San Francisco Ramps Up Biodiesel Use

The City of San Francisco continues to lead the way in alternative fuel use.  Mayor Gavin Newsom recently signed an Executive Directive to accelerate the pace of biodiesel use in city fleets.  The city has been a long term user of a B20 biodiesel blend (80 percent petroleum diesel, 20 percent biodiesel) with the San Francisco Airport , Department of Public Works, MUNI buses, San Francisco Zoo, and ferries using the fuel successfully. 

The directive calls for fleet managers to identify vehicles that can be quickly transitioned to B20 use and make the necessary preparations for this transition.  All diesel-using departments are required to begin using biodiesel as soon as feasible with the following targets – 25 percent use of B20 by March 31, 2007 and 100 percent use by December 31, 2007.  San Francisco uses about 8 million gallons of diesel a year, so the shift to B20 will result in significant petroleum displacement and emissions reduction.  In related news, the San Francisco Fire Department has announced a pilot program to test B20 in two fire trucks, six engines and one ambulance.  The pilot will be conducted in the southeastern part of the city which struggles with poor air quality.  The Fire Department hopes to expand biodiesel use pending the successful completion of the pilot.

To read more about Mayor Newsom’s Executive Directive, please see: http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/news_in_brief/biodiesel_060519.shtml

  New Orders Strengthen Transit Bus Manufacturers

New Flyer Industries, a leading manufacturer of heavy-duty transit buses in the United States , has secured orders for 416 buses totaling $183 million.   Diesel, diesel-electric hybrids, compressed natural gas (CNG) buses and electric trolley propulsion systems are part of the order.   Notable clean bus purchases include 15 40-foot CNG buses for Pierce Transit in Tacoma , Washington , and 10 40-foot diesel-electric hybrid buses for the Maryland Transit Administration in Baltimore .  SEPTA in Philadelphia opted for 38 40-foot electric trolleys.  New Flyer is expected to increase its production rate by 30 percent, the bulk of which will occur in its U.S. manufacturing facilities.

In related news, Cummins Westport has received orders for 374 CNG buses from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) and Russian Buses of Moscow.   LA Metro chose to exercise its options for 96 additional 60-foot buses powered with 320-hp L Gas Plus engines to add to its existing fleet of 200 CNG buses.  The Russian order of 278 C Gas Plus CNG engines will be fitted in LiAZ buses manufactured by Russian Buses, the largest manufacturer of buses in Russia .

In Australia , the State Transit Authority in New South Wales , Australia , has ordered 225 O500LE Mercedes-Benz CNG-powered buses manufactured by DaimlerChrysler.  The buses will be supplied over a period of five years.  The transit agency operates a total of 1,914 buses and plans to replace more than quarter of its fleet with cleaner buses.

 China Testing Hybrid Buses

Efforts are underway to test two prototype hybrid buses in the Chinese cities of Shanghai and Beijing in time for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and 2010 Shanghai World Expo.  Chinese bus company Beiqi Foton has partnered with U.S. based Eaton Corporation to test two buses equipped with Eaton’s parallel hybrid drivetrain.   Eaton Corporation manufactures hybrid drive trains for heavy-duty trucks currently operating in FedEx Express, UPS and 14 other public fleets across the country.  The hybrid system consists of an Eaton automated transmission, an advanced motor, high power battery pack, and system controller, all coupled with a Cummins ISBe 5.0L Euro III Engine.  The first bus went into testing early in March and has accumulated 2,300 miles with no hybrid drivetrain reliability issues.  The bus began field testing in May and was showcased at a city bus demonstration event in Beijing .  The second 40-ft bus will begin testing in August 2006.  

To find out more about these hybrid buses, please visit:
http://www.electricdrive.org/index.php?tg=articles&idx=More&topics=64&article=1047

  Green Locomotives Help Clean Up Texas Railroads

Dow Chemical Company is doing its part to reduce emissions from rail transport.  Since November 2005, in partnership with the Texas Emissions Reduction Program (TERP) and switching contractor RailServe, Dow has been operating five 1000-horsepower (hp) diesel-electric hybrid “Green Kids” locomotives at its Freeport, Texas facility.  The hybrids have helped improve fuel economy 30-50 percent.  In addition, Dow will receive two 2000-hp “Green Goat” locomotives by March 2007.  The locomotives, which are used as switchers or to transport shipments inside the facility, were converted to hybrids by adding batteries, a generator and small diesel engine.  

To find out more about these hybrid locomotives, please visit:
http://www.railpower.com/products_hl_ggseries.html

  New Holland Green Lights B20

New Holland, a leading manufacturer of agricultural and utility equipment has announced its approval of the use of up to a B20 biodiesel blend (80 percent petroleum diesel, 20 percent biodiesel) in its equipment.  New Holland, a part of CNH (Case New Holland), and a world leader in agricultural, utility and construction equipment, made the announcement on May 17, 2006.   “Biodiesel is the future,” said Dennis D. Recker, Vice President of New Holland Agricultural Business in North America .  “As the availability of fossil fuels becomes a greater problem, we need to look at alternatives.  But they must also be cleaner, environmentally-friendly alternatives.  New Holland is renowned for its innovation and forward-thinking approach, and we are committed to bringing our customers the latest technology and the benefits it brings,” said Recker.  New Holland has promised to provide technical advice and maintenance programs related to the use of biodiesel through its extensive network of more than 1,200 dealers.   New Holland is the first major manufacturer to specifically endorse the use of B20 in its equipment.  Its endorsement paves the way for other manufacturers to follow suit, helping to increase confidence levels of users looking to switch to biodiesel.

For more information on New Holland’s announcement, please see:
http://www.newhollandmediakit.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=newsreleases.DisplayNewsReleases&NewsID=166

 EPA Releases Model State Idling Law

In May, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a model idling law designed to provide guidance to states and local communities seeking to address idling.  The idling guidance was developed based on stakeholder input from five public workshops organized across the country during 2005.  The workshops were held in Baltimore , Atlanta , Chicago , San Francisco and Hartford with the goal of developing a model idling law to foster better compliance and raise awareness about the needs of various stakeholders (truckers, environmental groups, states, etc.).  The model law was developed in response to concerns about the inconsistency of state and local idling laws.  Key elements of the model idling law include limiting idling to less than five minutes with exemptions allowed during cold weather.   Loading and unloading vehicles are not allowed to idle for more than 30 minutes.   The law allows trucks to idle at rest stops until a state financial assistance program for idle reduction technologies is established.

For states, reducing idling translates into substantial reductions of air pollutants, while for the trucking industry, reducing idling results in considerable fuel savings.  According to EPA studies, long duration truck idling annually consumes more than one billion gallons of diesel fuel at considerable costs to the trucking industry.  As a result, truck idling annually emits more than 11 million tons of carbon dioxide and more than 180,000 tons of nitrogen oxides, as well as fine particulate matter and other harmful air toxics. 

EPA’s model idling law is available at:
http://www.epa.gov/smartway/documents/420s06001.pdf

International Effort Drives Use Of Ethanol Buses

Swedish bus manufacturer Scania has announced plans to supply ethanol-powered buses for demonstration in cities worldwide.  The vehicles will be supplied for use in the BEST (BioEthanol for Sustainable Transport) consortium’s field trials.  The consortium, founded by the Stockholm Public Transport Company and partially funded by the European Union, aims to support the large-scale deployment and use of ethanol-fueled vehicles.  Initial field trials of the ethanol-powered bus will be carried out in La Spezia , Italy .  Three Scania OmniLink buses will join La Spezia ATC’s fleet of 250 buses in September 2006.   The field trials will be expanded to other cities including Stockholm , Rotterdam , Dublin , Madrid , Basque Provinces ( Spain ), Nanyang ( China ) and São Paulo (Brazil ).

Scania has been a longtime investor in alternative fuels and technologies, supplying over 600 ethanol-powered buses to public transportation agencies in Europe for the past 15 years.  In addition to ethanol-powered buses, Scania has engineered its diesel engines to operate on 100 percent biodiesel (B100), and recently supplied Iceland’s Straeto Company with two buses fueled by bio-methane.  Straeto services Iceland ’s capital Reykjavik and willl fuel the buses with methane from an area landfill site.

To read more about Scania’s ethanol buses, please see: http://www.scania.com/news/Press_releases/N06013EN.asp#

House Funds Clean Diesel Program $27 Million Below Administration Request

On May 18, 2006,  the House voted 293-128 to pass the 2007 appropriations bill for the Department of Interior, Environment and related agencies, which includes cuts for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Diesel Initiative. Overall, the EPA appropriation is $7.56 billion, $55 million less than fiscal year 2006.  However, the authorized funding is $254 million higher than the Administration’s budget request.  EPA’s Clean Diesel Initiative, which funds diesel emissions reductions in school buses, freight, construction and the ports sector, was funded at $23 million, a $27 million cut from the Administration’s request of $50 million!  This initiative, the Diesel Emissions Reduction Program, is authorized at $200 million a year in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT).  The program may receive a funding boost in the Senate where key Republicans and Democrats including Senator George Voinovich (R-OH) and Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) have championed the initiative.   Senator Voinovich was instrumental in including the Diesel Emissions Reduction Program in EPACT 2005. 

To view this appropriations bill, please visit:
http://thomas.loc.gov/ (Type in HR 5386)

Exposure To High Traffic Areas Increases Children’s Asthma Risk

Children living in high traffic areas are more susceptible to asthma symptoms according to researchers at the Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California .  The study, reported in the May issue of Environmental Health Perspectives, tracked the respiratory health of 5,314 children aged between five and seven.  Researchers found that children living within 75 meters of a major road (about the length of a city block) were 1.5 times more likely to experience symptoms associated with asthma or wheezing when compared to children living further away (300 meters or more).  Children with no prior history of asthma were 2.5 times more likely to experience asthma symptoms if they were exposed to higher traffic areas before age 2, indicating that cumulative exposure to traffic heightens susceptibility to respiratory illnesses.   The new findings are part of the 13-year long Children’s Health Study which has tracked air pollution impacts on communities in Southern California .  Last year, Dr. James Gauderman, a lead researcher for the study, spoke on the impact of air pollution on lung development in children at EESI’s briefing “The Crisis in Children’s Environmental Health”. 

For more information on these new research findings, please see:
http://www.ehponline.org/docs/2006/114-5/ss.html#thef

Funding Available for School Buses in the Midwest

More than a million dollars in grant funding is available for projects to reduce diesel emissions through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Region 5 Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative (MCDI).  A total of $464,320 is available for the retrofit or replacement of school buses while the remaining $575,000 is available for other diesel emission reduction projects that demonstrate effective emissions control technologies and strategies.  EPA Region 5 includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.   MCDI is a voluntary partnership of federal, state and local agencies along with communities, non-profits and companies working to reduce diesel emissions in the Midwest region. 

Submissions are due by June 16, 2006.  Please submit questions by email to Sharleen Getschman (getschman.sharleen@epa.gov).  EPA anticipates making 2-10 awards of at least $50,000.  Projects require a five percent cost share.

More information about the program and submission details is available at:
http://www.epa.gov/midwestcleandiesel/grants/rfp.htm

Clean Bus Fleet Helps Protect Yosemite National Park

In 2005, Yosemite National Park became the first U.S. national park to operate a hybrid electric bus fleet when it placed into full-time service 18 40-foot diesel-electric hybrid buses.  The introduction of the buses, coupled with an extensive public education effort to increase awareness about this advanced technology, demonstrates Yosemite National Park ’s ongoing commitment to environmental responsibility while serving as a model for cleaner transportation options in national parks.

In 1999, Yosemite National Park began research and evaluation of alternative fuel buses to replace its aging shuttle fleet.  The park decided that the replacement fleet should be the best available technology in meeting certain criteria including low noise levels, reduced emissions, cost effectiveness and the use of clean fuels.  Seven classes of fuel or propulsion systems were reviewed and evaluated in partnership with the Department of Transportation, Volpe Center, Advanced Transportation Technology Institute, the Federal Transit Administration and two large municipal transit operators. These included: alcohol (methanol and ethanol); battery electric; emissions-controlled diesel (including biodiesel); gaseous fuels like natural gas; gasoline; hybrid electric; and hydrogen fuel cell technology.  Based on the evaluation, the park decided to replace the existing fleet with diesel-electric hybrid buses because hybrid technology was found to be highly reliable and cost-effective technology while providing lowered emissions, decreased fuel consumption and reduced noise levels – all critical requirements for a shuttle service operating in a national park. 

Eighteen 40-foot Gillig Corporation manufactured buses equipped with GM Allison’s hybrid propulsion system were purchased as the replacement.  With the addition of the hybrid buses, the park has seen a 90 percent reduction in particulate matter emissions and 60 percent reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions from the fleet.  The noise levels have been reduced by 70 percent while fuel economy has increased by more than 50 percent, resulting in a reduction of 12,500 gallons of petroleum consumption per year.  The reduction of emissions and noise levels are especially important, given that these buses operate in a national park serving almost 1,050 passengers per hour, 15 hours a day year-round.

The introduction of the hybrid buses has served as an opportunity for Yosemite National Park to educate the public about cleaner transportation efforts and advanced technology applications in the park.  During summer 2005, National Park Service officials presented evening campfire programs on the history of transportation in Yosemite National Park , with a special focus on the hybrid buses and their environmental benefits.  In addition, park rangers frequently talk about the benefits of the hybrid buses at the Yosemite Visitor Center in Yosemite Valley and the Visitor Center in Wawona.  Rangers educate visitors about the technology of the buses, their environmental benefits, and how they fit into a "greener" Yosemite National Park image. The visitor center receives more than 2 million visitors per year.

Yosemite National Park has used the introduction of the hybrid buses as a “teachable moment” for students at the Yosemite Valley Elementary School .  Park rangers have helped educate students about alternative forms of transportation including the hybrid buses.  The educational component has allowed young people the opportunity to experience this technology and its benefits first-hand, providing an enhanced learning experience.

The park has also used the opportunity to broadly disseminate information about these buses in dozens of newspapers and magazines and on local and national television.  Print ads featuring the hybrid buses have appeared in publications like The New Yorker, Smithsonian, Vanity Fair, and National Geographic, creating the opportunity for further public education on the environmental benefits of the hybrid buses. 

Yosemite National Park was recognized as an EESI National Clean Bus Leader for its investment in hybrid technology through a multi-faceted demonstration program.  By focusing on evaluation and public outreach and education, Yosemite National Park has made a commitment to stimulate public interest in hybrid technology.  This strategy is an important component of the successful integration of new technologies and operating practices and is one that is often undervalued.  Yosemite National Park has demonstrated its leadership through its commitment to cleaner, advanced transportation options in a national park while serving as an example for others to follow.

Clean Technologies Forum Workshop

June 8th, 2006
9:00 am to 3:00 pm
KVIE OSE Community Room,
2595 Capitol Oaks Drive , Sacramento , CA

The Clean Technologies Forum Workshop sponsored by Greater Sacramento Regional Clean Air Coalition, EPA SmartWay, Cascade Sierra Solutions, and the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District will showcase technologies to reduce idling and improve air quality.  RSVP by June 2 at (916) 874-6267 or jchan@airquality.org

For further details, please see:
http://www.westcoastdiesel.org/files/calendar/clean-tech-forum.pdf

CARB Zero Emission Bus Workshop

June 21, 2006, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
South Coast Air Quality Management District
Room CC2, 21865 Copley Blvd.
Diamond Bar , California

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) will host a public workshop to discuss the status of the Zero Emission Bus (ZBus) technology and the staff’s proposed regulatory changes. Previous workshops were held in Sacramento on October 27, 2005 and April 14, 2006, and in El Monte on January 27, 2006.

In February 2000, CARB established a fleet rule for transit agencies, more stringent emission standards for new urban bus engines, and adopted ZBus demonstration and ZBus acquisition requirements as part of the fleet rule.  In addition, CARB directed staff to review ZBus technology and the feasibility of implementing the ZBus purchase provisions of the requirements.  The ZBus purchase requirement implementation date depends on the compliance path selected by transit agencies and is only applicable to larger transit agencies (those with more than 200 buses).  For transit agencies on the diesel fuel path, a 15 percent aggregate total of all bus acquisitions from model years 2008 through 2015 must be ZBuses.  For transit agencies on the alternative fuel path, the ZBus acquisition requirement starts with model year 2010 and runs through model year 2015.  Transit agencies on the diesel path are required to submit a compliance plan by January 2007, while transit agencies on the alternative fuel path must submit a compliance plan by January 2009.

At an April 14, 2006 workshop, staff presented ZBus phase-in strategies, draft regulatory language and solicited input from the industry.  After reviewing this information, staff is preparing to modify the regulation at the September 2006 Board hearing.  The upcoming workshop has been scheduled to provide an overview of proposed changes and to receive additional public comment.

For more details on this workshop, please see:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/bus/zeb/meetings/062106/wsnot062106.pdf

Documents from the April 14, 2006 workshop are located at: www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/bus/zeb/meetings/meetings.htm.

American Public Transportation Association
Sustainability and Public Transportation Workshop

July 16-18, 2006
Marriott Portland Downtown Waterfront
Portland , Oregon

The workshop will explore best practices in sustainable public transportation with sessions on practical, real-world strategies as well as hands-on technical tours by Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (Tri-Met).  Attendees will learn how transit systems can save money and improve efficiency, lessen environmental impacts and promote land use strategies that encourage public transit use.

For more information and to register, please see:
http://www.apta.com/conferences_calendar/sustainable/index.cfm

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 National Clean Bus Update is sponsored by the State Energy Office, North Carolina Department of Administration and the U.S Department of Energy, with State Energy Program funds, in cooperation with North Carolina State University Industrial Extension Service. However, any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of either the State Energy Office, North Carolina Department of Administration, or the U.S Department of Energy.
The National 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.

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute is a non-profit organization established in 1984 by a bipartisan, bicameral group of members of Congress to provide timely information on energy and environmental policy issues to policymakers and stakeholders and develop innovative policy solutions that set us on a cleaner, more secure and sustainable energy path .  EESI's  valuable  work in energy, climate change, agriculture, transportation and smart growth is made possible through financial support from people like you. 

Your tax deductible contribution will help EESI develop innovative policy solutions for a cleaner, safer, healthier world. For more information, go to our website or contact Shefali Ranganathan at sranganathan@eesi.org or call 202-662-1883.
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