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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12818 Background Paper for Proposed RESOLUTION DATE: OCTOBER 28, 2013 AGENDA ITEM # M-2 DEPARTMENT: PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT JULIE ANN WOODS, AICP/ASLA, DIRECTOR TITLE A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING AN EFFORT BETWEEN THE STATE OF COLORADO, PRIVATE SECTOR COMPANIES WITH LARGE VEHICLE FLEETS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, MEMBERS OF THE NATURAL GAS INDUSTRY, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO ACCELERATE THE DEPLOYMENT OF NATURAL GAS VEHICLES (NGVs) AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF ASSOCIATED NATURAL GAS FUELING STATIONS IN THE CITY OF PUEBLO, PUEBLO COUNTY, AND SOUTHERN COLORADO TO ENCOURAGE AND PROMOTE THE USE OF A CLEANER AND LESS EXPENSIVE DOMESTIC FUEL, AND CONTRIBUTE TO A MORE DIVERSE TRANSPORTATION ENERGY SECTOR ISSUE Should the City Council approve a Resolution supporting efforts to accelerate the deployment of natural gas vehicles and the development of associated natural gas fueling stations in the City of Pueblo, Pueblo County, and Southern Colorado? RECOMMENDATION Approval of the Resolution. BACKGROUND On November 9, 2011 Governor John Hickenlooper signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the governor of Oklahoma to use Compressed Natural Gas CNG vehicles in the two states’ fleets. Since then, 14 other governors have signed on the MOU, committing to increased CNG vehicle usage. In the new federal MAP-21 federal transportation legislation, congestion mitigation/air quality funds (CMAQ funds) are allowed to be utilized within states to assist in the funding for compressed natural gas fueling stations. CDOT is currently working with the Colorado Energy Office to administer approximately $30 million in CMAQ funds over a four year period for the development of CNG fueling stations along the major interstate corridors in Colorado. Pueblo is one of the likely locations in the future for a CNG fueling station due to its proximity along the I-25 corridor. The City and/or Pueblo County would be eligible to apply for CNG funding through the MAP-21 CMAQ program in the future that would assist in the development of CNG fueling stations in the Pueblo region. This Resolution supports the efforts between the State of Colorado, private sector companies with large vehicle fleets, local governments, members of the natural gas industry, and other organizations to accelerate the deployment of natural gas vehicles (NGVs) and the development of associated natural gas fueling stations in the City of Pueblo, Pueblo County, and the Southern Colorado region to encourage and promote the use of a cleaner and less expensive domestic fuel, and contribute to a more diverse transportation energy sector FINANCIAL IMPACT None. RESOLUTION NO. 12818 A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING AN EFFORT BETWEEN THE STATE OF COLORADO, PRIVATE SECTOR COMPANIES WITH LARGE VEHICLE FLEETS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, MEMBERS OF THE NATURAL GAS INDUSTRY, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO ACCELERATE THE DEPLOYMENT OF NATURAL GAS VEHICLES (NGVs) AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF ASSOCIATED NATURAL GAS FUELING STATIONS IN THE CITY OF PUEBLO, PUEBLO COUNTY, AND SOUTHERN COLORADO TO ENCOURAGE AND PROMOTE THE USE OF A CLEANER AND LESS EXPENSIVE DOMESTIC FUEL, AND CONTRIBUTE TO A MORE DIVERSE TRANSPORTATION ENERGY SECTOR WHEREAS, the gradual deployment of Natural Gas Vehicles (NGVs) will provide substantial fuel cost savings, create new jobs, and generate environmental, economic and other benefits to the State of Colorado; and WHEREAS, fleet vehicles, passenger shuttle vans, and buses provide the most significant benefits and best economic application for natural gas as a fuel; and WHEREAS, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper along with the Governors of fifteen other states, support the acquisition of fleet NGV’s in their respective states and have pursued the development of a multi-state Memorandum of Understanding committing to the purchase of NGVs for each state which has made the deployment of NGVs and expansion of the natural gas fueling infrastructure a priority; and WHEREAS, the Pueblo City Council desires to incrementally expand the number, types, and varieties of NGVs in use to create a viable long-term NGV and natural gas fueling infrastructure market; and WHEREAS, the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) will support interested parties and continue to work on regulatory issues and remove market barriers to assist this effort; and WHEREAS, the CEO and the State will work with the natural gas industry to provide factual information to reduce or eliminate knowledge gaps related to NGVs; and WHEREAS, the City of Pueblo intends to pursue the integration of NGVs into their fleet as an alternative to the traditional fueled vehicles and fleet that is appropriate and compatible with City’s fleet operations; and WHEREAS, the Pueblo City Council supports efforts to work collaboratively with other governmental and private sector entities to share their alternative NGV fleet experiences, develop NGV fueling facilities, including partnerships with petroleum retailers and related upstream natural gas systems, and encourage training and other initiatives necessary to develop and sustain a long-term NGV market in Colorado; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PUEBLO, that: SECTION 1. The Pueblo City Council acknowledges the benefits and is committed to accelerating the deployment of NGVs and the development of associated fueling stations in Pueblo, Southern Colorado, and throughout the state of Colorado to encourage the use of a cleaner, less expensive, domestic fuel and contribute to a more diverse transportation energy sector and market. SECTION 2. The officers and staff of the City are directed and authorized to perform any and all acts consistent with the intent of this Resolution to effectuate the policies and procedures described herein. SECTION 3. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon final passage. INTRODUCED: October 28, 2013 BY: Ami Nawrocki