BOARD MEETING DATE: February 5, 2010
AGENDA NO. 9
PROPOSAL:
Execute Contracts with Clean Cities Coalitions for Outreach and Education Activities in Support of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Awards Received by AQMD
SYNOPSIS:
AQMD was the recipient of two American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Awards which contain provisions for education and outreach activities. This action is to enter into contracts with the five local Clean Cities Coalitions, and the Eastern Sierra Regional Clean Cities Coalition in Nevada to conduct education and outreach activities in support of: 1) an award for replacement of 180 heavy-duty natural gas drayage trucks in the South Coast Air Basin in an amount not to exceed $250,000; and 2) an award to complete a 700-mile LNG fueling corridor across the southwest United States in an amount not to exceed $150,000. The LNG fueling corridor will be along one of the nation’s most heavily traveled goods movement truck routes between Southern California and Salt Lake City, Utah.
COMMITTEE:
Technology, January 22, 2010, Recommended for Approval
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:
Upon receipt of the ARRA DOE Drayage Truck award, authorize the Chairman of the Board to execute contracts with the following Clean Cities Coalitions from the Prop 1B Goods Movement Fund (81):
SCAG Clean Cities Coalition in the amount of $100,000;
Western Riverside Clean Cities Coalition in the amount of $37,500;
Coachella Valley Clean Cities Coalition in the amount of $37,500;
City of Long Beach Clean Cities Coalition in the amount of $37,500;
City of Los Angeles Clean Cities Coalition in the amount of $37,500; and
Upon receipt of the ARRA DOE UPS Corridor Expansion award, authorize the Chairman of the Board to execute contracts with the following Clean Cities Coalitions from the LNG Corridor Expansion Project Fund (51):
SCAG Clean Cities Coalition in the amount of $75,000
Eastern Sierra Regional Clean Cities Coalition in the amount of $75,000.
Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer
Background
In January of 2009, the Department of Energy released a solicitation for petroleum reduction technology projects for the transportation sector under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The solicitation required submittal through or in partnership with a Clean Cities Coalition. AQMD submitted and received grants for two projects, specifically: 1) Heavy-Duty Natural Gas Drayage Truck Replacement Project and 2) United Parcel Service (UPS) Ontario-Las Vegas LNG Corridor Expansion Project. The first project is for the replacement of 180 drayage trucks with new LNG trucks. The UPS project calls for the development of a clean truck corridor across the southwest United States. The Board recognized the two awards at its September and November 2009 meetings. Subsequent to the Board’s recognition of the UPS project award in November 2009, discussions with DOE and the project proponent resulted in a reallocation of $150,000 from the original award to the two Clean Cities Coalitions involved in the project, SCAG and Eastern Sierra. The reallocated funds will cover the cost to conduct outreach and education for LNG vehicles.
Proposal
Staff is recommending Board approval of contracts with six Clean Cities Coalitions to implement outreach and education programs in support of the two project awards.
The heavy-duty natural gas drayage truck replacement project calls for workshops and outreach efforts to truck operators and technicians working on LNG trucks. This effort will be conducted in partnership with the five local Clean Cities Coalitions. A special outreach and education program will be developed targeting truck operators in the port areas and in the Inland Empire areas with warehouse distribution centers.
Through this proposed project, LNG trucks will largely be concentrated in the port areas and at warehouse distribution centers. The use of LNG trucks will provide environmental benefits to the communities surrounding the ports and warehouse distribution centers. In addition, there will be environmental benefits to the communities adjacent to the major freeways where these trucks travel. Total funding for this effort is $250,000.
Funding will be awarded to each of the five local Coalitions based on the effort and the geographical area covered. Four of the Coalitions, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Western Riverside and Coachella Valley, will receive $37,500 each; the SCAG Coalition will receive $100,000 due to the large geographical area it serves, which includes San Bernardino County and Orange County, as well as Los Angeles and Riverside County areas not served by the other Coalitions.
The UPS award identified $150,000 for outreach and education in partnership with SCAG and the Eastern Sierra Regional Clean Cities Coalition in Nevada.
The UPS project aims to complete a long-planned regional LNG fueling corridor across the southwestern U.S. This project makes the final connection between the existing public access LNG fuel infrastructure in Southern California and the LNG fuel stations being developed in Utah; thus providing a 700-mile LNG fueling corridor along one of the nation’s most heavily traveled goods movement truck routes between Southern California and Salt Lake City, Utah.
Staff has been in discussion with the six Coalitions to develop specific work plans (and scope of work) to conduct the outreach and education programs over the two-year contract period. Activities under ARRA awards are reported on a quarterly basis as required by the ARRA.
Benefits to AQMD
The AQMD has supported a number of activities directed to advancement of new technologies and commercialization of low-emission alternative fuel technologies. The successful implementation of these projects furthers the goals of the Technology Advancement Office. The vehicles and equipment funded under this program will operate many years, providing long-term emissions reductions. The outreach efforts will expand awareness of clean truck technologies in our area.
Resource Impacts
Total amount of available funds for this effort is $400,000 provided by the federal government through ARRA.
Attachment (DOC, 26k)
Errata sheet