BOARD MEETING DATE: August 6, 2004
AGENDA NO. 29

Technology Committee

SYNOPSIS:

The Technology Committee met on July 23, 2004. Major topics included Technology Advancement items reflected in the regular Board Agenda for the August Board meeting. A summary of these topics with the Committee's comments is provided. The next Technology Committee meeting will be on August, 27, 2004 at 12:00 p.m. in CC-8.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

Roy Wilson, Chair
Technology Committee

Attendance: Chairman Roy Wilson participated by video-teleconference. Committee Vice Chair Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta and Committee Member Dennis Yates were in attendance at District headquarters.

AUGUST BOARD AGENDA ITEMS

1. Amend Seven Contracts and Execute Contract for FY 2002-03 Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Attainment Program and Issue RFP for 2004 Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Attainment Program Funding - This action is to revise seven prior project awards, and approve additional awards not to exceed the total returned funds of $786,893 for the FY2002-03 Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Program. Additionally, this action is to approve the release of an RFP to provide incentives for low emission on- and off-road vehicles and equipment for the 2004 Carl Moyer Air Quality Standards Program. The state FY 2003-04 Budget contains $18 million from Proposition 40 funds, and AQMD expects to receive approximately $7.4 million. The local match requirement is $3.7 million.
   Moved (Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta), seconded (Yates) and unanimously recommended for approval.
    
2. Approve Grants to Retrofit Diesel School Buses with Particulate Traps and Issue Program Announcement & Application for New School Buses with Funding from State’s Proposition 40 and Chairman’s Modified School Bus Initiative and Installation of Oxidation Catalysts with Funding from U.S. EPA - On February 6, 2004, AQMD issued a program announcement under the AQMD Chairman’s Initiative offering $12 million for school bus replacements and retrofits. Four public school districts applied for seven CNG school buses, and four public school districts and five private operators applied for 1,174 PM traps. This action is to approve awards to retrofit up to 766 diesel school buses with PM traps in an amount not to exceed $4,297,000; to purchase up to 21 PM trap cleaning equipment in an amount not to exceed $168,000; and to set aside up to $318,250 for the purchase and installation of insulation blankets on 1,273 school buses already retrofitted through AQMD funding. In addition, this action is to approve issuance of a new program announcement for up to $2,030,000 from Proposition 40 funds, up to $245,000 from U.S. EPA funds, and up to $7,216,750 from unspent funds available in the AQMD Chairman’s Initiative Program to replace pre-1987 school buses; and up to $250,000 from U.S. EPA funds to retrofit school buses with diesel oxidation catalysts.
   Moved (Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta), seconded (Yates) and unanimously recommended for approval.
    
3. Execute Contract to Cosponsor Demonstration of Advanced Diesel Emission Control System in Diesel-Fueled Heavy-Duty Engines to Meet 2010 Heavy-Duty Emissions Standards - In September 2003, the Board authorized the release of an RFP to demonstrate and evaluate the performance, durability, and emission-reduction potential of advanced emission control systems for diesel-fueled engines that would meet 2010 emissions standards. Three proposals were received to demonstrate two different control technologies. This action is to award two contracts to Cummins Inc., and West Virginia University, respectively, at a cost not to exceed $1,000,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund. U.S. DOE and CARB will provide $700,000 and $100,000 in cofunding, respectively, with the remainder of the $5,157,000 total project costs to be covered by the proponents.
   Moved (Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta), seconded (Yates) and unanimously recommended for approval.
    
4. Reissue RFP for Demonstration of Natural Gas, Stationary Fuel Cells in South Coast Air Basin - In April 2003, the Board awarded two contracts to install stationary fuel cells. Unfortunately, both awardees are unable to conduct the projects as originally proposed. Staff still believes that stationary fuel cells are an important clean fuel technology and should be demonstrated in the South Coast Air Basin. This action is to reissue RFP to solicit proposals for installing and operating stationary fuel cells at a cost not to exceed $1,000,000 from Clean Fuel Fund.
   Moved (Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta), seconded (Yates) and unanimously recommended for approval.
    
5. Execute Contracts to Demonstrate Hydrogen Fueling Stations - On July 11, 2003, the Board approved the release of an RFP to install and demonstrate hydrogen fueling stations in tandem with a fleet of hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicles. The vehicle conversion portion of the RFP was awarded by the Board in March 2004. An outside panel of experts reviewed and scored the nine proposals received for the hydrogen fueling stations. Based on the results of the panel evaluation, this action is to fund two different bidders in an amount not to exceed $2,311,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund to install the hydrogen fueling stations.
   Moved (Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta), seconded (Yates) and unanimously recommended for approval.
    
6. California Fuel Cell Partnership Steering Team Meeting - This report summarizes the California Fuel Cell Partnership Steering Team meeting held July 13-14, 2004.
   This was a receive and file item and no Committee action was needed.

Other Business - In response to a directive from the Committee at its June 25, 2004 meeting, Dr. Liu commented that the Legislative Committee had approved the creation of a task force to focus lobbying efforts on securing Federal funding for hydrogen projects.

Public Comment Period - In response to Agenda Item # 5, Mr. Mitch Pratt of Clean Energy suggested the inclusion of different types of hydrogen technologies in the proposed fueling stations. Dr. Liu responded that a number of hydrogen technologies are included in the hydrogen fueling stations awarded previously by the Board. The AQMD has a balanced approach in choosing hydrogen generation technology.

The meeting was adjourned.

Attachment

A - Attendance
 

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