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The SCAQMD continually
seeks to support the deployment of lower emitting technologies. The Clean
Fuels Program is shaped by two basic factors:
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Low- and zero-emission
technologies needed to achieve clean air standards in the Basin.
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Available funding to
support technology development within the constraints imposed by that funding.
The SCAQMD strives to
maintain a flexible program to address dynamically evolving technologies and the
latest progress in the state-of-the-technology. Although the SCAQMD
program is significant, especially at a time when both public and private
funding available for technology research and development is limited, national
and international activities affect the direction of technology trends. As
a result, the SCAQMD program must be flexible to accommodate these changes in
direction. The ultimate challenge for the SCAQMD is to identify project or
technology opportunities in which its available funding can make a difference in
achieving progressively cleaner air in the Basin.
Specific projects are selected for co-funding from competitive solicitations,
cooperative agency agreements, and unsolicited proposals. Criteria
considered in project selection include emissions reduction potential,
technological innovation, potential to reduce costs and improve cost
effectiveness, contractor experience and capabilities, overall environmental
impact or benefit, commercialization and business development potential, cost
sharing, and consistency with program goals and funding constraints.
Following are the Clean Fuels Program’s
main area of technical emphasis:
Hydrogen and Fuel Cells
Alternative Fuels
Electric/Hybrid
Other
Clean Fuel Technology
Given the diversity of sources that contribute to the air quality problems in
the Basin, there is no single technology that can solve all of the problems.
Thus, the core technologies represent a variety of applications with full
emissions benefit "payoffs," i.e., perceived time to full commercialization and
mass deployment, occurring at different times. Historically, mobile source
projects have targeted low-emission developments in automobiles, transit buses,
medium- and heavy-duty trucks, and off-road applications. These
vehicle-related transit buses have focused on advancements in engine design,
electric implementation of clean fuels (e.g., natural gas, propane, and
hydrogen), including their infrastructure development. Stationary source
projects have included a wide array of advanced low NOx technologies; low VOC
coatings and processes; and clean energy alternatives such as fuel cells, solar
power, and other renewable energy systems.
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