REPORT:
Technology Committee
SYNOPSIS:
The Technology Committee met on
March 31, 2006. Major topics included Technology Advancement items
reflected in the Board Agenda for the April Board meeting. A summary of
these topics with the Committee's comments is provided. The next
Technology Committee meeting will be on April 28, 2006 at 12:00 p.m. in
CC-8.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Receive and file.
Roy Wilson, Chairman
Technology Committee
Attendance: All Committee members were
in attendance
APRIL BOARD AGENDA ITEMS
- Execute Contracts for Natural Gas Refueling Station Infrastructure - On
November 4, 2005, the Board approved the release of an RFP to solicit
proposals to facilitate the expansion of the LNG refueling infrastructure in
the South Coast Basin and provide additional assurances that there will be
adequate backup LNG supply during periods of possible disruption in LNG
production or delivery. Three proposals were received by the closing date.
Staff believes that two of the three proposals qualify for funding as they
meet the RFP requirements as well as provide innovative LNG fueling
supplies. This action is to recommend funding the two proposals for a total
amount not to exceed $500,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund.
Moved (Burke), seconded (Pulido), abstained (Yates and Wilson due to
campaign contributions from Waste Management) and recommended for approval.
- Set-Aside Funds for Air Quality Improvement Projects Under Rule 1173
Mitigation Fee Program - On July 8, 2005, the Board approved issuance of a
Program Announcement for air quality improvement projects to be funded by
Rule 1173 mitigation fees. A total of four proposals were received. However,
none of the proposals met the evaluation criteria specified in the Program
Announcement for various reasons. Based on the proposals received in recent
months and discussions with community and facilities representatives, staff
proposes that a pilot demonstration of classroom air purifier systems at
three elementary schools and a fenceline monitoring project be funded with
the mitigation funds. This action is to set-aside $1,400,000 in mitigation
funds for proposed projects under the Rule 1173 Mitigation Fee Program.
Specific RFPs and recommended contract awards will be presented later for
Board consideration and approval. Specific RFPs and recommended contract
awards will be presented later for Board consideration and approval.
Moved (Yates), seconded (Pulido), and unanimously recommended for approval.
- Amend Contracts to Develop On-Road Heavy-Duty Natural Gas Engines Meeting
2010 Emissions Standards by 2007 - In 2005, the Board approved natural gas
engine projects with John Deere Power Systems and Cummins Westport, Inc. to
develop, demonstrate, and certify on-road heavy-duty engines meeting 2010
emissions standards by 2007. For both projects, the U.S. Department of
Energy (DOE) was anticipated to provide significant cost share. However, the
anticipated U.S. DOE was not realized, resulting in a significant shortfall
for these projects. Cummins Westport, Inc. and John Deere Power Systems
indicated that they can meet an early 2007 commercialization date if some
level of the funding shortfalls could be made up. In addition, they provided
written commitments to meeting this commercialization date. This action is
to supplement the original awards with an additional $700,000 each from the
Clean Fuels Fund. The total project costs of the two programs will be $1.39
million for the Cummins Westport, Inc. project and $1.39 million for the
John Deere Power Systems project with total costs over $12.5 million for
both projects.
Mayor Pulido asked staff to work with OCTA and Mayor Yates asked staff to
work with OMNITRANS, to inform them regarding these clean engines as they
are made available as the two transit agencies look towards future bus
procurements. Ms. Verdugo-Peralta made a similar comment to outreach to
other operators such as airport shuttle services.
Moved (Yates), seconded (Pulido), and unanimously recommended for approval.
- Approve and Adopt Expanded Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle Program
- The AQMD has sponsored plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) research and
development since 2000. Through this support, PHEVs have gained national
attention and are potentially poised for greater deployment. This action is
to develop a program to further accelerate the development of PHEVs by (1)
increasing resources to address the technical challenges, (2) directing
staff to promote the technology to local communities, and (3) joining the
Austin Energy Plug-in Partners National Campaign.
Moved (Yates), seconded (Pulido), and unanimously recommended for approval.
- Execute Contracts for Technical Assistance for Goods Movement and Fuel
Ethanol and Administrative Assistance in Organizing Air Quality Related
Conferences and Issue RFP - On March 3, 2006, the Board approved release of
an RFP to solicit proposals for (1) expert technical consultation in goods
movement and fuel ethanol to support AQMD technology advancement activities,
and (2) assistance in organizing conferences related to port emission
controls and health effects of air pollution. Six technical proposals and
two administrative assistance proposals were received and reviewed. This
action is to execute contracts with two technical experts, Tiax and Engine,
Fuels, and Emissions Engineering, and one administrative assistant
consultant, Maria Robles, to provide services at a total cost not to exceed
$300,000 from the Clean Fuels Program. In addition, staff is recommending
that the Board issue a new RFP for technical assistance in goods movement
operations.
Moved (Pulido), seconded (Verdugo-Peralta), abstained (Burke) and
recommended for approval.
- Status Report on AQMD Support for the California Fuel Cell Partnership and
Proposal to Renew Membership for Calendar Year 2006 and Continue Support for
CaFCP Regional Coordinator Located at AQMD - On March 17, 2000, the Board
approved joining the California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP) as a full
member. This status report summarizes the AQMD support for the CaFCP and the
benefits received by the AQMD per the request made at the February 24, 2006
Technology Committee. Additional action is requested to continue AQMD’s
participation in the CaFCP in an amount not to exceed $83,800 for calendar
year 2006, and to also co-fund 50 percent, in addition to office space and
utilities, for the CaFCP Regional Coordinator position located at the AQMD
in an amount not to exceed $50,000. The total cash amount for the CaFCP
activities will therefore not exceed $133,800.
Ms. Verdugo-Peralta indicated that the University of California Irvine sent
a letter indicating a desire to work with the AQMD in creating a CaFCP
branch at UCI or AQMD headquarters.
Moved (Pulido), seconded (Yates), and unanimously recommended for approval.
Public Comment Period - Phil Baxter of Shell Hydrogen voiced support for
item #6.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:15 p.m.
Attachment
A - Attendance
Attachment A - Attendance
Bob Ulloa, Board Assistant
AQMD
Shelley Bullard, Board Assistant AQMD
Sarah Ewell, Board Assistant AQMD
Esther Hays, Board Assistant
AQMD
Brett Franklin, Board Assistant AQMD
Rhonda Reyes, Board Assistant AQMD
Barry Wallerstein, Executive Officer AQMD
Kurt Wiese, District Counsel AQMD
Oscar Abarca, DEO, PA
AQMD
Anupom Ganguli, ADEO, PA AQMD
Chris Marlia, ADEO, IM AQMD
Henry Hogo, ADEO, S&TA
AQMD
Matt Miyasato, S&TA AQMD
Naveen Berry, S&TA AQMD
Larry Watkins, S&TA AQMD
Vicki White, S&TA AQMD
Penny Shaw-Cedillo, S&TA AQMD
Phil Baxter Shell Hydrogen
Christopher Strobel
Copeland, Lowery, Jacquez
Russell Vare CaFCP
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