Agenda - 11-21-2000-6c - Laserfiche WebLink

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. Imo. .]~. -~ slightly reduced emissions. Ethanol should be considered for use in existing vehicles that can use the fuel. Electric vehicles offer many long-term opportunities, and should become a more viable option in the near future and should also remain on our options shortlist. . Proposed Plan The N.C. Division of Air Quality's primary goal for the MSERG grants in fiscal year 2001 is to reduce nitrous oxides (NOx) by funding increased infrastructure for alternative fueled vehicles. The County's optimal goal maybe replacing conventional vehicles that aze already due for replacement with AFVs, where practical. As such, the £oolowing list is a compilation of vehicles identified with the Public Works Department which are 1) scheduled for replacement in fiscal yeaz 2001, and 2) would be a candidate for AFV's. Each new vehicle would be a dedicated CNG or, in one case, a dedicated electric vehicle. Tn order to refuel these. vehicles it would also be necessary to purchase and assemble a CNG re- fueling station at the Orange County Public Works office in Hillsborough. Also, the County could enter into an agreement with the Town of Chapel Hill for mutual use of refueling facilities. This would enable County vehicles in southern Orange to use the Town's refueling center at Chapel Hill Public Works, and the Town has expressed interest in discussing such an arrangement, which might enhance both Town and County efficiency. This would provide a "northern Orange" and "southern Orange" distribution facility for CNG vehicles. As previously stated, providing such infrastructure is a stated goal for the MSERG grants this yeaz, and pursuit of this arrangement would likely strengthen the County's application for funding assistance to NCDAQ in December. The County has a computerized monitoring system in place that will enable staff to measure and track the fuel efficiency and cost-benefit of AFV's. Documentation for each of the replacement AFV's will allow the County to monitor and evaluate the vehicles (what are the maintenance costs, are the AFV's tougher on tires, what are the annual cost savings as opposed to emissiones reductions, for example), and after an appropriate period of time, perform cost~benefit analysis on the AFV's versus conventional gasoline vehicles. 10 As shown is the following table, we would propose pursuing a demonstration project with primarily CNG vehicles, consistent with the type of vehicles on the market and projected effectiveness. These would include six CNG vehicles and one electric vehicle.