BOARD MEETING DATE: October 7, 2005
AGENDA NO. 24

Technology Committee

SYNOPSIS:

The Technology Committee met on September 23, 2005. Major topics included Technology Advancement items reflected in the regular Board Agenda for the October Board meeting. A summary of these topics with the Committee's comments is provided. The next Technology Committee meeting will be on October 28, 2005 at 12:00 p.m. in CC-8.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

Dennis Yates, Acting Chair
Technology Committee

Attendance: Committee Member Dennis Yates was in attendance at District headquarters.

OCTOBER BOARD AGENDA ITEMS

1. Recognize and Appropriate Funds from California Energy Commission and Adopt Resolution to Receive and Administer Funds to Support AQMD "Five Cities" Hydrogen Program - The California Energy Commission (CEC) on behalf of the U.S. DOE has approved Clean Cities Program grant funding in support of five proposed hydrogen fueling stations at the cities of Santa Monica, Riverside, Burbank, Santa Ana and Ontario. These five stations will provide hydrogen fuel for 25 Toyota Prius electric hybrid vehicles that have been converted to utilize hydrogen as their fuel. The CEC requires the AQMD Governing Board to adopt a resolution to receive and administer their funding for these five projects known as the "Five Cities" Program. This funding will be used to support the purchase of the fueling and storage equipment and will cover about 5% of the overall AQMD project costs. This action is to recognize and appropriate $137,939 from the CEC for the AQMD "Five Cities" Hydrogen Program and to adopt a Resolution to receive the funds.
   Less than a quorum was present during the discussion of this item; the Acting Chairman communicated his concurrence and recommendation that this item be forwarded for Board consideration.
    
2. Amend Contract with Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., to Purchase and Install Additional Equipment at Torrance Pipeline Hydrogen Fueling Station - At the June 6, 2003 Board meeting, the Board approved funding for a compressed hydrogen fueling station that would connect directly to the Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. industrial hydrogen pipeline. Over the past two years, automobile manufacturers have adopted more stringent purity limits for the hydrogen used as fuel in their vehicles. There is a need to enhance the fuel delivery system in order to provide the higher quality hydrogen fuel. This action is to amend the Torrance Pipeline Hydrogen Fueling Station contract with Air Products and Chemicals to install additional equipment that will improve the fuel quality of hydrogen dispensed by the pipeline station. Supplemental funding in an amount not to exceed $89,051 is needed to purchase and install the additional equipment and is available from the Clean Fuels Fund.
   Less than a quorum was present during the discussion of this item; the Acting Chairman communicated his concurrence and recommendation that this item be forwarded for Board consideration.
    
3. Amend Contract to Provide Maintenance Services for Hydrogen Fueling Stations for "Five Cities" Project Participants - On August 6 and December 3, 2004, the Board authorized execution of contracts to construct hydrogen fueling stations in five cities to support the AQMD’s "Five Cities" Project. The fueling stations will support a fleet of five electric hybrid vehicles at each site that have been converted to hydrogen fuel. This action is to fund maintenance services for three of the stations and leases of mobile fuelers for two of the stations for the five-year project term in an additional amount not to exceed $903,332 from the Clean Fuels Fund.
   Less than a quorum was present during the discussion of this item; the Acting Chairman communicated his concurrence and recommendation that this item be forwarded for Board consideration.
    
4. Execute Five Agreements to Cosponsor Research Projects with CARB - CARB research staff has requested co-funding from the AQMD for five research projects. The projects include a field demonstration of an advanced technology boiler, development and demonstration of a natural gas hybrid-electric transit bus, the physical and toxicological characterization of particulate matter from motor vehicles, community saturation monitoring of pollutants in Wilmington, and assessment of the quality of LPG gas used as a motor fuel. This action is to approve funding for these projects. The total cost of these projects is $2,680,109. AQMD co-funding will not exceed $783,975.
   Less than a quorum was present during the discussion of this item; the Acting Chairman communicated his concurrence and recommendation that this item be forwarded for Board consideration.
    
5. Execute Contracts for Natural Gas Refueling Station Infrastructure - On June 3, 2005, the Board approved the release of an RFP to solicit proposals for natural gas refueling station infrastructure projects in the amount of $1,020,567. Eight proposals were received by the closing date. Staff believes that six of the eight new proposals deserve funding as two were for station upgrades and did not identify new load or additional fueling throughput. Staff recommends funding these six new proposals in the amount of $1,054,137, as well as four proposals held over from the previous solicitation of January 7, 2005 in the amount of $530,000. Staff proposes that $563,570 from the Clean Fuels Fund be used to augment the original budget of $1,020,567 to cover all ten recommended proposals for a total amount not to exceed $1,584,137 from the Clean Fuels Fund. In addition, staff recommends setting aside $500,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund to facilitate the development and expansion of the LNG refueling infrastructure.
   Less than a quorum was present during the discussion of this item; the Acting Chairman communicated his concurrence and recommendation that this item be forwarded for Board consideration.

OTHER BUSINESS - There was no other business.

Public Comment Period - There was no public comment.

The meeting was adjourned.

Attachment A - Attendance

Attachment A - Attendance

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