The MSRC's 2010 retreat was a rousing success, with guest speakers, presentations by Committee advisors, and input by the members on ways for the MSRC to actively engage in what's happening in the clean transportation sector. The retreat took place on July 15 at the McCoy Equestrian and Recreation Center in Chino Hills. Among the topics on the agenda were new opportunities for the development of sustainable communities projects in California, the upcoming deployment of electric vehicles in California, and ways the MSRC can continue to collaborate with state, regional and local agencies.
To mark the 20th anniversary of the MSRC, Ray Gorski, the MSRC's technical advisor, kicked-off the retreat by giving a little retrospective of his own. It's been 12 years since current Chair Greg Winterbottom served his first tenure as Chair of the Committee, and Ray documented what the MSRC has accomplished in the last 12 years alone. Since Greg's first run, the MSRC has co-funded 103 alternative fuel stations, 362 natural gas school buses, 1,429 low-emission transit buses, and 1,666 other low-emission heavy-duty vehicles. In fact, Ray said that if you take all of the heavy-duty vehicles that the MSRC has helped to fund in the last 12 years and laid them end-to-end, they would stretch all the way from AQMD's headquarters in Diamond Bar to downtown Los Angeles - 27.27 miles!
Gretchen Hardison, Chair of the MSRC's Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), outlined for the Committee the next steps in developing the MSRC's 2010-11 work program. She estimated that approximately $18.5 million would be available for this year's work program, which includes funds carried over from last year, and estimated that the RFPs would be released in early December.
The first guest speaker of the day was Heather Fargo, recently appointed Executive Policy Officer for the California Strategic Growth Council (SGC), and former Mayor of Sacramento. The SGC is cabinet-level committee charged with coordinating a number of growth-related activities of state agencies, including assisting state and local entities in the planning of sustainable communities and meeting the goals of California's global warming law, AB 32. Heather focused on two of the grant programs the SCG manages - the Urban Greening Grants Program, and the Sustainable Communities Planning Grant and Incentive Program. Heather noted that the Sustainable Communities Planning Grant likely would be of particular interest to the MSRC since its membership is made up of representatives from local and regional agencies, which are all eligible to apply for these grants. The purpose of the grant is to develop and improve plans that reduce GHGs and have co-benefits such as reducing automobile usage and fuel consumption, improving water conservation, encouraging infill and compact development, and improving public equity. Applications are due August 31 and $22 million is available for the first funding cycle. More information can be found at www.sgc.ca.gov.
Heather said that the goals of the SGC's grant programs "are to make sure that not only are we putting cities, counties, and other local agencies in a good position strategically, but that they also serve as a role models for others across the country." Heather concluded by saying, "we (the SGC) hope we're giving you the options to help you lead the way in your communities. We want to make sure we do our part with global warming to improve the quality of life for everyone."
Josh Boone, Executive Assistant for Plan Development for the California Plug-In Electric Vehicle Collaborative, was the other guest speaker, and spoke about the new organization's mission, as well as the future of plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) in California. "The goal of the Collaborative is to create an adaptable plan for the successful deployment of plug-in electric vehicles, beyond early adopters, that will be a living, breathing document that can be used as a reference for policy makers, even with changes in administrations or legislation," Josh explained. He chronicled the roll-out for plug-in EVs from major manufacturers, including the upcoming Nissan Leaf battery-electric vehicle, which will have at least 2,000 cars in California by the end of 2011, and the Chevy Volt plug-in EV, which will have 10,000 vehicles nationwide in 2011 and 30,000 in 2012.
Josh concluded his presentation by suggesting that the MSRC could get involved by providing funding to help make up for the shortfall that could exist if the state and federal incentives that will be offered for these vehicles fail to keep up with the demand. For more information, Josh Boone can be contacted at (916) 323-2602 or by email at jboone@arb.ca.gov.
Presentations were also made by: Wendy James, the MSRC's outreach coordinator, about state and federal activities driving clean transportation; Jack Kitowski from ARB, who reported on ARB's activities and priorities that impact MSRC funding activities; Henry Hogo from AQMD, who gave a technical update; and Ray Gorski who provided information on the development of the work program.
The retreat wrapped up with Committee members providing their comments on the day's events and a directive to staff to take all of the ideas that were presented at the retreat and use them to help craft the upcoming work program.
Photos:
Top photo: Heather Fargo of the California Strategic Grownth Council
Middle photo: Josh Boone from the California Plug-In Electric Vehicle Collaborative
Bottom photo: The MSRC, TAC and invited guests meet at the annual retreat.
