PROPOSAL:
Establish Fund for Natural Gas Vehicle Partnership (Initiative #3),
Recognize Funding from Participating Members, and Authorize Executive
Officer to Approve Expenditure for Activities and Projects Selected by
Partnership During First Year
SYNOPSIS:
The Board, at its February 1, 2002 meeting, approved the Workplan to
implement the eight Strategic Alliance Initiatives set forth by Chairman
Norma Glover. One of the initiatives is the creation of a Natural Gas
Vehicle Partnership to facilitate the advancement of natural gas vehicle
technology and deployment. The participating members will pay two-year
membership fees to fund program administration, specific projects, and
activities to achieve the goals of the partnership. Staff recommends
establishing a Natural Gas Vehicle Partnership Fund to receive
contributions from participating members and transferring $25,000 to the
fund from the Clean Fuels Fund as AQMD's contribution, and authorizing the
Executive Officer to approve expenditures for projects selected by the
partnership up to $50,000 for individual expenditures and for a total
amount not exceeding $200,000, during the first year of its activity.
COMMITTEE:
Technology, March 22, 2002, Recommended for Approval
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
- Establish the Natural Gas Vehicle Partnership Fund for creation of the
Natural Gas Vehicle Partnership to facilitate the advancement of natural
gas vehicle technology and deployment.
- Recognize and receive funds from participating members of the Natural
Gas Vehicle Partnership.
- Authorize the transfer of $25,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund to the
Natural Gas Vehicle Partnership Fund as AQMD’s contribution to the Natural
Gas Vehicle Partnership.
- Authorize the Executive Officer to approve expenditures for activities
and projects selected by the Natural Gas Vehicle Partnership during the
first year ( through June 30, 2003) of its activity in budgeted amounts
not to exceed $ 50,000 for individual expenditures, $200,000 in total as
outlined in Table 1, from the Natural Gas Vehicle Partnership Fund
provided there would be sufficient funds available.
Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer
Background
At the January 11, 2002 Board Meeting, Chairman Norma Glover presented
eight Strategic Alliance Initiatives for Board consideration. The proposed
Initiatives are set forth to strengthen and create new partnerships at the
local, state, and federal level. One of these initiatives is the creation of
a Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) Partnership with the objective of accelerating
the development of advanced natural gas vehicle technologies to provide a
benchmark for lowering emissions from petroleum based engines and to provide
a pathway to future fuel cell use in the next two decades.
Proposal
Under this initiative, AQMD will spearhead the formation of a strategic
alliance comprised of state and federal air quality, transportation and
energy agencies, together with vehicle and engine manufacturers, fuel
providers, transit and refuse hauler associations, and other interested
parties to facilitate the advancement of NGV technology and deployment.
Under the activities of the partnership, the AQMD will (1) arrange a
half-day moderator-facilitated NGV summit, including a round-table
discussion about the NGV Partnership’s role in transportation, vehicle, and
infrastructure funding and (2) lead the formation of a Partnership Committee
that will meet on quarterly basis with high-level representation from each
participating member to set a specific agenda to achieve goals.
The Partnership Committee will be chaired by Chairman Norma Glover and
its activities will be reported to the AQMD Board every six months. Each
participating member will pay a two-year membership fee of $25,000 to fund
specific projects to achieve the goals of the partnership. Staff recommends
that the Board approve the establishment of an NGV Partnership Fund to
receive contributions from participating members and to authorize the
Executive Officer to approve individual expenditures up to $50,000 for
projects selected by the partnership during the first year of its activity
for a total amount not to exceed $200,000. This will expedite the project
selection and implementation process, and will help the Partnership
Committee to function effectively. The proposed budget is outlined in Table
1:
Table 1: BUDGET OUTLINE FOR THE NGV PARTNERSHIP
A) NGV SUMMIT:
|
| Facility and Accommodation
|
| Meeting Room Rentals |
$5,000 |
| Travel |
$5,000 |
| Miscellaneous Expenses |
$15,000 |
| Moderator, Video Production
and Distribution |
| Professional Services |
$75,000 |
| |
| Subtotal |
$100,000 |
| |
B) NGV PARTNERSHIP COMMITTEE:
|
| Facility and Accommodation
|
| Meeting Room Rentals |
$10,000 |
| Miscellaneous Expenses |
$30,000 |
| |
| Special Consultation &
Activity Coordination |
| Professional Services |
$60,000 |
| |
| Subtotal |
$100,000 |
| |
| GRAND TOTAL |
$200,000 |
| |
|
|
If the above budget is modified by the Partnership Committee, the
Executive Officer will report back to the Board and will seek approval for
the modified budget.
Benefits to AQMD
The successful implementation of this initiative will bring public and
private stakeholders together and will assist in the development and
deployment of a specific number of advanced natural gas vehicles and
refueling infrastructure expansion over the next five to ten years. This
will in turn increase natural gas’s role as a low emission displacement or
augmentation to petroleum fuel where economically feasible.
Resource Impact
Total cost of projects for the NGV Partnership during the first year
shall not exceed $200,000, provided there would be sufficient funds in the
NGV Partnership Fund. AQMD’s contribution shall be $25,000.
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