Media Event for California Energy Commission Project Highlights Project Success December 09, 2011

As the results of a yearlong field test of a new emissions control system are in and the project comes to a successful close, the project team, the California Energy Commission and Southern California Gas Company hosted a media event at the field test site. The field test portion of the project consisted of approximately six months of successive installation and optimization of new air/fuel ratio controller, advanced sensors and new control algorithms developed during the laboratory development phase. The last six months of the field test program consisted of “hands-off” operation of a self tuning and self-optimizing control system which maintained continuous emissions compliance below the CARB 2007 DG limits of ≈3.5 PPMv of NOx and 8.0 PPMV of CO as corrected to 15% oxygen.

The December 9, 2011 media event at Fontana Wholesale Lumber, the owner and operator of the test engine, allowed public officials, industry experts and the public to see the engine in operation and to speak directly with the key project personnel.

The media event showcased the new emissions control technology and was well attended, particularly by elected officials and their staffs. There were about ≈50 people in attendance, including Josie Gonzales, San Bernardino County 5^th District Supervisor and SCAQMD Governing Board Member; Michael Townsend of Congressman Joe Baca’s office, a representative from Senator Gloria McLeod’s office, State Assemblyman Mike Morrell, a representative of Senator Bob Dutton’s office and a number of staff members. Also in attendance were business customers as well as employees from SoCalGas, Continental Controls and Fontana Wholesale Lumber.

Jeff Reed of SoCalGas gave remarks and served as MC. His messages were right on point about natural gas and its role as a clean-burning fuel in helping businesses meet strict air quality regulations. Also giving remarks were Mike Logsdon, owner of Fontana Wholesale Lumber, Josie Gonzales, San Bernardino County 5^th District Supervisor, Pablo Gutierrez of the California  Energy Commission, Rick Fisher of Continental Controls; and a number of proclamations and certificates were presented by elected officials or their staffs. 

Media covering the event included the San Bernardino Sun, Riverside Press-Enterprise, Fontana Herald and the Inland Valley Community Newspapers.

Continental Controls Corporation of San Diego, California www.continentalcontrols.com, whom developed the new emissions control system will be offering the product into the commercial market in the first quarter of 2012. Vronay Engineering Services Corporation worked with Continental at every step of the way from project concept through product commercialization.