Alternative fuel vehicles meeting

[SOP8920@Siena.edu]

Audians,
       On October 17th, in NYC, I'm planning on attending a meeting on "The
Business of using Alternative Fuel Vehicles and Ride and Drive." It's billed as
a "Clean Cities Town Hall Meeting." 
       It's hoped that Gov. Pataki, Mayor Giuliani, and Hazel O'Leary the
Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy will give keynote addresses. 
They've been invited and hopefully will attend. One of my professors has worked
long and hard on this project, and it has *suddenly* become very big.. with
the above "big-wigs" in attendance. The meeting starts at 8am and runs until
1pm, following which there will be a "ride and drive" of the alternative fuel
vehicles. 
      There is a long list of speakers from businesses interested in the Clean
Cities program and I won't waste bandwidth writing out the entire agenda. 
The pamphlet that my professor gave me says that the meeting,

"Will focus on the economic consideration of fleet and facility managers in the
NY Metropolitan area. AFVs can be especially advantageous for centrally fueled
delivery trucks, transit buses, and other vehicles. AFVs are also ideal for use
in warehouses and distribution centers where forklifts and other vehicles are
used for internal transport."

"The town hall meeting will provide you with an opportunity to hear about
business isues relating to the use of alternative fuel vehicles. It will also
give you the chance to express your views regarding activities and incentives
that can be undertaken by state and city governments to enhance the economics
of using AFVs.
 
- Learn about the Clean Cities programs in NYC and surrounding areas

- Ride and drive AFVs that are "on the road" today

- Discover economic incentives for purchasing and using AFVs

- meet collegues, fleet operators, facility managers, vehicle manufacturers,
  fuel suppliers, and policy makers

- give your views on how to make AFVs work for your company"


If anyone is interested in attending the meeting, I can give you more
information on it. Early registration for non-Environmental Business
Association members is $75 and after Oct.11, it's $100. 
 Or you can contact Dr. Ellen Burkhard
at EBA/NYS: Phone (518) 276-2164; fax (518) 276-6380. If you want, E-mail her
at "Burkhard@Siena.edu" without the quotes of course.

If you guys and gals are interested, I'll post a follow up after the meeting
and let you know how it went. The way I look at it, AFVs are going to be the
future.  Let me know what you guys think..
As for the Audi related content.. well.. I know that VW and Audi are
continuing, as all manufacturers are, to work on AFV development. I doubt that
Audi will be there.. but who knows. :) (keeping the fingers crossed).
The meeting is at the New York Academy of Sciences, 2 East 63rd street, New
York, NY. So... feedback?
                               -Osman Parvez
                                89 200q
                                Siena College
                                Albany NY