AQMD Announces Recommendation for more than $50 million in projects to reduce emission in Coachella Valley

http://www.aqmd.gov/news1/2012/coachellavalleyPR.htm[11/8/2012 3:16:06 PM]

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AQMD Announces Draft Recommendations for more than $50

Million in Projects to Reduce Emissions in Coachella Valley

Oct. 5, 2012

AQMD Received 75 Proposals Totaling $380 Million

Following an extensive competitive bid review process, Southland air quality officials have recommended that 20

proposals for emission-reduction projects in the Coachella Valley receive more than $50 million in funding. They

include solar and wind power installations, alternative fuel vehicles and infrastructure, Parkway 1e11, air filters for

classrooms, paving of dirt roads and other projects.

“These innovative measures will help improve air quality and protect public health in the Coachella Valley,” said Barry

Wallerstein, executive officer for the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD). “They also will create jobs

and contribute to community improvements in the area.”

AQMD’s Administrative Committee will review AQMD staff recommendations for funding at a public meeting on Oct. 16

in Palm Desert. The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. at the Coachella Valley Water District at 75-515 Hovley Lane East.

Funding recommendations from AQMD’s Administrative Committee will be considered for approval at AQMD’s regular

monthly meeting on Nov. 2.

AQMD staff’s funding recommendations, as well as all proposals submitted, can be viewed at on an online database. A

summary of recommended projects is shown below.

AQMD received 75 project proposals that requested a total of more than $375 million. Approximately $132 million

were for solar projects, $41 million for alternative fueled vehicles and infrastructure, $22.5 million for classroom air

filters, $27 million for paving dirt roads, $12.5 million for gardens, $20.5 million for weatherization and $121 million for

other types of measures.

Funding for the projects comes from $53.3 million paid by Competitive Power Ventures, Inc. to the AQMD for emissions

offsets needed to construct and operate CPV’s Sentinel power plant, now under construction in Desert Hot Springs. AB

1318 (V. M. Perez) requires that funds be spent on emission reductions in the following areas:

· At least 30 percent in environmental justice areas, defined by AQMD as communities with at least 10 percent of

residents living below the federal poverty level that also have high particulate matter (PM10) levels;

· At least 30 percent on projects in close proximity to the plant, defined by AQMD as within a six-mile radius from

the facility; and

· The remaining 40 percent in any location within AQMD’s four-county jurisdiction. While not required by AB 1318,

AQMD’s Board decided earlier this year to dedicate this entire amount to projects in the Coachella Valley.

A panel of three air quality technical experts scored each proposal according to the following criteria:

Points

Experience and expertise of proposer 30

Aids in achievement of AQMD’s regional air quality goals in Coachella Valley

30

Job creation within the Coachella Valley 20

Effective use of funds 10

Secondary benefits, other than jobs 5

Community/government support 5

Total 100

In addition, projects were awarded extra points if they qualified as a small business, local

business or disabled veteran business. AQMD staff will recommend a ranking of proposals to

its Board that places public agencies including cities, counties and school districts on an

equal basis with local businesses with respect to extra points received.

AQMD released a request for proposals in February with a deadline to submit them by June 8. During that period,

Home Inside AQMD Community Business Technology Health & Education Governing Board
AQMD Announces Recommendation for more than $50 million in projects to reduce emission in Coachella Valley

http://www.aqmd.gov/news1/2012/coachellavalleyPR.htm[11/8/2012 3:16:06 PM]

AQMD conducted extensive outreach on the proposal process including two bidders’ workshops and eight sessions where

potential bidders could meet one-on-one with AQMD staff experts to learn more about how to submit a proposal.

Up to five percent of the $53.3 million in mitigation funding will be used by AQMD for its cost of administering the

contracts.

Projects recommended for funding by AQMD staff

Listed in order of score, with highest first

Project Proponent Project Type Recommended Award

Border Valley Trading Liquefied natural gas (LNG)/compressed natural gas (CNG)

stations

$900,000

Renova Energy Solar panels at a facility in Thousand Palms $314,584

County of Riverside Paving and dust control at mobile home park $4,097,114

City of Desert Hot Springs CNG vehicles and station upgrade $1,024,641

Coachella Valley USD Air filtration systems at Mecca and Saul Martinez

elementary schools in Mecca

$337,200

Sun Power Solar panels at College of the Desert $2,000,000

City of Coachella CNG station/solar carport $2,120,000

Desert Sands Unified School

District

CNG station upgrade $174,250

City of Palm Springs Solar panel installations at city buildings $1,175,225

IQ Air Air filtration for 49 schools in EJ areas $4,079,540

CVAG Parkway 1e11 $17,400,000

Torres Martinez Desert

Cahuilla Indians

Paving and dust control at headquarters, senior center

and health center

$999,989

Mountain View Solar Grid-based solar project $3,000,000

VPI Enterprises Refurbish and upgrade wind turbines $4,833,211

Sun Wize Solar panels at Boys and Girls Clubs $785,881

Renovitas Paving of access roads for industrial complex and parking

lot on Cabazon Band of Mission Indians land

$921,235

City of Coachella Signal synchronization $2,550,000

City of Desert Hot Springs Dust control in populated areas and parking lot of Cabot’s

Museum

$2,000,000

St. Elizabeth's of Hungary

Food Pantry

CNG Vehicles for food delivery $53,995

Mission Springs Water District 3 MW solar project $1,885,575

TOTAL $50,652,440

AQMD is the air pollution control agency for Orange County and major portions of Los

Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

-#-

This page updated: October 11, 2012

URL: http://www.aqmd.gov/news1/2012/coachellavalleyPR.htm

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