Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 9010INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS To the Mayor and Members of the City Council SUBJECT: ENERGY CONSERVATION SHEET No. 9010 January 27, 2009 Page 1 of 3 The following is in response to questions raised by the City Council on December 2, 2008, regarding energy conservation efforts used by the City of Fort Worth in the areas of the use of alternative fuel vehicles, grants to fund alternative fuel vehicles and development standards related to alternative energy sources available to the public. Alternative Fuel Vehicles In 1995, the City of Fort Worth embarked upon an alternative fuel program for the City's fleet in order to comply with the 1994 Texas Clean Fleet Program and the 1990 Federal Clean Air Act. At that time only two types of alternative fuel technologies existed. The City chose LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas) as the alternative fuel choice due to range limitations and infrastructure costs associated with the other alternative fuel option CNG (Compressed Natural Gas). The city selected 822 vehicles to be converted to LPG use in either a bi -fuel configuration or dedicated configuration. Due to problems encountered with the performance of conversion packages, in 1997, the City discontinued converting vehicles after approximately 558 had been completed. In 1998, an effort to continue utilizing LPG within the City fleet lead to the purchase of OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) LPG conversions through Ford Motor Company. This would allow any warranty issues to be handled through the manufacturer and eliminate the need for a separate vendor for LPG issues. From 1998 to 2004, the City of Fort Worth purchased a total of 159 alternative fuel vehicles. Major manufacturers experienced numerous problems with LPG conversions. Due to these problems, the major manufacturers discontinued their support and manufacture of LPG and CNG vehicles in 2005. The recent energy conservation efforts have encouraged the major manufacturers to resume production of LPG and CNG vehicles. In 2001, the City of Fort Worth's first Hybrid vehicle (Toyota Prius) was purchased as a new option for alternative fuel vehicles. This technology continues to be expanded by all major manufacturers including Ford, GM, Toyota and several other companies. The advantages to acquiring Hybrid vehicles include increased fuel economy, lower emissions, and extended warranty on Hybrid components (8 years /100,000 miles). Initially, there were some disadvantages to Hybrid vehicles that included a higher acquisition cost than comparable units, limited types of Hybrid vehicles, delay in delivery time, concerns about crash safety and used battery disposal. Hybrid vehicles have performed well. Manufacturers have expanded the types of Hybrid vehicles and reduced the delivery time. The concerns about crash safety and used battery disposal have been resolved. There is additional cost to acquire any alternative fuel vehicle due to the additional components required on those vehicles. Also, the maintenance costs on these alternative fuel vehicles are higher due to the complexity and scarcity of the specialized components. Currently, the City of Fort Worth fleet consists of 4,694 pieces of equipment. These pieces of equipment include 3,721 vehicles that receive preventative maintenance. Of those vehicles requiring preventative maintenance, 2,775 vehicles are operated on city streets and highways, thus requiring state inspection. The City has 528 alternative fuel vehicles. The alternative fuel vehicles consist of 235 LPG ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9010 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council January 27, 2009 Page 2 of 3 SUBJECT: ENERGY CONSERVATION SHEET vehicles, 276 E85 (85% Ethanol) fueled vehicles, and 17 Hybrid vehicles. The current trend is toward a reduction in LPG vehicles and an increase in E85 and Hybrid vehicles. In FY2009, the City of Fort Worth has already ordered: two LPG vehicles, 141 E85 vehicles and eight Hybrid vehicles for a total of 151 alternative fuel vehicles. The predominant uses of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles are manufactured for applications that the City of Fort Worth does not acquire (transportation busses and garbage trucks). Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles are being pursued in the few applications (automotive, street sweepers and sewer combination vehicles). Another forthcoming technology is fuel- celled vehicles, which will be available in the next three to five years. Fuel- celled vehicles rely upon a molecular reaction rather than combustion to create power for the vehicle. Emissions from a fuel- celled system are much smaller than emissions from the cleanest fuel combustion process. Funding of Alternative Fuel Vehicles On April 4, 2006, the City Council adopted Clean Fleet Vehicle Resolution 3334 -04 -2006. The resolution outlines the acquisition, operation and maintenance standards needed for the City of Fort Worth to apply for grant dollars through the Regional Transportation Council (RTC) to supplement the purchase of alternative fuel vehicles. On April 17, 2007, the City Council authorized execution of a grant agreement with the RTC for reimbursement for the purchase of 16 alternative fueled or low emission vehicles through the 2006 Clean Fleet Vehicle Project. Two grant programs have been awarded to the City of Fort Worth. On October 24, 2008, the City of Fort Worth received $197,741 from the 2006 Clean Fleet Vehicle Project for use in acquiring alternative fuel vehicles. On September 30, 2008, the City Council authorized execution of the Texas Emissions Reduction Program (TERP) Grant Agreement with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for Reimbursement for the purchase of one Low Emission Vehicle. Two grant programs are being submitted in the first quarter of CY2009. On January 16, 2009, the Equipment Services Department responded to a Call for Projects to see if the City of Fort Worth would be eligible for $50,000 in grant monies through the 2008 Diesel Idling Reduction Program to replace two diesel vehicles with Hybrid vehicles. In February 2009, the Equipment Services Department will seek funding from the Department of Energy for alternative fuel vehicles (CNG) and alternative fuel infrastructure (CNG). Fueling of Alternative Fuel Vehicles A key component to any alternative fuel vehicle program is the acquisition of alternative fuels. Three fuel contracts allow the City of Fort Worth to acquire various alternative fuels. On December 16, 2008, the City Council added E85 (Ethanol) fuel to the City of Fort Worth fuel contract by authorizing a new ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9010 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council January 27, 2009 Page 3 of 3 SUBJECT: ENERGY CONSERVATION SHEET Vol% unleaded and ethanol fuel purchase agreement with Martin Eagle Oil Company, Inc. A fuel site at the former Downtown Service Center is being converted to provide E85 fuel to the city fleet. On March 4, 2008, the City Council added cleaner burning biodiesel fuel to the City of Fort Worth diesel fuel contract by authorizing a new purchase agreement with Martin Eagle Oil Company. The City of Fort Worth has four Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) fuel sites. A contract for LPG was first executed by the City Council in 1994. The current LPG agreement was authorized by the City Council on May 17, 2005 with Ferrelgas LP. The full term of the LPG agreement expires in June 12, 2010. Development Standards related to Energy Conservation Wind and other renewable energy sources play an important role in ensuring the City's energy needs are met. The City's current mix of electricity use by supply source, purchased off the grid, is estimated to be Coal and lignite 28 %, Natural gas 58 %, Nuclear 9 %, Renewable Energies 3 %, Other Fossil 2 %. Taking into account the total amount of energy generated at the Village Creek Waste Water Treatment Plant, the current level of renewable energy mix used by the City is estimated at 14% for all City facilities. This level of renewable energy can be increased by implementing a policy that requires the incorporation of appropriate technologies (wind, solar, etc.) in the construction/renovation of city facilities. This level can also be incrementally increased by requiring our energy supplier to incorporate a larger quantity of renewable energies into its generation portfolio as a requirement for City contracting. For review this year and possible adoption in January 2010 is the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code with the ASHRAE 90.1 - 2004 edition. Discussions have occurred across the Dallas -Fort Worth area about setting a higher standard -- 15% above code. This issue may be brought forward by the Sustainability Committee. City of Fort Worth staff is preparing a policy for a future ordinance addressing Rain Water Harvesting (collecting rain water for irrigation, clothes washing and toilet usage) and Gray Water (using sink and bathing water for toilets). The policy will coincide with recommended practices as provided by the State and by TCEQ and will include installation diagrams. If you have questions or comments regarding this topic, please contact Wayne Corum, Equipment Services Director, at 817 -392 -5118. �4 rye_ Dale fi Fisseler, P.E. City Manager ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS