BOARD MEETING DATE: June 3, 2005
AGENDA NO. 7

Recognize and Appropriate Funds from U.S. EPA and CARB, and Execute Contract for Truck Stop Electrification

SYNOPSIS:

The U.S. EPA has awarded the AQMD $100,000 in National Transportation Idle Free Corridors funds for truck stop electrification projects. In March 2005, the Board approved $300,000 for truck stop electrification projects with Idleaire Technologies Corporation under the Carl Moyer program. In addition, CARB has also allocated $691,000 from its State Emissions Mitigation Program fund for truck stop electrification projects with Idleaire. This action is to execute a contract with Idleaire to implement truck stop electrification projects in an amount not to exceed $1,091,000, comprised of $100,000 grant from the U.S. EPA, $691,000 from CARB’s State Emissions Mitigation Program, and $300,000 from the Carl Moyer Program fund already approved by the Board on March 4, 2005.

COMMITTEE:

Technology, May 27, 2005, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

1. Recognize $100,000 from the U.S. EPA in National Transportation Idle Free Corridors Program for truck stop electrification projects. Appropriate $100,000 to Science and Technology Advancement’s FY 2005-06 Budget, Professional and Special Services account.
    
2. Recognize $691,000 from CARB in the State Emissions Mitigation Program, and place the funds in the State Emissions Mitigation Program Fund (Fund 39).
    
3. Authorize the Chairman to execute a truck stop electrification contract with Idleaire Technologies Corporation for 65 to 75 truck stop spaces in an amount not to exceed $1,091,000, consisting of $100,000 from the U.S. EPA grant, $691,000 from State Emissions Mitigation Program Fund, and $300,000 from the Carl Moyer Program Fund originally approved by the Board on March 4, 2005.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

Heavy-duty truck engines are often idled to provide power for sleeper compartment heating and air conditioning, and for hotelling accessories such as refrigerators, computers, microwave ovens, TVs, and tools. Idling of diesel-fueled engines produces both NOx and VOC emissions, which are ozone precursors. Idling also produces PM emissions, and such PM emissions from diesel engines have been designated by CARB to be a toxic air contaminant. According to the 2003 AQMP, truck stops in the South Coast Air Basin account for approximately 750 tons of NOx and 11 tons of PM emissions annually. On-board electrification packages have been developed and commercialized to help reduce truck idling emissions and save on fuel usage. These packages replace power generated by idling diesel-fueled truck engines to provide heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and electrical power to the truck cab by using electrical power from the grid. One such package is Idleaire Technology Corporation’s Advanced Truck Stop Electrification (ATE) system.

In September 2004, as part of the National Transportation Idle Free Corridor Program, the U.S. EPA awarded $100,000 to the AQMD for truck stop electrification projects, and on March 4, 2005, the Board approved truck stop electrification projects with Idleaire in an amount not to exceed $300,000, under the Carl Moyer Program. In April 2004, CARB allocated $691,000 from its State Emissions Mitigation Program to implement truck stop electrification projects with Idleaire. CARB has requested the AQMD to implement the truck stop electrification project with Idleaire in the South Coast Air Basin, and will pass the $691,000 to the AQMD to be placed in the AQMD’s State Emissions Mitigation Program Fund.

Proposal

This action is to recognize $691,000 from CARB and place it in the State Emissions Mitigation Program Fund, to recognize $100,000 from U.S. EPA and appropriate it to TAO’s FY 2005-06 Budget, Professional and Special Services account, and to execute a truck stop electrification contract with Idleaire to fund 65 to 75 truck stop spaces in an amount not to exceed $1,091,000. Funding for the contracts with Idleaire will consist of a $100,000 grant from the U.S. EPA; $300,000 from the Carl Moyer Program already approved by the Board on March 4, 2005; and $691,000 from CARB under the State Emissions Mitigation Program. It is anticipated that the project will be implemented along the I-5 and/or I-10 freeways. All the proposals for electrifying the truck stop spaces were submitted in response to the Carl Moyer Program RFP #P2005-02, which was released on August 6, 2004.

A portion of the funds will be provided to Idleaire after the installation and successful operation of the Advanced Truck Stop Electrification (ATE) systems, and the remaining balance will be provided based on the utilization rate of the ATE systems. This method of payment has been approved by CARB and U.S. EPA.

Benefits to AQMD

The successful implementation of this project will reduce NOx and VOC emissions which are ozone precursors. This project will also reduce diesel PM emissions, which is a toxic air contaminant. Insight gained through this endeavor may encourage other manufacturers of truck stop electrification technologies to pursue commercialization opportunities more expeditiously, which will ultimately contribute to the progress AQMD makes in achieving clean air goals. AQMD’s AQMP includes this technology as a 2007 control measure, and this project will help in the implementation of this control measure.

Resource Impacts

The total cost of the project shall not exceed $1,091,000, consisting of $100,000 from a U.S. EPA grant, $691,000 from the State Emissions Mitigation Program Fund, and $300,000 from the Carl Moyer Program Fund which was approved by the Board on March 4, 2005. Sufficient funds are available from all the above mentioned funds.

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