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HomeMy WebLinkAbout24-02 RESOLUTION• • RESOLUTION NO. 24-02 A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE FAYE 1 I EVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY'S COOPERATION WITH THE CHEMICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS TO INVESTIGATE THE POSSIBLE USE OF FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY IN THE NEW LIBRARY BUILDING. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS: Section 1. That the City Council hereby supports the Fayetteville Public Library's cooperation with the Chemical Engineering Department of the University of Arkansas to investigate the possible use of fuel cell technology in the new library building. PASSED and APPROVED this 19th day of February, 2002. APPROVED: By 1 #erl " ER • ODRUFF, Ci1Yy Clerk NAME OF FILE: CROSS REFERENCE: Resolution No. 24-02 02/19/02 Resolution No. 24-02 02/01/02 Memo to Louise Schaper, Library, Hugh Earnest, Urban Dev. Director, from Kit Williams, City Attorney, regarding Resolution on cooperation with the Chemical Engineering Department of University of Arkansas 01/31/02 Memo to City Council from Louise Schaper, Library Director, regarding distributed power options for the new library building 01/16/02 Letter to Board of Trustees, Fayetteville Public Library, from Natasha Lavelle, Research Assistant, University of Arkansas, Department of Chemical Engineering 02/19/02 Staff Review Form 02/26/02 Memo to Louise Schaper, Fayetteville Public Library, from Heather Woodruff, City Clerk NOTES: FAYETTEVtI,LE ME CITY OF EAYETTEVItt(. ARKANSAS KIT WILLIAMS, CITY ATTORNEY DAVID WHITAKER, ASST CITY ATTORNEY DEPARTMENTAL CORRESPONDENCE • LEGAL DEPARTMENT TO: Louise Schaper, Library Hugh Earnest, Urban Development Director FROM: Kit Williams, City Attorney Ci DATE: February 1, 2002 RE: Resolution on cooperation with the Chemical Engineering Department of U of A We need to be careful about using terms like "partnership" which have well defined legal meanings. Partnerships need to have clearly defined written agreements in place to avoid problems and potential liabilities. Neither the City nor the U of A need such agreement to work cooperatively together as outlined in Professor Robert Cross's letter. I did not see Professor Cross using "partnership" in his letter to you. I believe a Resolution that we will work cooperatively together should be sufficient. sl L 02 • • r►�r[r.[vui A• • ■ PLINK •Go• awn ••• • ••�•• DEPARTMENTAL CORRESPONDENCE TO: City Council FROM: Louise Schaper, Library Director DATE: January 31, 2002 SUBJECT: Distributed Power Options for the New Library Building On January 22, the Trustees of the Fayetteville Public Library voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council approve a partnership proposed in the attached memo by Professor Robert Cross and Research Assistant Natasha Lavelle of the University of Arkansas Chemical Engineering Department. They propose to: 1. Provide an assessment of fuel cell technology applications for backup and/or whole building power in the new library. 2. Identify possible funding sources and partnerships. 3. Formulate an action plan. 4. Prepare funding/grant proposals.* 5. Help design an educational in -library display if a fuel cell application is implemented. The Library Board of Trustees asks for your approval of a resolution in support of this project. The Board and staff gratefully acknowledge your support of the new library and our quest to ensure the building is energy efficient and sustainable. 'With Library/City Council approval. c 0 • • UNIVERSITYARKANSAS EEIM 3202 Bell Engineering Center • Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701-1201 • (501) 575-4951 • (501) 575-7926 (FAX) College of Engineering Department of Chemical Engineering January 16, 2002 Board of Trustees Fayetteville Public Library 217 East Dickson Street Fayetteville, AR 72701 Subject Proposed Cooperation Between the Chemical Engineering Department at the University of Arkansas and the Fayetteville Public Library Related to Distributed Power Options for the New Library Building Dear Trustees: Background: The Fayetteville Public Library, the City of Fayetteville and the public desire that the new library building have a high level of "green" certification. One of the factors in this certification is the use of efficient and environmentally sound electrical energy generation. An emerging technology that offers the possibility of high efficiency electrical energy generation is the fuel cell. While only a few systems are commercially available and costs are high compared to conventional systems, the efficiency of fuel conversion to electncity is approximately twice as high as that of conventional systems, i.e., approximately 80% vs. 40%. As well as high efficiency, fuel cells offer very dean emissions. The Plan: We, propose that we work with the Library in the following ways: • After ascertaining the Library's normal and peak demand for power as well as the requirement for emergency power, we will carry out an in-depth assessment of fuel cell systems that are on the market now. Systems that could become available in the next five years will also be considered. The assessment will include prices, installation and operating costs, maintenance costs, reliability, fuel needs, efficiencies, safety, and projected lifetime and space requirements. With respect to emergency power systems, we will compare the foregoing factors to those of conventional systems. In the study of emergency power systems, we will also consider the recently introduced microturbine systems. Reportedly, these systems, even though of lower The University of Arkansas is an equal opportunity/affirmative action insutunun. L r 0 • • efficiency than fuel cells, have high reliability, are of lower costs than fuel cells, and produce a very low level of greenhouse gases when running on natural gas. • Recognizing that today's installed costs for fuel cells are high and that operating costs per kilowatt-hour are significantly higher than the cost of grid energy, we will investigate potential funding sources that would enable the Library to install and operate a fuel cell system for normal and/or emergency power requirements. We will look for potential federal, state, and private foundation support in the form of grants or subsidies. We will discuss with appropriate individuals in the agencies the probability of receiving funding and will determine application procedures and deadlines. In some cases the Library's desire to build an educational program around a fuel cell installation may enhance applications to some funding agencies For example, the National Science Foundation funds programs for 1(12, undergraduate and graduate education including equipment and teaching aids. • As another approach to obtaining support for a fuel cell installation, we will look into the possibility of forming a consortium of people, companies and agencies who could help the project along with funds or other means of support. For example, perhaps we could convince a fuel cell manufacturer to donate a system or to sell at a reduced price, the natural gas company to provide fuel free or below the market pnce, a local service company to provide maintenance, an individual or charitable organization to provide educational materials. Appropriate publicity for these partners surrounding what would probably be the first fuel cell installation in Northwest Arkansas would be the incentive. We will investigate this possibility. • After completing (or getting well into) the three tasks above, we will meet with Louise Schaper, the architects and others you may designate to formulate an action plan. On the assumption that the plan would include grant proposals, subsidy proposals, formation of a consortium or all three, we would be prepared to write proposals and/or to try to form the consortium. In the search for funding agencies and in proposal preparation we would have the help of the University's Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, Office of Government Relations, and, if needed, the University's lobbyist in Washington. All work would be coordinated with appropriate Library and City of Fayetteville people. Time Schedule We would complete the first three tasks above in three to four months and then begin to work on proposals. However, if we uncovered an opportunity early in our work, it might be desirable to proceed with a proposal early in the year In any case, we would plan to complete all tasks and write all indicated proposals by August 31, 2002. Follow-up would be needed after that date. • • Additional Work If together we are able to obtain the support necessary to install a fuel cell system in the new library, we would like to continue to work with you to put together the educational program, not only related to the fuel cell but also to other green concepts. We welcome your questions, comments and suggestions and hope you will approve this plan. Sincerely, Robert Cross Research Professor Directoy, Membrane Separations Center Natasha Lavelle Research Assistant • • STAFF REVIEW FORM X AGENDA REQUEST _ CONTRACT REVIEW GRANT REVIEW For the Fayetteville City Council meeting of February 19. 2002 FROM: Louise Schaper Library Urban Development Name Division Department n�,w` �; , j.L �J� ACTION REQUIRED: Approve a resolution supporting a partner between the Chemical Engineering Department at the University of Arkansas and the Fayetteville Public Library Related to Distributed Power Options for the New Library Building. s R r COST TO CITY: 0 Cost of this Request Account Number N/A Project Number $ Services and Charges Category/Project Budget Category/Project Name $ New Library Funds Used To Date Program Name Remaining Balance General Fund BUDGET REVIEW: N/A Budgeted Item N/A Budget Adjustment Attached Budget Coordinator Administrative Services Director CONTRACT/GRANT/LEASE REVIEW: Accounting�((�{/ Date • temal iet haiRn. ' r 2! l(d L. Cjty At_ tQrney GRANT NG AGENCY: t (3l (0 ?-- itor Date DDppte ADA Coordinator Date .2.ltlo7— Purchasing Manager Date STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval. Division I lead Date Date Cross Reference New Item: Yes No Prev Ord/Res ti: Orig Contract Date: FAYETTEVPLLE tHE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE. ARKANSAS DEPARTMENTAL CORRESPONDENCE • To: Louise Schaper, Fayetteville Public Library From: Heather Woodruff, City Clerk Date: February 26, 2002 Please find attached a copy of Resolution No. 24-02 supporting the Fayetteville Public Library's Cooperation with the Chemical Engineering Department of the University of Arkansas to investigate the possible use of fuel cell technology in the new library building. The original will be microfilmed and filed with the City Clerk. c o: cc: Nancy Smith, Internal Audit Hugh Earnest, Urban Development 010 03 Update Document Reference RES City f Fayetteville Index Maintenance Item Action Date Ref. Taken Brief Description 2192002 24-02 • FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY 2/27/2002 13:59:52 Enter Keywords • RES. 24-02 FAYETTEV•ILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY CHEMICAL ENGINEERING DEPT. YPVESTIGATE FUEL CEL TECHNOLOGY NEW LIBRARY BUILDING File Reference # • MICROFILM Security Class Retention Type: Expiration Date • **** Active *TT# Date for Cont/Referred: Name Referred to Cmdl-Return Cmd8-Retention CmdS-Abstract Yes No Cmd4-Delete Cmd3-End Press 'ENTER' to Continue (c) 1986-1992 Munimetrix Systems Corp.