Committee's comments is provided. The next Technology Committee meeting will be on September 26, 2003 at 12:00 p.m. in CC-8.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta, Acting Chair
Technology Committee

Attendance: Committee Members William Craycraft and Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta were in attendance at District headquarters. Committee Members Fred Aguiar, William Burke, Leonard Paulitz and Roy Wilson were absent.
Less than a quorum was present during the discussion of the following items; Committee members present communicated their concurrence and recommendation that these items be forwarded for Board consideration with no approval or disapproval recommendation from the Committee.

SEPTEMBER BOARD AGENDA ITEMS

1. Approve Issuance of Program Announcement & Application for Lower-Emission School Bus Replacement, and School Backup Generator Retrofit; Approve the Use of Unspent Funds Awarded to Schools in June 2001 and March 2002 to Upgrade Garages for their Alternative Fuel Fleet - The proposed program announcement and application would provide funding to replace diesel buses with CNG buses in an amount not to exceed $2,175,000 from the Lower Emission School Bus Fund, and to retrofit school backup generators with PM traps in an amount not to exceed $250,000. Funding for the retrofit of backup generators was previously approved by the Board on July 12, 2002, from the State BUG Program Fund, which was placed in the Lower-Emission School Bus Program fund, but was unspent due to lack of applications. Staff also recommends using unspent funds from awards made to schools for purchase of CNG buses and infrastructure on June 15, 2001, and March 1, 2002, to upgrade their garages and infrastructure facilities for their CNG fleet.
    
2. Execute Contracts for Technical Assistance for Advanced, Low- and Zero-Emission Mobile and Stationary Source Pollution Control Technologies - On May 2, 2003, the Board approved the release of an RFP to solicit proposals to provide technical and public outreach support assistance for advanced, low- and zero-emission mobile and stationary source pollution control technologies. Twelve proposals were received and reviewed. Staff recommends executing contracts with seven technical experts to provide consultation services at a total cost not to exceed $255,000 to be funded from the Clean Fuels Program.
    
3. Execute Contract to Cosponsor Ongoing Operation and Improved Functionality of Clean Car Maps Internet Website - As part of the overall effort to expand deployment of alternative fueled-vehicles in the South Coast Air Basin, the AQMD has supported the development of alternative fueling infrastructure in various applications. One aspect of advancing this infrastructure is providing information on fueling station locations and their operating status. The AQMD cosponsored the development of an internet website to provide locations, directions, and information on alternative fueling and electric vehicle charging stations. The website, www.cleancarmaps.com, is developed and maintained by CALSTART, Inc. Staff recommends the AQMD cofund $110,000 of a $355,000 project over three years for CALSTART, Inc to continue existing operations, enhance "real-time" monitoring of station operational status, and develop a new "on-road" interactive communication feature using AAA’s emergency number 1-800-AAA-HELP.
    
4. California Fuel Cell Partnership Steering Team Meeting - This report summarizes the California Fuel Cell Partnership Steering Team meeting held July 15-16, 2003.
    
5. Report on Survey of Future Diesel Engine Technologies to Meet 2007 Federal Standards, and Issue an RFP for Demonstration of Advanced Diesel Emission Control Systems in Low-Sulfur Diesel Fueled Heavy-Duty Engines - On June 6, 2003, the Board approved an amendment to Rule 1193, which included Resolution 03-14 to conduct a survey of heavy duty diesel engine manufacturers to determine their progress and identify the technologies they will use to meet the federal standards in 2007. Based on this survey, the Board further resolved to issue an RFP to conduct a demonstration study of these technologies. This Board item is to provide the status on the diesel technologies survey and issue the associated RFP.

OCTOBER AGENDA ITEM

6. Execute Contract to Cosponsor Development and Demonstration of 8.1-liter Natural-Gas Engine in Medium-Duty Trucks - The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) issued an RFP in April 2002 to cosponsor the Phase II development of the Next Generation of Natural Gas Vehicles (NGNGV) in conjunction with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy. NREL selected a proposed project from TeleflexGFI for support. The proposed contract with TeleflexGFI will develop and demonstrate an 8.1-liter natural-gas engine in heavy-duty commercial chasses. Staff recommends cofunding this project with NREL for a total project cost of $2,175,329, with AQMD funding not to exceed $334,080 from the Clean Fuels Fund.

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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