CSU COMMITS TO CLEAN FUELS; NEW CAMPUS IN CAMARILLO BANISHES CARS THAT BURN GAS, ADD POLLUTION.

Byline: David Greenberg Daily News Staff Writer

Students entering California State University, Channel Islands, next fall will notice something missing from the traditional college experience - gasoline-powered vehicles.

The university and the CALSTART environmental research firm have joined to create the nation's first university free of gas-powered vehicles through programs that also will streamline students' entry into the workplace.

``The university is making a clear statement that it wants to be known as the first truly clean transportation campus in the nation,'' said Charles Imbrecht, CALSTART's vice president and general counsel. ``In turn, it will mean that (the university) is a very good neighbor for the people of Camarillo. We basically see turning the campus into a test-bed.''

The nonprofit group works with companies and research institutes to commercialize gasoline-free technology. Clean air vehicles run on compressed natural gas, hydrogen or fuel cells, which create electricity that charges the motor.

CALSTART already has incubator tenants at its headquarters in Pasadena and at the Alameda Naval Air Station.

It entered into a lease for 31,000 square feet of space at the university in August and is in negotiations to sublease 2,000 square feet to an unspecified electric bicycle manufacturer.

In addition to the healthy living environment, upper-level undergraduate and graduate students studying environmental science, business administration, statistical analysis and engineering will be offered internships at CALSTART.

In turn, the university - which is committed to developing curriculum related to the fields of its business tenants - also will offer retraining courses for CALSTART employees.

``The design of this university is the integration and enhancement of education through its involvement directly with business firms,'' said Noel Grogan, the university's campus projects manager. ``We hope to be able to graduate individuals who are immediately employable through internships. They get their education at the same time they get significant professional experience working with the high-tech firms on campus.''

That eventually could play well for students entering the workplace, he said, because all major vehicle manufacturers have vowed to have fuel cell-based cars on the market between 2002 and 2005.

Volkswagen, Audi, Volvo, BMW and General Motors all have design and research centers within a 15-mile radius of the campus. Honda is just outside the radius in Calabasas.

``We hope to have a very close relationship with the automobile firms regarding things like alternative fuels and transportation,'' Grogan said.

Officials hopes to replace the campus's 17 gas-powered service vehicles - inherited from Camarillo State Hospital, which used to occupy the 165-acre Lewis Road site - with five compressed natural gas vehicles and nine electric vehicles.

The university and CALSTART already have pledged a combined $80,000 toward the purchase of new vehicles and officials are optimistic they will secure an additional $160,000 from the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District.

Other plans include:

Working with the Ventura County Transportation Commission, which is seeking federal funds to widen Lewis Road and construct a bike path leading onto the campus.

Creation of a park-and-ride system using compressed natural gas-powered shuttle buses that leave for the campus from seven or eight locations countywide every 15 minutes during peak periods.

Construction of a multilevel parking garage at the county's main park-and-ride location, the Metrolink station under the Ventura Freeway in Camarillo, which is only 4.1 miles from the campus.

Offering students free electric bikes for keeps if they sign an agreement never to bring a gas-powered vehicle on campus. The bikes would be recharged at kiosks located through the campus.

Construction of a $150 million to $200 million, 900-unit housing development on the east end of campus - close enough for faculty and business tenants to bike or walk to work.

Dick Baldwin, the county's air pollution control officer, said he was impressed with the cooperative effort involved.

``As long as they plan all of these things in the beginning, I think it will work,'' he said. ``This is the time to do it. It would become a showcase not only for other campuses but for businesses as well.''

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PHOTO (Color in Simi and Conejo Editions only) CALSTART executive Charles Imbrecht drives a CitiBee, which burns no gasoline.

John Lazar/Daily News