Bowling Green State University’s Motor Sports Team will get a boost from Bowling Green’s Board of Public
Utilities, and American Municipal Power-Ohio will likely join the effort.
The BPU Monday night agreed to put $3,000 toward the team from its Green Energy Fund. Director of
Utilities Kevin Maynard told the board that AMP-Ohio is also interested in joining the sponsorship.
The fund gets its money from the EcoSmart Choice and the sale of Renewable Energy Certificates (green
tags), not from electric rates, Maynard said.
Associate Professor Emeritus Anthony Palumbo told the board the team is seeking sponsors to enter a
national intercollegiate program for the promotion of electric vehicles and electrical energy. The local
money would be used to help purchase chargers and batteries. He said the effort is not to be confused
with the long-standing Electric Falcon of the BGSU Electric Vehicle Institute. That vehicle is now in a
Cleveland museum.
The new racing program uses open-wheeled karts that have been developed at BGSU’s EVI and raced around
the area in exhibitions in recent years. "The first event will be at the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway. "This track has always been closed to anything but gasoline or alcohol-powered vehicles.
These will be the first electric vehicles at the speedway as competitors," Palumbo said.
"We don’t race to race. This is a motivational tool with a serious academic component. BGSU is one
of the few non-engineering schools to compete and has been successful over the years," Palumbo
said.
Maynard said the sponsorship would continue a long-standing relationship between the city electric
utility and BGSU. He pointed to the solar array on the roof of the Ice Arena and purchase of four
solar-powered units for pedestrian crossing lights on streets around the edge of the campus. Palumbo
also joined with Steve and Scott McEwen to guide the development of the new Wood County District Public
Library bookmobile to operate on compressed natural gas.
The electric division is also working with BGSU’s EVI on conversion of the bucket trucks to diesel/hybrid
vehicles. Electric Division employee Steve Shaffer said the conversion can be done at about one-third of
the $75,000 cost found on new vehicles similarly equipped. The conversion will allow the engine of the
truck to be shut down at a worksite, instead of idling, consuming fuel and producing exhaust. The two
local groups are working with Muncie Power Products, according to documents provided the BPU.
"I like the idea of the partnerships," BPU member Bill Culbertson said. "It is unique and
educational. It is also a good partnership with AMP."
The board also:
¥ Asked city council to change the base tap fee to $30 per lineal foot for the East Wooster water line
extension constructed east of the Meijer property late last year. The tap fee had been $15 since 1989.
Maynard said the project’s actual cost was a little over $31 per front foot and property owners had been
told the engineer’s estimate on the project was $43 per front foot. The fact that no bedrock was
encountered help lower the cost.
¥ Was reminded that the basic month charge on water bills increased 30 cents per month as of Jan. 1.