BOARD MEETING DATE: March 5, 2004
AGENDA NO. 29

Technology Committee

SYNOPSIS:

The Technology Committee met on February 27, 2004. Major topics included Technology Advancement items reflected in the regular Board Agendas for the March and April Board meetings, one discussion item, and one written report on a completed project. A summary of these topics with the Committee's comments is provided. The next Technology Committee meeting will be on March 26, 2004 at 12:00 p.m. in CC-8.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

Roy Wilson, Chair
Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta, Vice Chair
Technology Committee

Attendance: Chairman Roy Wilson participated by video-teleconference. Committee Vice Chair Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta and Committee members William Craycraft, and Dennis Yates were in attendance at District headquarters. Supervisor Wilson chaired and attended the meeting for the first 3 items, after which Ms. Verdugo-Peralta chaired the meeting for the remaining items.

MARCH BOARD AGENDA ITEMS

1. Approve and Adopt Technology Advancement Clean Fuels Program Annual Report and Plan Update - As a requirement of the Clean Fuels Program funding, the Technology Advancement Office must submit to the Legislative Analyst by March 31 of each year an approved Annual Report for the past year and Plan Update for the current calendar year. Staff has reviewed the Clean Fuel Program with the Clean Fuels Advisory Group, the Technology Advancement Advisory Group, and other technical experts at a two-day retreat on January 15 and 16, 2004. The suggestions from the Advisory Groups and participants are included in the Plan Update. Staff is submitting the Technology Advancement Clean Fuels Program Annual Report and Plan Update for Board approval.
   Moved (Yates), seconded (Verdugo-Peralta) and unanimously recommended for approval.
    
2. Execute Contracts to Develop and Demonstrate Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles - On July 11, 2003, the Board approved the release of an RFP to design and demonstrate a fleet of hydrogen internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles with corresponding hydrogen fueling stations at five cities within the South Coast Air Basin. Three proposals for the vehicles and nine proposals for the fueling stations were received, subsequently reviewed, and scored by two separate panels of outside experts. This action requests award of the contract to develop and demonstrate the hydrogen-ICE vehicles. A separate request on fueling stations will be forwarded for consideration in a future Governing Board meeting. Staff recommends $2,280,000 funding from AQMD to develop and demonstrate 30 hydrogen-ICE vehicles or $2,030,000 if Department of Defense, National Automotive Center provides $500,000 co-funding for engineering costs and an additional five vehicles, for a total of 35 vehicles.
   Moved (Craycraft), seconded (Yates), abstained (Verdugo-Peralta), and recommended for approval.
    
3. Execute Contract to Develop and Demonstrate a Variable Gaseous Fueled Engine - The Board has previously approved projects to develop transit buses that operate on hydrogen-CNG fuel mixtures, which have demonstrated significantly lower emissions than buses operating on CNG only. This action requests approval and award to develop a variable gaseous fueled engine for future hydrogen-natural gas blend technologies at an AQMD cost not to exceed $30,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund. The total project cost is estimated to be $178,786.
   Moved (Yates), seconded (Craycraft) and unanimously recommended for approval.
    
4. Execute Contracts for FY 2002-03 Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Attainment Program Using Carl Moyer and Clean Fuels Funds - On October 10, 2003, proposals were received in response to an RFP for the Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Attainment Program. A total of $19,552,575 is available for awards. This amount is comprised of $8,148,088 allocated to the AQMD under Proposition 40, and $11,404,487 in returned and rollover funds resulting from returns of all previous Carl Moyer awards. The $11,404,487 is comprised of $9,071,372 in Carl Moyer funds and $2,333,115 from the Clean Fuels Fund originally designated as local match to the Moyer Program. Staff recommends Carl Moyer awards in the amount of $18,927,986. Staff also recommends $201,774 for a project from funds allocated by CARB to the AQMD Carl Moyer Fund as an inter-district project fund. In addition, staff recommends an amendment to an existing contract.
   Moved (Yates), seconded (Craycraft) and unanimously recommended for approval.
    
5. Approve Expenditure of Clean Fuel Funds for Testing Gasoline-Hybrid Transit Buses and Oceangoing Vessels - As a result of returned funds from the Carl Moyer Program, staff has identified $2,333,115 from the Clean Fuels Fund originally allocated as local match to the Moyer Program. Staff recommends that $600,000 of these returned funds be allocated for evaporative emissions testing of gasoline-hybrid transit buses and testing of oceangoing vessels which are eligible for funding under the Moyer Program.
   Moved (Yates), seconded (Craycraft) and unanimously recommended for approval.
    
6. Issue RFP to Purchase 84-Passenger CNG School Bus for School Bus Loaner Program and Authorize Staff to Transfer Ownership of Ford E450 Demonstration Bus to Transportation Foundation of Los Angeles - Staff proposes to issue an RFP to purchase an 84-passenger CNG school bus and to initiate a school bus loaner program to facilitate the introduction of CNG fuel to school bus fleets. This demonstration will provide an opportunity for entities to experience alternative fueled school buses in actual fleet operations. Staff also proposes the donation of AQMD’s natural gas-powered Ford E450 Demonstration Bus to Transportation Foundation of Los Angeles as in-kind participation in a joint study with the City of Hope on incidences of cancer and mortality rate in the south coast region.
   Moved (Yates), seconded (Craycraft) and unanimously recommended for approval.
    
7. Approve Changes to Microturbine Program Funded by 1309.1 - Priority Reserve Mitigation Fees - The Board previously authorized the Executive Officer to purchase and install 63 microturbines using Rule 1309.1 - Priority Reserve mitigation fees. Forty-two were to be installed in Los Angeles County and seven were to be installed in each of the counties of Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino. This proposal would: 1) allow the Executive Officer to locate more microturbines in any of the four counties for worthwhile projects; and 2) return $1,000,000 back to the Rule 1309.1 - Priority Reserve Fund.
   Moved (Yates), seconded (Craycraft) and unanimously recommended for approval.
    
8. Execute Contracts to Purchase Various Laboratory Equipment for MATES-III and PAMS Programs - On February 6, 2004, the Board released RFQs to purchase various laboratory equipment to conduct the MATES-III Program. The Board also redirected funds to purchase equipment for the PAMS Program. This action is to issue purchase orders with various vendors for the purchase of the following fixed assets: Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence for an amount not to exceed $115,000; High Pressure Liquid Chromatograph for an amount not to exceed $55,959; Ion Chromatograph for an amount not to exceed $71,190; and Gas Chromatograph with Flame Ionization Detector for an amount not to exceed $72,162. Funds for the purchase of these capital outlays are available in the FY 2003-04 Budget for the MATES-III and PAMS 12th year Programs.
   Moved (Yates), seconded (Craycraft) and unanimously recommended for approval.
    
9. Execute Contract for Coachella Valley PM₁₀ Clean Streets Management Program - Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) has been overseeing a PM₁₀ Clean Streets Management Program as part of the Coachella Valley PM₁₀ SIP. CVAG indicated that in order to continue the program, they would need additional funding assistance over the next three years. CVAG is in the process of seeking additional funding that would sustain the program. Meanwhile, CVAG is requesting funding assistance in the short-term. Staff recommends executing a contract with CVAG for funding the Coachella Valley Clean Streets Management Program at a cost not to exceed $258,075 for a three-year period from the Rule 1309.1 Priority Reserve Fund.
   Moved (Yates), seconded (Craycraft) and unanimously recommended for approval.
    
10. California Fuel Cell Partnership Steering Team Meeting - This report summarizes the California Fuel Cell Partnership Steering Team meeting held February 3-4, 2004.
    Moved (Yates), seconded (Craycraft) and unanimously recommended for approval.

APRIL BOARD AGENDA ITEM

11. Execute Contract to Cosponsor Development and Demonstration of Hydraulic-Hybrid Heavy-Duty Vehicles - Hybrid-electric passenger cars have been commercialized by Honda and Toyota which capture braking energy, store it electrically, and re-use it in propulsion with the use of electric motors. Hydraulic-hybrid systems are now under development which store braking energy as compressed gas and re-use this energy for propulsion through the use of special pumps in the drivetrain. CALSTART, in association with Permo-Drive Technologies Limited and the US Army National Automotive Center, has proposed the development and demonstration of a hydraulic-hybrid technology on heavy-duty vehicles. The total cost of this project is estimated to be $1,358,476 with AQMD funding not to exceed $250,000.
    Moved (Yates), seconded (Craycraft) and unanimously recommended for approval.

DISCUSSION ITEM

12. Hydrogen Conference Planning - Larry Kolczak of the Technology Advancement Office presented a concept paper for a Hydrogen Conference, outlining the proposed title, target audience, conference format, keynote speakers, etc.

WRITTEN REPORT ON COMPLETED PROJECTS

A written-only report on the following completed project was presented.

13. Development of an Odorant for Liquefied Natural Gas

Other Business - There was no other business.

Public Comment Period - There was no other public comment

The meeting was adjourned.

Attachment A - Attendance

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