Santa Cruz County Transit and Transportation Agency Meetings - Audio Tracks

CEO Michael Tree's CEO Oral Report.

SC Metro CEO Tree discussed several key points related to their operations and future plans:

Federal Funding for Hydrogen Buses: The company received a $20.4 million Low No Grant from the federal government for hydrogen buses, celebrated in Watsonville with Congressman Panetta and Congresswoman Loughgren attending.

California Transportation Commission Funding: The California Transportation Commission fully allocated $38 million from the TIRCP Grant Cycle for purchasing hydrogen buses, building a hydrogen station, workforce development, and upgrading maintenance facilities.

Hydrogen Bus Fleet Expansion: Plans to purchase 57 hydrogen buses, which would be the largest single purchase of hydrogen buses in the nation, are drawing attention in Washington DC and Sacramento.

Financial Management Excellence: Wondimu Mengistu, a key team member, successfully arranged funding for the hydrogen buses, with only 1.1% of the $89 million coming from local sources.

Partnership with Central Coast Community Energy: A partnership is being formed to include battery electric buses in the fleet, with plans for an agreement to be presented in October.

New Website Development: The company is creating a new website, aiming for a spring launch.

Triennial Audit Results: The company recently underwent a major triennial audit, with excellent results showing only two minor findings, indicating strong operational and financial health.

Customer Service and Personnel Policy: The CEO shared an experience of personally answering customer service calls, emphasizing the importance of hiring for personality and training for skills.

Future Plans: Next month's board meeting will focus on transformative changes to the bus system, aiming for a more efficient, frequent, and convenient service to enhance ridership and community satisfaction.

These updates reflect the company's successful grant acquisitions, strategic planning for future growth, emphasis on sustainability through hydrogen and electric buses, financial prudence, commitment to customer service, and a focus on workforce development.

The SC Metro meeting packet with all presentation graphics is here: https://scmtd.com/images/department/board/archive/minutes/2023/2023.08.25-Regular-Board-Minutes.pdf

Board member questions and comments on Mr Levin and Mr Brandt's presentation.

Jamie Levin of CTE and Scott Brandt of ARCHES, several topics related to hydrogen buses and fuel cells are discussed. Key points include:

Tier One Initiative & Involvement of Santa Cruz: Jamie Levin clarifies that Santa Cruz's participation in the thousand bus initiative (Tier One) was due to their general manager's interest, not Scott Brandt's influence.

Safety of Hydrogen Fuel: Levin addresses concerns about hydrogen's safety, referencing the Hindenburg incident and explaining that hydrogen is safer than commonly perceived. He compares hydrogen with other fuels like CNG and diesel, emphasizing its relative safety and the successful deployment of hydrogen buses by AC Transit.

Hydrogen Production and Cost: Discussions revolve around the production of hydrogen, including biohydrogen, and the goal to reduce fuel costs. Scott Brandt mentions their target for hydrogen pricing and the importance of operational costs in expanding the fleet.

Environmental Impact and Technology Development: Levin emphasizes the importance of moving towards greener fuel sources and the adaptability of fuel cell technology to these sources. Brandt highlights ongoing research to improve fuel cell efficiency.

Role of ARCHES and University Involvement: Brandt explains ARCHES's focus on practical, low-risk solutions for hydrogen deployment and their alignment with the Department of Energy's objectives. He also discusses the non-profit nature of their organization and its focus on effectiveness over profit.

Maintenance Costs and Vehicle Design: The discussion includes the potential for reduced maintenance costs with fuel cell or battery-powered vehicles, and the challenges in achieving this. Levin also touches on the evolution of vehicle design for easier maintenance.

Utilization of Biogas and Biohydrogen: The potential of using biogas from sources like feedlots for hydrogen production is considered, with an emphasis on the environmental benefits of such practices.

Comments by Board Members: Board members express their impressions and raise questions about various aspects of hydrogen fuel technology, its safety, environmental impact, and the practicality of its implementation.

Appreciation for Santa Cruz Staff and Partnership: Levin concludes by thanking the Santa Cruz staff for their cooperation and expresses enthusiasm for future collaborations.

Overall, the meeting covers detailed aspects of hydrogen fuel technology, focusing on safety, environmental impact, cost, and the future of transportation.

The SC Metro meeting packet with all presentation graphics is here: https://scmtd.com/images/department/board/archive/minutes/2023/2023.08.25-Regular-Board-Minutes.pdf

Scott Brandt, a professor at UC Santa Cruz and interim COO of ARCHES, discusses the ARCHES project's goals, principles, and current status in his presentation. ARCHES, a nonprofit LLC, aims to bring clean, green hydrogen energy to California, focusing on developing a hydrogen market and economy. The project is a collaboration between the University of California, the State of California, the State Building and Construction Trades Council, and the Renewables 100 Policy Institute. ARCHES will administer funds but not directly implement projects, leaving that to their network of municipal and industry partners.

ARCHES has applied for a $1.25 billion grant from the Department of Energy, with additional funding of around $13 billion from various sources. The initiative includes 39 project partners involved in hydrogen production, use, and mostly transportation. Their goal is to increase hydrogen production from 30 to 515 metric tons per day, focusing on sectors hard to decarbonize with electrification.

Brandt emphasizes the importance of environmental justice, equity, economic leadership, workforce development, and market viability in the project. ARCHES is seen as a partnership between industry, national labs, state government, labor, and communities. The principles guiding ARCHES include statewide collaboration, exclusive use of renewable resources, community engagement, equity and justice, alignment with state interests, solution orientation, unbiased governance, and a multi-dimensional approach.

ARCHES aims to establish a renewable clean hydrogen hub in California by 2030, targeting sectors like heavy industry, aviation, maritime, and agriculture, with immediate impacts expected in ports, power, and transportation. The project hopes to yield significant economic and health benefits, including job creation and reduced air pollution, estimated at $3 billion annually from reduced healthcare costs and improved air quality. Additionally, ARCHES allocates $380 million for community benefits and workforce development, aiming for broader regional and national impact in the future.

Mr Brandt's CV: https://users.soe.ucsc.edu/~sbrandt/

ARCHES website: https://archesh2.org/

Some background on a controversial topic regarding ARCHES with links to more resources: https://www.politico.com/f/?id=0000018a-9b1f-d776-a3ce-ffff49d30000

SC Metro meeting packet with graphics from Mr. Brandt's presentation: https://scmtd.com/images/department/board/archive/minutes/2023/2023.08.25-Regular-Board-Minutes.pdf

Jaimie Levin, Director of West Coast Operations, Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) introduced H2 technology to the board.

Jaimie Levin from CTE (Center for Transportation and the Environment) spoke about the organization's role in promoting zero-emission transportation technologies, particularly focusing on fuel cell and battery electric vehicles. Levin, with a background in transit and environmental technology, highlighted CTE's significant involvement in zero-emission projects, with a portfolio exceeding $1 billion and 159 ongoing projects.

CTE's main office is in Atlanta, with an additional office in Berkeley, and the organization collaborates with numerous large companies in the hydrogen and battery electric sectors. Levin emphasized California's leadership in environmental initiatives, aided by significant funding from the cap and trade program. He showcased CTE's extensive involvement in various projects across the U.S., especially in California, given the state's aggressive environmental policies.

Levin highlighted three key projects with AC Transit, SamTrans, and Foothill Transit, illustrating the growing adoption of fuel cell technology in public transportation. He noted the transition in AC Transit's fleet composition, shifting from a majority of battery electric buses to a predominance of fuel cell buses. SamTrans and Foothill Transit are also incorporating fuel cell technology, with Foothill placing a significant order for fuel cell buses.

Levin discussed the operational advantages of fuel cell buses, such as extended range, reduced vehicle weight, rapid refueling, and operational efficiency. He also stressed the importance of resiliency, particularly in emergency situations where fuel cell buses can be continually operated and refueled.

Addressing infrastructure challenges, Levin identified key aspects such as cost, footprint requirements, renewability, resiliency, redundancy, and startup challenges. He mentioned that while hydrogen fuel is currently expensive, efforts are underway to reduce costs, particularly for green hydrogen.

Levin provided insights into the fuel cell technology's application in various transportation modes, including buses, trains, and coaches. He noted the market's readiness for fuel cell technology and the availability of several suppliers for both vehicles and fueling stations.

Lastly, Levin spoke about the ARCHES program, a collaborative initiative involving 13 agencies in California, focused on promoting fuel cell technology in public transportation. He concluded by highlighting the potential national impact of California's leadership in adopting fuel cell technology.

His CV is here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimie-levin-40784610/

CTE's website is here: https://cte.tv/about-us/our-members/#

The SC Metro meeting packet with Mr. Levin's presentation graphics is here: https://scmtd.com/images/department/board/archive/minutes/2023/2023.08.25-Regular-Board-Minutes.pdf

ORAL REPORT ON HYDROGEN TECHNOLOGY IN THE MARKET PLACE FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT AND THE ALLIANCE FOR RENEWABLE CLEAN HYDROGEN ENERGY SYSTEMS (ARCHES)

Wondimu Mengistu, Capital Planning & Grants Program Manager, spoke to why METRO is looking to hydrogen technology for its operations. He then introduced Jaimie Levin, Director of West Coast Operations, Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) and Scott Brandt, Associate Vice President for Research and Innovation at UC Office of the President and Interim COO of ARCHES.

Part one is Mr. Mengistu's quick summary and introduction of Mr. Levin from CTE and Mr. Brandt from ARCHES.

The meeting packet is here: https://scmtd.com/images/department/board/archive/minutes/2023/2023.08.25-Regular-Board-Minutes.pdf

Part 9 of this episode is the CEO Oral Report by Michael Tree, CEO of SC Metro.

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Meeting agenda here: https://scmtd.com/images/department/board/archive/agendas/2023/2023-10-27--BOD-Agenda.pdf

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Full https://communitytv.org/ video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIpv1xCe4XQ&list=PLo9N9AsVOVvT_Ae6YrLvf_pJKSTzuuMqX&t=1s

Part 8 of this episode is board members questions on the CA State Legislative Update by Michael Pimentel of Shaw, Yoder, Antwih, Schmelzer & Lange,

Meeting agenda here: https://scmtd.com/images/department/board/archive/agendas/2023/2023-10-27--BOD-Agenda.pdf

Full https://communitytv.org/ video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIpv1xCe4XQ&list=PLo9N9AsVOVvT_Ae6YrLvf_pJKSTzuuMqX&t=1s

Part 7 of this episode is a fairly weedy presentation of the CA State Legislative Update by Michael Pimentel of Shaw, Yoder, Antwih, Schmelzer & Lange, METRO's legislative advocate at the state level. He is Metro's eyes and ears in Sacramento where a great deal of their funding comes from. He moves through this information quickly and it is not all good news. The YouTube video in the link below is a good way to see the charts he is presenting.

Meeting agenda here: https://scmtd.com/images/department/board/archive/agendas/2023/2023-10-27--BOD-Agenda.pdf

Full https://communitytv.org/ video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIpv1xCe4XQ&list=PLo9N9AsVOVvT_Ae6YrLvf_pJKSTzuuMqX&t=1s

Part 6 of this episode is board members questions on the Federal Legislative Update by Chris Giglio of Capital Edge,

Meeting agenda here: https://scmtd.com/images/department/board/archive/agendas/2023/2023-10-27--BOD-Agenda.pdf

Full https://communitytv.org/ video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIpv1xCe4XQ&list=PLo9N9AsVOVvT_Ae6YrLvf_pJKSTzuuMqX&t=1s

Part 5 of this episode is a fairly weedy presentation of the Federal Legislative Update by Chris Giglio of Capital Edge, METRO's legislative advocate at the federal level. He is Metro's eyes and ears in Washington where a great deal of their funding comes from. He moves through this information quickly and it is not all good news. The YouTube video in the link below is a good way to see the charts he is presenting.

Meeting agenda here: https://scmtd.com/images/department/board/archive/agendas/2023/2023-10-27--BOD-Agenda.pdf

Full https://communitytv.org/ video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIpv1xCe4XQ&list=PLo9N9AsVOVvT_Ae6YrLvf_pJKSTzuuMqX&t=1s