Yellowstone-Teton Clean Energy Coalition

Annual Meeting

At Driggs City Center

1 P.M. June 5, 2008 
 
 

Present:  Basil Barna, President; Jim Evanoff, Vice President; Jan Brown, Treasurer; Mayor Louis Christensen, our host; George Erb/START; Lou Moore, MT DEQ; Sandy Shuptrine, Exec. Coordinator.

Guests:  (arriving a bit later) Joe Montesano and Pete Koson from Greeneck Earthworks;  Dan Powers, Driggs City Council member and local contractor. 
 

President Barna welcomed board members and guests. 
 

George Erb moved approval of the 2007 annual meeting minutes.  The motion was seconded and approved with a correction of a typo in the word “Teton”. 
 

Treasurer Brown provided hand-outs of financial statements and reviewed them.  She noted that A.D. Bunn in the YPB office could help with mailings and invoices. 
 

Next was a report from the Nominating Committee.  It was reported that board member and County Commissioner Bill Murdock from Gallatin Co., MT did not have the support of fellow commissioners for the coalition mission and wished to step aside.  In addition, Shirley Ball of EPAC and Nashue, MT was not able to devote time to the coalition and wished to relinquish her seat on the board as well. 
 

As a result of some personal conversations with potential board members, the following were presented as viable candidates for the coalition board:  Gina Macilwraith/GTLCo, Beth Pratt,/Xanterra, Michael Wackerly/START, Lisa Ballard/Current Transportation Solutions and Jan Brown/YBP for another term.  Margaret Wilson/GTNP and Deidre Witsen/B-TNF, both also serving on the GYCC sustainable operations sub-committee, expressed interest in serving as liaisons from federal agencies. 
 

Jim Evanoff moved approval of the following slate for three year terms: Lisa Ballard, Jan Brown, Gina Macilwraith, Beth Pratt, Michael Wackerly.  The motion was seconded and carried unanimously.  It was agreed the Nominating Committee and Executive Committee will recommend assignments for vacant seats. 
 

Report from Scholarship Recipients/Greeneck Earthworks 
 

The board was very pleased to hear from Joe Montesano and Pete Koson who expressed both their appreciation for financial assistance for attending the National Biodiesel Conference and Expo in Orlando and their commitment to biodiesel in their business.  Currently they are using B20 in 9 pieces of equipment.  They are also interested in exploring biofuel hydraulics and fluids. 
 

They have met with Bill Sidle from Case in Racine, WI in regard to potentially being “poster boys” for the use of biodiesel by contractors and allowing monitoring of Greeneck equipment for performance analysis purposes.  Many OEM warranties are currently good for use with B20. 
 

Jim Evanoff stated that YNP did a fuel analysis (for BD) every 3000 miles.  He said to reference www.deq.mt.gov with further links to “bioenergy” and “truck” to learn more about the results of the project. 
 

Joe and Pete noted the importance of making sure one’s fuel meets BQ 9000 standards.  They said Sun Laundry in Salt Lake is producing biodiesel from glycerin. A discussion about feedstocks ensued.  Lou Moore noted that camelina is not yet approved by the USDA.  There was interest in the production per acre of various feedstocks. 
 

It was noted that the 2009 National Biodiesel Conferencewill be in San Francisco (closer).  Joe and Pete said that they learned a lot and probably would never have done such an event without incentive.  They noted that the big challenge for biofuels is public perception. 
 

George moved that Y-TCEC make the scholarship educational program a continuing part of its program up to $5,000.00 annually.  The motion was seconded and passed unanimously. 
 
 

Roundtable sharing of information, ideas and questions 
 

George reported on the 10 x 10 program in Jackson/Teton County and that the Mayor wants to save money by using biodiesel (not currently working as soy costs have skyrocketed).  Others encouraged a complete cost/benefit analysis rather than only a per gallon price comparison. 
 

Jim Evanoff noted that Xanterra reported electric usage cut 50% when photovoltaics were visible (lesson- keep it in the face of the public?). 
 

Jake Lodato was suggested as a possible trainer after Coordinator Shuptrine reported canceling the June alternative fuels workshop due to slow communications/contracting with NAFTC. 
 

Several reported not receiving the newsletter-Sandy will check on it. 
 

There was discussion about the September national leadership retreat for Clean Cities coordinators at Big Sky.  Although, primarily intended for coordinators and DOE staff, possibilities for participation will be explored. 
 

Jim Evanoff:  In addition to the original 4 donated Toyota Priuses, YNP has received 5 more and also purchased 6.  $6/gal. Biodiesel has created some serious challenges for the park.  Dan at Story Distributing was able to locate a rail car of B20 at $3.85/gal.  Private consultant Dan Olson did a GHG emissions inventory  and the Yellowstone Foundation will dedicate 30 million dollars over the next ten years to reduce emissions.  A hydro-turbine project should culminate in 2016 with a less than 10 year payback.  4 of YNP 6 yellow buses will be loaned to Glacier NP for the summer of ’08.  For the past 4 years, the quantity of fuel used is down by 40%, but the cost is up 84%.  Snow removal costs for 2008 were approximately I million dollars. 
 

George Erb:  START rides were projected to be 800.000 in 2008, up from 100,000 in 2002.  The free town shuttle attracts local riders.  The START board had to pledge that the Driggs route would pay for itself-currently, fuel costs are requiring subsidy.  Driggs indicated they were interested in collaborating on indoor bus storage.  George reviewed the Special Purpose Excise Tax proposal that will be on the ballot in Teton Co., WY in August (it passed).  It funds planning for indoor bus storage in Jackson. 
 

Lou Moore:  Helena has requested $30,000.00 for the addition of 2 new routes (?) and free passes for government employees.  There is a lot of energy efficiency related activity in Montana.  Governor Schweitzer created a Climate Change Advisory Council that has made 9 recommendations regarding transportation.  State government will lead by example with a 20% reduction in petroleum use by 2010.  There is a 30 mpg standard.  Hybrids are being used and pick-ups moved out of the fleet.  There are meetings every other week to review deliverables.  There have been 160 building audits, 30 million requested for building upgrades to the legislature and 50 new hybrids in the government motor pool. The University of Montana/Havre has a diesel testing lab for fuel and engine testing, training and more.  There has also been an emphasis on no school bus idling.  The EPA has grant opportunity up to $200,000.00 for school buses and private fleets.  The City of Billings is just coming on board with a B2 requirement.  Gov. Schweitzer is vice-chair for the Governor’s Ethanol Coalition and the Governor’s Biofuel Coalition (Brian Spangler of MT DEQ is providing excellent information to us on both subjects regularly).  Lou said there were no plans for cellulosic ethanol-people do not want starch based fuel.  Producing it from waste is preferred. 
 

Mayor Christensen and Councilman Powers:  (they have a backhoe, grader, sander truck and diesel snow plow).  Their road budget is declining due to decrease in consumption and tax revenue of 8 cents/gallon of fuel sold.  They are collaborating with START and YBP .  Their whole road budget has been spent on snow removal.  Targhee is utilizing biodiesl, green power, etc.  Under the new land use approval, 70% of ski traffic has to be transit with employees required to take the bus. 
 

Jan Brown:  Transportation is a component of all business and is addressed in YBP’s Uncommon Cents program.  YBP will present at Green Build in Boston regarding the GYA’s regional rating system.  YBP received $30,000.00 from ITD in fall ’07 for regional transportation linking. Also $150,000.00 from USDA.  YBP conference bus riders had wonderful stories.  Neither Idaho or Montana sent state representatives.  Jackson had good news coverage.  The YBP board supports transportation involvement. 
 

Basil Barna:  Reminded us that it is “all connected” and mentioned TAAF work. West Yellowstone has a new entrance built with sustainable building practices.  He advocated for biodiesel use, but there is no infrastructure in place. 
 

Jim Evanoff:  YNP has a portable above ground tank available that includes dialing a blend.  He will check on its availability.  Perhaps it could be a construction site tank. 
 

Lou suggested that (petroleum/air violation) fines might be a source of funding for ads, etc.  In MT the money goes toward an energy loan program. 
 

Re: Y-TCEC program-we should continue to pursue the 3 alternative fueling sites as a focus for the time being (update-we now have 3 sites…Idaho Falls, Jackson and Belgrade).  Program planning needs attention as our strategic planning is about 4 years old, but time has run out for today. 
 

The meeting adjourned at 5:07 P.M.