Jacksonville Transportation Authority Executive Director Nathaniel Ford said Thursday the authority will seek alternative fuel options for its fleet to lessen reliance on diesel, a step that would require a major capital investment.
He told about 120 people attending an energy policy forum hosted by the JAX Chamber at the Hyatt Downtown that the authority would "dust off" a 2006 study it conducted to review switching to alternative fuels, but that in addition to the costs there also is a relative permanency with the decision.
"We're going to have to live with that decision for the next 12-20 years, the useful life of the vehicle," Ford said.
Ford was chosen in October as JTA executive director and he took the reins last week, succeeding Michael Blaylock. Ford's background includes leadership positions in transportation authorities in San Francisco and Atlanta.
During the discussion, he referred to Atlanta's fleet conversion of 700 vehicles as being "well beyond our capacity" as a public agency and a decision that required a public-private partnership spread over a five-year period.
As for San Francisco, he noted the city's increased use of alternative fuels, such as electricity.
"It's hard to be on the forefront of technology conversions," he said.
Ford was part of a regional panel that consisted of Christopher Smith, CSX Corp. director of strategic infrastructure; State Rep. Lake Ray; JEA CEO Paul McElroy; and Dane Grey, Elite Parking of America president and commissioner for the Florida Transportation Commission for the Disadvantaged. The regional panel was hosted by Charley Hood, Rayonier vice president of government relations.
Among the regional panel's comments:
• On the federal policies at the state level, McElroy said although everyone seeks to be as environmentally sensitive as possible, the flood of environmental regulations and the required pace of change is financially damaging. Ford also mentioned unfunded mandates and the need for "incremental steps" in adhering to policy.
• Asked about initiatives that will affect the state's energy policy, Ray discussed several bills he is working on to provide tax breaks for natural gas conversion.
The regional panel followed a federal panel moderated by University of North Florida President John Delaney, incoming chair of the chamber's JAXUSA Partnership economic development division.
The federal panel comprised Michael Zehr, Consumer Energy Alliance vice president; David Mica, Florida Petroleum Council executive director; Amy Harder, National Journal energy correspondent; Kent Satterlee, Shell regulatory policy director; and Christopher Guith, vice president of Institute of 21st Century Energy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
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