By Dan Israeli
The district already has one operating generator, or compressor, at its fueling station, which powers 20 CNG buses. The new compressor will provide additional capacity to the powering station, according to Frank Ruggiero, assistant superintendent for business.
"We had a four-cylinder taking care of what a V8 should have," Ruggiero said, adding that the new compressor can also act as a backup to the existing one. "If we have to take one off-line for maintenance, we have the other one still functioning."
The compressor will make it possible for the district to extend its fueling rail to accommodate more buses, according to Robert Sambo, supervisor of transportation. Sambo applied for the grant, provided by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), last November. As part of the agreement, Sambo committed the district to promoting natural, clean-fuel buses over diesel-powered vehicles.
"We look to continue thinking positive about it and promoting it," Sambo said. "It's the right thing to do for our environment, for the public and for our kids." With a new compressor on line, the district plans to increase its fleet of CNG buses to perhaps double the 20 it has now, which the new system would be able to accommodate.
The fueling station currently operates with a Hurricane compressor, made by the natural gas power company Angi International. Sambo said he is interested in obtaining another Hurricane. The district would need additional funding from NYSERDA to add to its CNG bus fleet.
The advancement of the district's compressed natural gas system dovetails with the city's recent appropriation of $1.2 million in state and federal funding for mass transit improvements. At a July City Council meeting, City Manager Ed Eaton said the money would likely fund three new city buses, and that the city might pursue CNG models. Eaton mentioned the idea of the city's forming a partnership with the school district, in which the city would provide services for the school district and, in return, use the station to fuel city buses.
Superintendent Robert Greenberg said he was aware of this possible "joint facilities agreement," but that it is in the early planning stages. Ruggiero said that the city and the district are "still looking toward working on a memorandum of agreement, which will include a whole range of services."
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