BOARD MEETING DATE: April 6, 2007
AGENDA NO. 29

PROPOSAL:

Review of AQMD Interaction and Support of the Clean Cities Coalitions in the Basin

SYNOPSIS:

At the February 2, 2007 Board meeting, staff was directed to report on further leveraging participation and outreach of the Clean Cities programs to the Mobile Source Committee and the Local Government & Small Business Assistance Advisory Group.  AQMD has supported the Clean Cities Coalitions by providing sponsorship funds and speakers for events.  AQMD has contributed to Clean Cities program-related events with significant leverage from other interested parties.  AQMD staff will continue to work with the Clean Cities Coalitions on events and activities and continue funding of programs in similar amounts to historic levels.  AQMD will also continue to provide in-kind services such as providing vehicles, speakers and other resources to the Coalitions.

COMMITTEE:

Mobile Source, March 23, 2007, Reviewed

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

The AQMD staff has supported the Clean Cities Program and related local Clean Cities Coalitions for the past several years and has reported to the board semi-annually on the efforts of local coalitions.  At its February 2007 meeting, the Board directed that this item be referred to the Mobile Source Committee and Local Government & Small Business Assistance Advisory Group to discuss how to best leverage District support to reinforce and assist the Clean Cities Coalitions. 

History

The Clean Cities Program was created in 1992, and is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy.  The mission of the Clean Cities Program is to enhance our nation's energy security and air quality by supporting public and private partnerships that deploy clean-burning alternative fueled vehicles (AFVs) and build their associated fueling infrastructure. The Program’s main goals are:

• One million AFVs operating exclusively on alternative fuels by 2010.
   
• One billion gasoline-gallon-equivalent units per year used in AFVs by 2010.

In contrast to traditional command-and-control programs, Clean Cities takes a voluntary approach to AFV development, working with coalitions of local stakeholders to help develop the AFV industry.  The program depends on strong local initiatives to build alternative fuels markets, offering participants opportunities to address problems unique to their cities and fostering partnerships to help overcome them.

AQMD Participation

There are five Clean Cities Coalitions (CCC) in the local area; Long Beach CCC, City of Los Angeles CCC, Western Riverside County CCC, SCAG CCC and the Coachella Valley CCC.  AQMD is a member of all five Coalitions.

AQMD has consistently provided support for the local Coalitions’ programs through sponsorship funding, the provision of speakers and materials at events, providing vehicles for displays and AQMD in-kind services such as printing.  AQMD also coordinates with the local Clean Cities Coalitions to disseminate Carl Moyer Program information, and hold workshops.  This funding and support has been provided by TAO and the Media Office.

AQMD has also co-sponsored local Clean Cities events, such as “Car Care for Clean Air,” “Advancing the Choice,” the Santa Monica AltCar Expo and “National Alternative Fuel Vehicle Day Odyssey” events.  AQMD looks forward to continuing to work with the Clean Cities Coalitions to support our mutual goals.

In October the AQMD sponsored the Southern California Clean Vehicle Technology Expo which was attended by over 500 public and private fleet vehicle operators and representatives from 35 cities and all four counties in our region.  The Expo was recognized by DOE as a National Alternative Fuel Vehicle Odyssey Day event.

The table below illustrates the financial commitment that AQMD has made to the Clean Cities efforts over the past three years.  In addition to financial assistance, AQMD has provided significant staff resources at these events such as speakers and public outreach personnel.

Additional Support and Resources

Administered by state energy offices, the State Energy Programs (SEP) Special Projects funding has been a source of financial assistance for Clean Cities Coalitions. Funds are leveraged through cost sharing in several Clean Cities categories. This funding supports coalition efforts in developing infrastructure and niche markets. SEP funds are awarded to projects consistent with Clean Cities goals and seek to provide measurable results. Funding opportunities outside of SEP are also available; these include additional opportunities provided by Clean Cities partnerships, also CMAQ (Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality) and programs at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA).

The sources listed below are the most direct sources of potential funding available to Clean Cities Coalitions and are listed on the Clean Cities web-site at www.eere.energy.gov/cleancities/solicitations.html.  They include open solicitations, funding that is expected to be available this year, and other opportunities available year round.

• $8.6 billion has been authorized for CMAQ funding over the five-year program from 2005-2009.  As part of the authorization, provisions were made that that States and MPOs (in this region, the Southern California Association of Governments) will give priority in distributing funds for projects and programs to diesel retrofits and other cost-effective emission reduction activities, and cost-effective congestion mitigation activities that provide air quality benefits.  CMAQ funds projects and programs that reduce transportation-related emissions in nonattainment and maintenance areas. CMAQ funds are distributed locally through each area's Metropolitan Planning Organization (SCAG). 
   
• $8.6 million from The Sun Grant Western Regional Center for 16 projects to expand the use of alternative transportation fuels. Combined with funding from the participants, more than $25 million will be invested in the nation's alternative fuel infrastructure.  The Southern California region received an award of $267,410 for the purchase of 44 medium-duty propane vehicles.
   
• $90,000 from the U. S. Department of Energy to award nine (9) cooperative agreements of up to $10,000 each. The funding is to be used to implement educational workshops or key industry stakeholder meetings that will inform petroleum marketers, fleet managers, or fuel regulators on fuel quality and ideal management practices to achieve acceptable fuel standards
   
• $300,000 from the U. S. Department of Energy for multi-investigator / multi-institutional /multi-disciplinary / and multi-functional (research, education, and outreach) projects that address areas of biofuels feedstocks development (biomass production), biofuels conversion processes (conversion technologies), and bioproducts (biologically-based products) that reduce or replace petroleum use.
   
• $19.3 million from the U.S. Department of Energy is expected to be available for up to 11 awards aimed at developing a diverse, secure, and emissions-free energy future. Areas of interest include: (1) hydrogen compression; (2) hydrogen storage for stationary applications and gaseous truck delivery; (3) hydrogen liquefaction; and (4) hydrogen production by electrolysis.
   
• $1.1 million from the U.S. Department of Energy seeking proposals for Office of FreedomCar and Vehicle Technologies Grants to develop more energy efficient and environmentally friendly highway transportation technologies that enable America to use less petroleum. Areas of interest include (1) E85 optimized engines; (2) Enabling technologies for fuels and lubricants; and (3) Efficient clean combustion and fuels co-development. Eight awards are anticipated.
   
• $400,000 from U.S. EPA Region 10, for the Regional Geographic Initiative (RGI). RGI supports projects that use integrated, collaborative, or community-based approaches to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or prevent pollution by promoting the availability of energy efficiency, renewable energy, or carbon sequestration.

AQMD Future Participation

AQMD staff continues to participate in the Clean Cities Program.  Currently, the Clean Cities Coalitions are assisting in Carl Moyer Program outreach.  AQMD staff serves on the national conference committee for the, 13^th Annual Alternative Fuels and Vehicles National Conference + EXPO to be held in Anaheim on April 1-4 of this year. Additionally, in the next few months, staff will be participating in coalition annual meetings, organizing this year’s Clean Vehicle Technology Expo, and other special events such as the annual “Advancing the Choice” events. 

Staff will continue to support the CCC with leveraged participation.  To further enhance the effectiveness of the coordination between the CCCs and the AQMD, staff will conduct an annual meeting with all five Coalition coordinators to discuss the goals and program efforts for the following year.  This meeting will be scheduled in the fall and staff will report back to the Board prior to the end of the year.