Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Works Department, Sustainability Coordinator

TO:	David Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Steve Stewart, Fleet Manager Eileen Horn, Sustainability Coordinator
CC:	Charles Soules, Director Public Works
Date:	August 17, 2010
RE:	Application for Alternative Fuels Project Grant.

Please place the following item on the City Commission Consent Agenda for the August 17 City Commission Meeting:

Authorize application for Midwest Region Alternative Fuels Project, DOE Award DE-EE0002538.

Metropolitan Energy Center (MEC) and Kansas City Regional Clean Cities Coalition (KCRCCC) have announced a funding opportunity for the Midwest Region Alternative Fuels Project. This funding is being offered for cost-shared projects that expand the use of alternative fueled vehicles and advanced technology vehicles. A minimum 50% cost share from non-federal sources is required for each application.

Our proposal includes a partnership between the City, County, and KU for a research pilot project.  KU will collect and analyze data of the electric vehicles to perform initial cost-benefit analyses – assisting the City and County in evaluating the feasibility of an expanded EV fleet for City and County operations.  The KU research project will also test initial design concepts for integration of the EV and charging station with the new Westar smart grid interface for energy exchange between the building and the vehicle.

In the event that City of Lawrence and Douglas County, KS’s application is funded, City of Lawrence, KS pledges a financial commitment to this project, in the form of cash totaling $383,000.00.  Douglas County’s commitment is $30,000.00 in cash and the University of Kansas will commit in-kind participation in the form of research data collection and reporting. 

The grant funds will provide the incremental cost increase associated with utilizing the following alternative fuel vehicles (as compared to the conventional technology).   

· Purchase two (2) light duty hybrids for conversions to plug-in hybrids for use by a County supervisor and City staff.

· Purchase two (2) heavy duty hydraulic launch hybrid trucks for the City of Lawrence Solid Waste Division.

· Purchase and install two (2) electric vehicle charging stations. The charging stations we propose to build will be publicly accessible. One will be located at the Douglas County offices parking lot. The other will be located at either Fire station Five or at the City parking garage (9th and New Hampshire).

The 2011 budget includes requests for the solid waste vehicles as conventional fueled vehicles.  The light duty vehicle for city use would be proposed for funding through the equipment reserve.   

Additionally, staff is exploring the option of including a request for funds for gasoline idle reduction technology for four police vehicles currently out for bid and funded with 2011 budget resources.  Determination of whether this project will be included in the overall grant application will be made based upon feedback from MEC Representatives.

Action Requested: Staff requests the City Commission authorize application for Midwest Region Alternative Fuels Project, DOE Award DE-EE0002538.