BOARD MEETING DATE: December 3, 2004
AGENDA NO. 34

Technology Committee

SYNOPSIS:

The Technology Committee met on November 19, 2004. Major topics included Technology Advancement items reflected in the regular Board Agenda for the December Board. A summary of these topics with the Committee's comments is provided. The next Technology Committee meeting will be on January 21, 2005 at 12:00 p.m. in CC-8.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

Roy Wilson, Chair
Technology Committee

Attendance: Committee Chair Roy Wilson participated by video-teleconference. Committee members William Craycraft, Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta and Dennis Yates were in attendance at District headquarters.

DECEMBER BOARD AGENDA ITEMS

1. Award Multiple Contracts for Natural Gas Refueling Station Infrastructure, De-Obligate Prior Funding Commitments and Reissue RFP - On August 6, 2004, the Board approved the re-release of an RFP to solicit proposals for natural gas refueling station infrastructure projects. The budget for the RFP ranged from $726,046 to $1,726,046. At this time, only $726,046 is available. Nine proposals were received by the RFP deadline of October 1, 2004. Staff recommends that eight of the proposals be funded at a total cost not to exceed $980,618 from the Clean Fuels Fund. In order to provide sufficient funding for the eight proposals, staff recommends de-obligating prior funding commitments for fueling infrastructure totaling $500,000 and reverting these funds to the Clean Fuels Fund. Of this $500,000, staff proposes that $254,572 be used to augment the original budget of $726,046 to cover the eight recommended proposals. In addition, staff recommends that the RFP be reissued to solicit additional natural gas fueling infrastructure projects with a budget of $245,428 from the Clean Fuels Fund.
   Moved (Craycraft), seconded (Yates) and unanimously recommended for approval.
    
2. Modify Allocation to Upgrade and Expand Existing Liquefied Natural Gas Fueling Infrastructure with Orange County Transportation Authority - At the October 2002 meeting, the Board approved $1 million of funding to cost-share with OCTA an expansion of its existing LNG fueling station at Anaheim or Garden Grove. This additional fueling capacity is needed to address current and future needs of OCTA’s fleet of LNG transit buses. OCTA has proposed a modification to the original scope of work to include cost sharing of LNG tank upgrades and a new alternative fueling station. This action is to re-allocate previous award of $1 million for the purpose of a new L/CNG infrastructure site in Santa Ana and the inclusion of cost sharing for tank upgrades of its LNG bus fleet.
   Moved (Craycraft), seconded (Verdugo-Peralta) and unanimously recommended for approval.
    
3. Execute Contracts to Develop and Demonstrate Hydrogen Fueling Stations - On August 6, 2004, the Board authorized contracts to construct hydrogen fueling stations in four cities to support the AQMD’s hydrogen internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle and fueling station program. The fueling stations will support a fleet of five hydrogen hybrid electric vehicles at each site. This action is to fund one additional hydrogen fueling station in Santa Monica and to augment funding for a mobile fueler for the hydrogen fueling station in Ontario. Funding is available from the Clean Fuels Fund in an amount not to exceed $1,066,000, with co-funding to also be provided through the Department of Energy Clean Cities program.
   Moved (Verdugo-Peralta), seconded (Craycraft) and unanimously recommended for approval.
    
4. Execute Contracts to Cosponsor Demonstration of Natural Gas Stationary Fuel Cells in South Coast Basin - In August 2004, the Board authorized re-issuance of an RFP to demonstrate natural gas stationary fuel cell units in the South Coast basin. Three proposals were received to demonstrate fuel cell units based on three different technologies. This action is to award contracts to Alliance Power, Inc., and Plug Power Inc., at a total cost not to exceed $822,500 from the Clean Fuels Fund. The California Public Utilities Commission will provide $1,250,000 in cofunding from the Self-Generation Program. The remainder of the $4,748,929 total project costs will be covered by the proponents.
   Moved (Craycraft), seconded (Yates) and unanimously recommended for approval.
    
5. Execute Contract to Cosponsor Development and Certification of Natural Gas-Powered Ford Crown Victoria and E-450 Cutaway Vehicle - Two major automobile manufacturers have recently ceased production of natural gas-powered vehicles. Ford announced their entire natural gas vehicle product line will be unavailable after the 2004 model-year, and General Motors announced their full size natural gas-powered vans will be similarly unavailable. To ensure the availability of rule compliant natural gas-powered vehicles after the 2004 model-year, BAF Technologies has proposed the development and certification of CARB-compliant natural gas conversion systems for the Ford Crown Victoria and E-450 Cutaway Vehicle. The total cost for this project is estimated to be $1,227,600. This action is to execute a contract to conduct this project at a cost not to exceed $300,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund.
   Moved (Verdugo-Peralta), seconded (Yates) and unanimously recommended for approval.
    
6. Execute Sole-Source Contract to Cosponsor Development of Heavy Heavy-Duty Natural Gas Engine Meeting Future Emission Standards - Class 8 Trucks (Heavy Heavy-Duty), typically used for waste transfer, bulk haul, fuel delivery, and regional distribution, are some of the highest consumers of diesel fuel. However, there are currently no commercially available alternative fuel engines for this class of vehicles. This action is to award a sole-source contract to Westport Research, Inc. to develop a heavy-duty natural gas engine for Class 8 vehicles that meets 2007 emission standards at a cost not to exceed $1,944,911 from the Clean Fuels Fund. Total funding for this project is $5,583,426. The U.S. Department of Energy and Pacific Gas and Electric are co-funding the engine development and demonstration with fleets located in Canada and Northern California. Westport Research, Inc. is currently working on identifying a fleet in the South Coast Basin that could participate in this demonstration. Staff will bring a proposal for the demonstration element of this project to the Board at a later date.
   Councilman Yates expressed concern that the trucking industry would not welcome this type of technology.
   Moved (Yates), seconded (Verdugo-Peralta) and unanimously recommended for approval.
    
7. Issue RFP to Install Solar Electric System at AQMD Headquarters - The AQMD currently has a 20kW solar photovoltaic array that was installed in 1993, providing renewable power to the building. Staff recommends augmenting the system with an additional 60 to 80 kW of newer technology photovoltaics utilizing the AQMD roof space. This additional capacity will provide the energy needed to power the electrolyzer for the hydrogen fueling station. This action is to issue a RFP for the installation of a new photovoltaic system on the AQMD roof. Funding is anticipated from the Clean Fuels Fund with additional incentives provided by the California Public Utilities Commission Self-Generation Program through the Gas Company.
   Moved (Yates), seconded (Verdugo-Peralta) and unanimously recommended for approval.
    
8. California Fuel Cell Partnership Steering Team Meeting - This report summarizes the California Fuel Cell Partnership Steering Team meeting held October 19-20, 2004.
   Committee unanimously recommended approval to forward this item to the Governing Board to receive and file.
    
9. Execute Contracts for Technical Assistance for Advanced, Low- and Zero-Emission Mobile and Stationary Source Pollution Control Technologies - On September 3, 2004, the Board approved 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. Thirteen proposals were received and reviewed. This action is to execute contracts with eight technical experts to provide consultation services at a total cost not to exceed $440,000 to be funded from the Clean Fuels Program.
   Moved (Yates), seconded (Craycraft) and unanimously recommended for approval.

OTHER BUSINESS

Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta asked TAO staff to look into Pinnacle’s report on the hydrogen/natural gas compatibility issue.

Public Comment Period

There was no public comment.

Attachment A - Attendance

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