The
National Clean Bus Network
February
2005 Clean Bus Update
Environmental
and Energy Study Institute Carol
Werner, Executive Director
122
C Street, NW Suite 630 Washington, DC 20001 P
202-628-1400 F 202-628-1825 www.eesi.org
Clean
Bus Highlights
Federal
Transportation Policy Update
TEA-21
Reauthorization
On February 9th, 2005, bipartisan legislation
(H.R. 3) –“The Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy For
Users” (TEA-LU) was reintroduced in the House by
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Don
Young (R-AK) and Representatives James L. Oberstar (D-MN),
Tom Petri (R-WI), and, Peter DeFazio (D-OR). TEA-LU is
legislation to reauthorize the nation’s surface
transportation bill, TEA-21 (Transportation Equity Act for
the 21st Century). The Bill calls for $283.9
billion in guaranteed funding, an increase of $4.5 billion
from the previous TEA-LU Bill passed by the House in April,
2004. The new House proposal is in line with the
Administration Budget request of $284 billion. The Senate is
expected to introduce similar legislation towards the end of
February with a possible markup in March. However, lawmakers
in the Senate are expected to call for higher funding levels
at $318 billion. House and Senate members are seeking to
move the bill into Conference as soon as possible to avoid
extending the current transportation bill. In September,
2004, TEA-21 was extended for the sixth time to
May 31,
2005
, after
lawmakers failed to agree on a $299 billion compromise
6-year funding package.
Text
of the House Transportation Bill is available at:
http://thomas.loc.gov/ (Please
enter H.R 3 as the bill number)
Clean
Diesel Initiative Funded in EPA FY’06 Budget Amid Clean
Air Program Cuts
The
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) received a significant
cut in the President’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 budget
requests announced on
February 7,
2005
. The
President's budget calls for a decrease of $517
million in EPA's overall budget (a
6.4 percent cut from FY’05 appropriations). However,
EPA’s efforts to lower diesel emissions were strengthened
with a $15 million request
to fund a Clean Diesel Initiative. The Clean Diesel
Initiative will provide support for diesel engine retrofits,
rebuilds and replacements, anti-idling measures, clean fuel
infrastructure projects, and other activities to reduce
emissions in the
school, freight, construction and port sectors. The
Clean Diesel Initiative will work collaboratively with
federal, state, local, non-profit, and private sector
partners to maximize resources and leverage additional
support.
More
information on the Clean Diesel Initiative and the EPA
budget available at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2006/epa.html
Federal Grants Aid Hybrid Bus Purchases in
Florida
,
California
and
Indiana
A
$1.2 million Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Capital
Investment grant has helped bring hybrid buses to
Tampa
,
Florida
. In
January 2005, the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HARTline)
pressed into service three new 40-foot Gillig buses equipped
with GM-Allison’s diesel-electric drive system. The FTA
grant also enabled the purchase of “intelligent
transportation systems” equipment to help improve
reliability and efficiency of the bus service.
Long
Beach Transit,
California
also
recently purchased 26 gasoline-electric hybrid buses, in an
effort to comply with South Coast Air Quality Management
District’s (SCAQMD) Clean On-Road Heavy-Duty Public Fleet
Vehicles Rule. The rule, which requires 85 percent of public
fleet purchases to be alternative-fueled vehicles, was
implemented in June 2004. Federal grants helped cover 80
percent of the cost of the $750,000 buses. The 40-foot New
Flyer coaches equipped with ISE Corp.’s gasoline-electric
series hybrid system are expected to be introduced into
service in July 2005.
Federal
funds, including grants through the Congestion Mitigation
and Air Quality (CMAQ) Program, have allowed the
Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation (INDYGO) to
add two more hybrid diesel-electric buses to its fleet.
These buses join five diesel-electric 22-foot E-Buses which
were added to the fleet in August 2003. The 40-foot Gillig
low floor buses, equipped with GM-Allison’s parallel
diesel-electric drive train, cost $500,000 each. The new
additions are part of INDYGO’s attempt to recast its image
as a cleaner transit provider, following a financial
downturn in 2004, which forced the agency to cut routes and
services.
More information on the FTA grant for the HARTline hybrids at:
http://www.dot.gov/affairs/fta0305.htm
More information on the Long Beach Transit hybrids at: http://www.isecorp.com/ise_news/ev_bulletins/pdf/may-01-2003-first-large-order.pdf
General
Motors, Isuzu Settlement to Fund Emissions Reductions in
Diesel Buses
General
Motors Corp. (GM) and Isuzu Motors Ltd. have reached a
settlement with the Massachusetts Department of
Environmental Protection over allegations that they sold 46
trucks that violated state air pollution standards. The
violations, which were voluntarily reported by the truck
manufacturers, resulted in an agreement to pay $307,000 in
penalties, including $77,000 to fund projects to reduce
emissions in commuter buses.
In
1992,
Massachusetts
adopted
California
vehicle emission standards under its Low Emission Vehicle
Program to help improve air quality. Under these standards,
2003 model year medium duty trucks, similar to the trucks
sold by GM and Isuzu, were required to meet
California
standards.
The funds from the settlement will cover the incremental
cost of ultra-low sulfur diesel use in commuter
buses in
Pioneer
Valley
,
MA
.
More
information on the GM-Isuzu settlement agreement available
at:
http://www.ago.state.ma.us/sp.cfm?pageid=986&id=1367
Florida
Initiative Funds Hydrogen
Buses
Florida
recently
purchased eight hydrogen-powered shuttle buses as part of
its H2 Florida Initiative. The buses, manufactured by Ford,
are powered by a Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine
(H2ICE). The vehicle is equipped with a 26-gallon hydrogen
fuel tank with an estimated range of 150 miles. The engine
is estimated to be 25 percent more efficient than a typical
gasoline engine, and will offer nearly zero emissions of
particulate matter and nitrogen oxides. A $3 million
appropriation from the
Florida
legislature funded the buses which cost $250,000 each. The
buses, scheduled to begin operation in
Central
Florida
in 2006,
can seat 12 passengers each.
The “H2 Florida” Initiative was launched in 2003 to
accelerate the commercialization of hydrogen technologies.
The goals of the initiative include increasing corporate
investment in hydrogen technologies, establishing
public-private partnerships to demonstrate hydrogen
technologies, increasing energy independence and improving
air quality.
For more information on the H2 Initiative:
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/energy/fla_energy/hydrogen.htm
Allegheny
County
Proposes Anti-Idling Rule
The
Allegheny County Health Department is considering a new rule
to limit unnecessary idling of heavy-duty diesel vehicles.
The proposal is part of a growing effort nationwide to
address the issue of idling. On
February
14, 2005
, the
county held a public hearing on the proposed idling rule,
which would limit idling of heavy-duty diesel powered
vehicles to no more than five minutes. If approved,
violators would face fines of up to $500 for repeat
offenses.
More information on the proposed idling regulation available
at:
http://www.achd.net/airqual/pubs/pdf/dpmvehicpreg.pdf
Elk
Grove City Unveils Hybrid Bus Fleet
The
City of Elk Grove became the first city in
California
to operate
an entirely hybrid-electric commuter bus fleet. In January
2005, the city launched its brand new E-Tran commuter bus
service with 17 hybrid-electric buses. The 40-foot repowered
Gillig buses, using ISE Corp.’s gasoline-powered
ThunderVolt hybrid drive system, were remanufactured by
Complete Coachworks in
Riverside
,
California
. Purchased
at a total cost of $7.3 million, the buses produce zero
emissions of particulate matter and meet the Environmental
Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2007 nitrogen dioxide (NOx)
emission standards. Additionally, the buses will provide
passengers with a host of comforts including reclining
seats, satellite internet connections and TV screens with
the latest news broadcasts.
More
information on the Elk Grove hybrid fleet at:
http://www.isecorp.com/ise_news/ise_press_releases/aug-25-2004-elk-grove.php
Air
Pollution Initiatives Help Clean
Atlanta
Air
Atlanta
Regional Commission’s (ARC) $53 billion long-range
regional transportation plan, Mobility
2030, estimates that the region’s air quality
will improve significantly as a result of air pollution
mitigation plans. The region is expected to add more than 2
million people by the year 2030 but will meet U.S
Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 8-hour ozone
standard according to a “conformity determination”
issued by the EPA. Some of the proposed initiatives include:
$20.7 million for the purchase of clean fuel buses, $5.6
million in federal and state funding for truck stop
electrification projects, retrofit of 300 school buses with
emission control devices at a cost of $2.5 million, and a
$4.7 million project to bring ultra-low sulfur diesel to
metro-Atlanta region in 2005.
More information on
Atlanta
’s
Mobility 2030 transportation plan available at: http://www.atlantaregional.com/transportationair/mobility2030.html
Los Angeles
Port
Plan Runs into Trouble
A
meeting of the Los Angeles- Long Beach Port Task Force
scheduled for February 1, 2005 was abruptly cancelled and
rescheduled for March 2-3, prompting speculation that the
release of a much anticipated port pollution plan would be
delayed further. In 2001, responding to the region’s
severe air pollution problem, Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn
created a 28-member task force comprised of representatives
from regulatory agencies, industry, unions,
environmentalists and community groups, to draw up a plan to
restrict emissions at the LA port to 2001 levels. The plan,
expected to include proposals to replace older trucks at the
port with cleaner models, introduce ultra-low sulfur diesel
in ships, and install electric power sources for ships
docked at the port or idling near shore, was supposed to be
presented in December 2004.
The
LA-Long
Beach
Port
complex is
the single largest air polluter in the region. In 2001, the
port produced nearly 20,000 tons of nitrogen oxides, and is
projected to produce 39,700 tons by 2025. In addition, the
port also produced 1000 tons of particulates, with levels
expected to rise to 2,724 tons in 2025 in the absence of
pollution controls.
Toronto
Purchases 150 Hybrid
Buses
Toronto
Transit Commission (TTC) will spend $110 million to purchase
150 hybrid diesel-electric buses, making it one of the
largest hybrid-electric bus purchases in
North
America
. The
low-floor buses will be supplied by Orion Bus Industries
Ltd. in 2006. Federal funding covered one-third of the
estimated $750,000 cost per bus. The order will represent 10
percent of TTC’s 1,500 bus fleet. TTC also fuels 180 of
its buses with biodiesel and recently made the shift to
ultra-low sulfur diesel.
Other
transit agencies in
Canada
, such as
British Columbia Transit, which purchased six New Flyer
hybrid buses, and OC Transpo in
Ottawa
, which has
indicated interest in buying 30 hybrid buses in 2007, are
also making the shift to cleaner transit.
More
information on the TTC hybrid bus purchase at:
http://www.ttc.ca/postings/gso-comrpt/documents/report/f2270/_conv.htm
Idle Reduction Technology Demonstrations Progress
Report Released
The
Idle Reduction Technology Demonstrations Status Report was
released by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in
January 2005. The report details progress of idle reduction
demonstration projects being conducted by Schneider Inc.,
Caterpillar Inc., and Espar Heater Systems as well as other
idle reduction activities. Schneider Inc., which tested
engine-off cab cooling and heating technology, has decided
to equip all its 2003 and later model year trucks with
auxiliary cab heaters based on the results.
The report also provides an update on the status of National
Idle Reduction Plan which is being jointly developed by the Department
of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The goal of this plan
is to define activities promoting the introduction of idle
reduction strategies and technologies. A draft plan is
expected to be released by the end of February.
The
Idle Reduction Technology Demonstrations Status Report is
available at:
http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy05osti/36717.pdf
Public
Workshop in California
on Proposed Modifications to
Urban Bus Emission Standards
The
California Air Resources Board (CARB) will hold public
workshops
to discuss
proposed modifications to the exhaust emission standards for
1985 and subsequent Model Year Heavy-duty Urban Bus Engines.
The proposals under consideration include: 1) No change to
the 2007 and beyond Model Year urban Bus exhaust emission
standards and, 2) Harmonizing the urban bus exhaust emission
standards with the California Heavy Duty Truck standard
beginning with the 2007 Model Year. Proposed modifications
would apply to all manufacturers of urban bus engines, urban
bus builders, and
California
transit
agencies.
Please
note: On February 23, 2005, CARB announced the cancellation
of the Urban Bus Emissions Workshop. Please see release for
more details. http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/bus/mailout0505.pdf
EVENTS
23rd
Annual World Fuels Conference
March 9-11, 2005
;
San
Francisco
,
California
For more information, or to register, please visit:
http://www.worldfuelsconferences.com/2005events.html
Global
Alternative Fuels Forum and Exhibition
The Energy Exchange Limited
March 8-10, 2005
;
Berlin
,
Germany
For
more information, or to register, please visit:
http://www.theenergyexchange.co.uk/energy201overview.html
Submit Your Clean
Bus Story!
EESI’s
National Clean Bus Project is eager to learn about your
clean bus fleet. If you are in the process of procurement,
or if you already operate buses that produce fewer emissions
and consume less fuel than conventional diesel buses, let us
know if we haven’t heard – and told -- your story!
Provide (1) the name of your organization and primary
contact person; (2) type of bus engine, fuel, and other
emission control devices used; (3) number of buses; (4)
funding sources; (5) costs and benefits; (6) and lessons
learned. We’ll post this information on our website and
include it in future editions of the Clean Bus Update! Send
this information to
Shefali Ranganathan
at sranganathan@eesi.org
or call 202-662-1883. More information can be mailed to
122 C St.,
NW, Suite 630
,
Washington
,
DC
20001
.
The
Clean Bus Update is a monthly periodical providing an
overview of current program and policy activities related to
the deployment of low-polluting, energy-efficient buses in
the
United States
. Topics include
technology developments, clean vehicle deployment, energy
consumption, the environment, government policy, and public
health. The National Clean Bus Network is an informal
coalition of public and private sector organizations working
to increase the use of cleaner bus technologies and fuels.
The National Clean Bus Network is a free
resource to all clean bus stakeholders. If there are issues
we are missing and you think we should cover, please let us
know.
