| ANTI-IDLING | CLEAN FUELS | RETROFITS |
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July
18, 2005 IN ATTENDANCE: Brett
Alkins, Johnson Matthey Inc. MINUTES TAKEN BY: Eric Cheung INTRODUCTIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: Morris announced the Clean Air Council and PDD were awarded EPA CARE grant funding to establish a stakeholder process to address environmental issues relating to the Philadelphia Port. The grant offers approximately $80,000 in funding. The core of the program will be the Port Subcommittee. Morris stated the immediate goal for the next year is to come up with project ideas that reduce emissions from the Port, so that funds from future EPA CARE opportunities can actually go to remediating problems. Alvaro noted that the Port emissions proposal was considered the best proposal for this region and was unanimously accepted at the national level for funding. Morris said that there is a Mid-Atlantic Regional diesel collaborative being developed to encompass U.S. EPA Region 3 states, plus some additional states. Judy Katz, U.S. EPA's regional air program director, wants to develop a structure to enable states and local agencies in the region to benefit from federal funding that will be coming over the next five years. The Mid-Atlantic Regional Air Management Association (MARAMA) will be discussing this strategy at upcoming meetings. Morris will determine where PDD fits into this strategy. He added that MARAMA's goal will be to come up with as many regional clean diesel projects as possible to take advantage of future funding opportunities, just as PDD needs to do. MARAMA will have a kick-off meeting to announce this diesel collaborative sometime in the Fall or Winter. It will be similar in form to PDD's kick-off event back in 2003. Lastly, Morris noted that PECO/Exelon, Philadelphia Clean Cities, Shurepower and PDD are working together on a truck stop electrification project at the Walt Whitman truck stop. PHILADELPHIA DIESEL DIFFERENCE ACTIVITIES UPDATE: Eric noted that he has been in touch with Engine Control Systems concerning the Philadelphia Asthma Bus project and will continue to shepherd the project along. Eric is also continuing to work with SPC Corporation on a potential diesel retrofit project. As for the retrofit project involving the City of Philadelphia Water Department's vehicles, Eric noted that the paperwork needed by PA DEP has been completed. Eric said he and Ed Carreras will be meeting with McCallister Towing, which operates tugboats out of the Philadelphia Navy Yard. McCallister is interested in learning more about diesel retrofit projects and PDD's new Port Subcommittee. Ed added that McCallister operates tugboats in other East coast ports. The meeting will take place Wednesday, July 20. One important goal of PDD is to be a model for other parts of the state and the country. Eric relayed a phone conversation he had with the Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) out of Pittsburgh, advising them on the formation of their own Adopt-A-School Bus program. Additionally, Eric said he was invited by U.S. EPA to present at the Southeastern Transportation and Air Quality Summit in Charleston, South Carolina - August 24 and August 25. He will be talking about the PDD program to air quality regulators and advocates from the Southeastern part of the country. Eric reiterated Morris's point about establishing a list of willing fleets in order to attract more funding to the Philadelphia area when they become available. Finally, Eric explained to PDD members that the U.S. DOE is planning on eliminating regional offices from its budget, including Philadelphia. Eric reminded everyone that the Philadelphia regional office hosted a PDD meeting last year. Eric said that those interested in trying to stop the elimination might consider contacting legislators. CLEAN
YELLOW BUS ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA (CYBA) REPORT: GRANT OPPORTUNITIES: PDD did end up applying for the National Clean Diesel Campaign Demonstration Assistance Agreement that was due July 1. Although PDD was unable to identify a specific port fleet to participate in the program to employ verified diesel retrofit technologies in off-road applications, the Council felt that U.S. EPA's desire to see hard diesel projects involving port facilities is so strong that it should apply regardless. PDD's proposal seeks funding for a demonstration program to involve diesel-powered cargo-handling equipment at Philadelphia Port facilities, with specific operators to be determined later. Meanwhile, Eric noted that PDD is working with PECO Energy, Philadelphia Clean Cities and the Walt Whitman Truck Stop to apply for PA DEP Energy Harvest funding to pay for an electrification pilot project at the Walt Whitman site involving Shurepower. Proposals for both the Energy Harvest grant and U.S. EPA's Clean School Bus USA program are due July 22. Ray Chalmers mentioned that an air toxics monitoring RFP has been announced by the U.S. EPA. Lastly, Arleen informed PDD members that PA DEP's Small Business Assistance program for on-board idling reduction devices will be announced shortly. GENERAL: Arleen asked diesel retrofit vendors at the PDD meeting whether the demand for their products would be there without the availability of government grants. Brett Alkins from Johnson Matthey replied that he could not think of any project he worked on that happened without governmental assistance. He further observed that a lot of CMAQ dollars have gone towards diesel retrofit projects. In Philadelphia, only SEPTA has received CMAQ funding for a clean diesel project. Jack LeBeau asked Eric what the response has been with PDD's attempt to get corporations to sponsor diesel retrofit projects. Eric answered that so far there has been few positive responses, other than a potential lead with the Silvi Group. Kirt Flowers updated PDD members on Amtrak's progress with its diesel retrofit initiative. So far 9 out of 14 vehicles have been retrofitted. The remaining vehicles will be completed by the fall or winter and Amtrak will then be able to get data on them. Representatives from O2Diesel, James Peeples and Rich Roger, briefly spoke at the meeting about their ethanol-diesel fuel blend. They hoped to return to make a more formal presentation at September's PDD Working Group meeting. James also mentioned that O2Diesel had success working with Monsanto to cover the cost of having a municipality use its fuel. As part of the project, the municipality agreed to wrap its buses with information that promoted Monsanto's involvement. MONTHLY PRESENTATION: Elise Denmon gave a brief overview of DVRPC noting that it is the region's designated Metropolitan Planning Organization, covering 9 counties in Pennsylvania and New Jersey: Philadelphia, Montgomery, Delaware, Chester, Bucks, Burlington, Mercer, Camden and Gloucester. This region is the sixth largest in the nation with over 5.4 million residents. DVRPC provides advice to local and county governments on land use, transportation, economic development and environment issues relating to planning decisions. After Elise's presentation, Michael Boyer led a tour of DVRPC's new facilities. NEXT MEETING AND LOCATION: The next meeting will be held September 19, 2005 at DVRPC's offices. |
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