AGENDA WESTAR Mobile Sources Conference Call
January 13, 2009 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. (Pacific) Number - 800.244.9194, Access Code: 107484
1. CALL TO ORDER Becky Cripe (NV), Sig Jaunarajs (NV), Keith (ND), Cindy Heil (AK),Dave Nordberg (OR), John Raymond (WA), Bob Saunders (WA), Brett (WA), Bob Lebens (WESTAR)
2. TRACKING ISSUE ITEMS a) NACAA Mobile Sources/Fuels Committee - Dave Nordberg
Not able to sit in on call.
b) OBD Stakeholder Call - Cindy Heil Oct 1st, 2008 call - recap of September Clean Air Conference in Colorado. There was a transition workgroup meeting with OEM (see attached notes) on ways to bring problems to the attention of OEM Haskin Hobson will provide info AIAM (Association of International Auto Manufacturers) OBD clearing House (Weber State)will coordinate info for this group New and improved clearing house debut EPA may or may not provide guidance on mini-trucks (see attachment) 1996 Hyundai still have OBD problems EPA will investigate. Does not seem to be a problem with the progressive insurance datalogger when cars go for I/M inspection, just unplug datalogger from OBD II port, test the vehicle, and then replug the datalogger into the OBD II port.
3. ACTION ISSUE ITEMS a) Diesel allocation update - How is everything going - Everyone
(NV) – School Bus Diesel Retrofit RFP is in final review stages and is getting ready for release; we anticipate a start date of June 1st, 2009 for equipment installation.
(WA) – Focus on reducing emissions from port vehicles; most school busses – public fleets have already been retrofitted
(OR) – There is a program focused on school buses
(AK) – There is also a program established but not much info on it. Will ask Clint when he returns at the next meeting. b) VMT reduction vs. tailpipe strategies in WA State – Guest speaker Bob Saunders WA state Washington state government put together a Blue Ribbon report in 2007, in 2008 state legislature passed law directing the WSDOT to reduce VMT as follows: Reduce VMT by 18% by 2020 Reduce VMT by 35% by 2035 Reduce VMT by 50% by 2050 These are ambitious goals for VMT reduction in state law, a 2008 transportation working group looked at how to meet the VMT and also considered tailpipe emissions.
3 Big VMT Strategies 1. Transit Plus - buses, light rail, vanpools, telecommuting, carpooling etc. 2. Transportation pricing – put price on using a highways and arterials that is designed to reduce VMT. The system would utilize electronic devices to track travel real time and would have ability to change price in respects to time of day, volume or specific lane used. 3. Land Use – concentrated development, penalty for developing suburban sprawl, bike and pedestrian issues would be included here. The stakeholders involved were very diverse with representatives from large and small industries, trucking, American Lung Association, bicycle groups, transit agencies.
1. Transit Plus – Transit group did a lot of work and came back with triple the service levels which still did not reduce emissions levels as much as anticipated. They then looked at what was called Blue Sky approaches. Message is it takes a lot of service expansion to get significant amounts of VMT reduction.
2. Pricing – Very controversial, trucking industry and Triple AAA wouldn’t buy into it. Could incremental increases work? Not enough reduction. Seattle MPO study shows if you put tolls on bridges or segments there is little to no reduction. Tolls on freeway – 5% reductions, tolls on freeways, bridges and arterial roads showed a 10% reduction
3. Compact development – Big issue is how to quantify benefits, these idea has been around a long time.
Technical Approaches – Lower carbon fuel standards, electrifying fleets, rail efficiency changes.
Bottom line – VMT is not the ultimate goal, its GHG reduction. Technology and VMT strategies are both needed to hit the GHG reduction goals. Ultimately, this year in WA, strategies with a payback such as energy conservation and building efficiency took precedence and the transportation reduction took a back seat.
(OR) – If you get half of targets by doing both tech and VMT you would hit GHG target. Maybe something’s can be ramped up? Portland did some scenarios with extremely heavy lite-rail systems 8-10% reduction in VMT. Currently reporting requirements for stationary sources.
(WA) – 2008 report recommended that state agencies propose a Low Carbon Fuel Standard in 2010, after California has gone through their standards work. They currently have a reporting rule for stationary sources and fleets.
(NV) – We are observing WCI, currently Governor’s climate change committee not far reaching or radical. Not ready to join WCI. Nothing in climate change committee report about VMT reduction. Currently GHG stationary reporting for emissions greater than 50 megawatts. c) Issues our group would like to see addressed by WESTAR – Bob There is a change in the federal administration, this presents an opportunity for our committee to bring to the forefront issues that we feel are important. NACAA released a document of 16 recommendations that Obama’s administration should adopt right away.
Identify topics to bring to the WESTAR board to discuss then discuss with EPA board at spring meeting. A consensus will be required (WA) – A particular issue is a waiver to adopt CA standards and ozone nonattainment concerns Fuels – As a topic issue consider RFG. EPA estimates it carries about 10 cents a gallon cost to switch to RFG gasoline. All are advised to speak with their particular management about issues and bring them to the next meeting.
4. DISCUSSION ITEMS
3. OPEN MICROPHONE Thoughts on topics for next call
4. NEXT CONFERENCE CALL DATE March 10, 2009