BOARD MEETING DATE: May 7, 2010
AGENDA NO. 26
REPORT:
Technology Committee
SYNOPSIS:
The Technology Committee met on April 16, 2010. Major topics included Technology Advancement items reflected in the regular Board Agenda for the May Board meeting. A summary of these topics with the Committee's comments is provided. The next Technology Committee meeting will be on May 21, 2010 at 12 p.m. in CC-8.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Receive and file.
Josie Gonzales
Technology Committee Chair
Attendance: Committee Member William Burke participated by video-teleconference. Committee Chair Josie Gonzales and Committee Member Judith Mitchell were in attendance at District headquarters. Committee Members Marion Ashley, Miguel Pulido, and Dennis Yates were absent.
MAY BOARD AGENDA ITEMS
1. Recognize Additional Proposition 1B – Lower Emission School Bus Program Funds from CARB and Approve School Bus Replacement and Retrofit Awards and Amend Contracts under the Lower-Emission School Bus Program
CARB has allocated an additional $1,079,635 to the AQMD for the Proposition 1B-School Bus Program. This action is to recognize these funds and place them in the Proposition 1B – Lower Emission School Bus Program Fund to replace 96 pre-1987 school buses with new CNG buses, retrofit 545 school buses with particulate traps, and allow the use of any unspent infrastructure funds towards the schools’ local match. Other actions are to amend contracts to pay for school bus safety equipment and other adjustments, such as an increase for sales tax. The final actions are to approve funding to upgrade two school bus fueling stations and donate a school bus to a public school district.
Dr. Burke asked about the percentage of Proposition 1B-School Bus Funds that had been allocated to AQMD by CARB. Staff responded that it was $70.1 million of about $194 million, constituting about 36 percent of the funds. Dr. Burke asked for the reason the AQMD allocation was lower than the population weighted distribution. Staff explained the Prop 1B-School Bus funds were distributed based on the school bus population with a preference for the pre-1977 buses; and since AQMD had already replaced a large number of school buses with its own funds, the percentage of funds was lower compared to the Basin’s population percentage. Board Members Gonzales and Mitchell stated that we should bring this to CARB’s attention, and we should not be penalized for taking early initiative with our own funds. Staff agreed to follow up on the Board Members’ request; but also noted that under the Prop 1B-Goods Movement Program, the South Coast Air Basin receives 55 percent of the funds. Dr. Burke requested that staff should try to get AQMD’s fair share of the funds under the Proposition 1B-School Bus Program.
Moved by Burke with modification – Projects are contingent upon Board’s approval of how CARB determined the funding allocation for the AQMD; seconded by Mitchell.
2. Execute Contracts to Cosponsor Electric Bus Demonstration and Quick-Charge Infrastructure Projects
Battery electric transit buses represent a potential near-term opportunity for deploying zero-tailpipe emission technologies. The challenges remain in demonstrating the battery durability, quick-charge capability, appropriate routes and suitable chassis for such applications. This action is to execute two contracts to demonstrate these attributes in transit applications. The first contract is with Ebus, Inc. to demonstrate an electric shuttle bus in an amount not to exceed $350,000 and the second is with Foothill Transit to demonstrate quick-charge infrastructure for a full-size battery electric transit bus in an amount not to exceed $290,000, both from the Clean Fuels Fund.
Staff prefaced the presentation by stating the Ebus project is contingent upon receiving the funds from LADWP.
Moved by Mitchell; seconded by Burke; unanimously approved.
3. Execute Contract to Develop Fuel Cell-Gas Turbine Hybrid System for On-Board Locomotive Applications
The National Fuel Cell Research Center at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) has completed a review of Fuel Cell-Gas Turbine Hybrid technology for both long haul and mixed-mode locomotive applications. The proposed project will develop a proof-of-concept solid oxide fuel cell-gas turbine hybrid (SOFC-GT) system for use on-board a locomotive and establish a conceptual design for real-world demonstration. This action is to execute a contract with UCI in an amount not to exceed $78,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund. The total cost of the proposed project is $156,000.
Moved by Mitchell; seconded by Burke; unanimously approved.
4. Execute Contracts to Cosponsor Aftertreatment Emission Control Technology Demonstration Projects for Biogas Engines
The use of renewable feedstock for energy production is a necessary transition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, provide domestic energy diversity and reduce petroleum dependence. The utilization of these fuels, however, must be made as clean as possible, and the proposed two projects investigate this potential using a specific technology, NOxTech aftertreatment. This action is to execute contracts to demonstrate NOxTech on a landfill engine and a digestor gas engine at costs not to exceed $150,000 and $85,000 respectively, from the Clean Fuels Fund. Both projects will be heavily leveraged by other sources with total project costs over $1.6 million.
Moved by Mitchell; seconded by Burke; unanimously approved.
5. Execute Contract to Re-Establish Testing Facility and Quantify PM Emission Reductions from Commercial Charbroiling Operations
The University of California, Riverside, CE-CERT, under a contract with AQMD, previously developed a protocol to measure emissions from commercial charbroilers. This action is to execute a contract with CE-CERT to re-establish a testing facility and conduct source-testing of current control technologies applied to under-fired charbroilers to quantify particulate matter emission reductions, in an amount not to exceed $60,000 from the Clean Fuels Program Fund.
Moved by Burke; seconded by Mitchell; unanimously approved.
Public Comment Period - There was no public comment.
Other Business – There was no other business.
The next meeting will be May 21. The meeting was adjourned.
Attachment (DOC, 30k)
A - Attendance