National Clean Bus Network

Environmental & Energy Study Institute

May/June 2003 Clean Bus Update

The Clean Bus Update is a monthly electronic periodical that provides an overview of current program and policy activities related to the deployment of low-polluting, energy efficient buses. Topics include advanced vehicle technology issues, alternative fuels, clean air, petroleum dependence, global warming 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. Email rminjares@eesi.org or visit the www.eesi.org  for more info.

Congressional Briefing Explores Cleaner Transportation Choices

On March 13, the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) co-sponsored a Congressional briefing on Making Transportation Cleaner:  Innovations and Policy Opportunities. The panel of speakers, including Ward McCarragher, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; Ron Shipley , Pierce Transit Agency; Lee Grannis, Greater New Haven Clean Cities Coalition; Lee Slezak, U.S. Department of Energy; and Chris Zimmerman, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority discussed the deployment of low-polluting fuels and propulsion technologies in bus transit fleets and the policies that could help support such efforts. The great majority of the nation’s buses are powered by diesel which produces emissions harmful to public health and the environment, but emerging alternative fuels and technologies like biodiesel and hybrid propulsion systems promise to reduce these negative effects. Speakers highlighted the use of electric buses in New Haven, CT and natural gas buses in Tacoma, Washington that have significantly reduced emissions of particulate matter, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides compared to conventional diesel engines. The Department of Energy provided an overview of advanced vehicle testing of hybrid-propulsion systems in New York City , in addition to planned testing of fuel cell buses to occur in California . The panel agreed that electric drive systems will increase in popularity given the emissions, noise, comfort and efficiency benefits they provide, especially when integrated into a hybrid propulsion system. Ward McCarragher identified key opportunities to increase support for clean bus deployment within the reauthorization of TEA-21.  The Northeast Sustainable Energy Association collaborated with EESI to put on the briefing the day before the annual Tour de Sol, which brought cars, buses and scooters powered by cleaner fuels and vehicle technologies to Capitol Hill. The briefing notice and presentations provided at the briefing are now available online. A briefing summary will be available in the near future.

SAFETEA Proposal Eliminates Clean Bus Program but Continues R&D

The Bush Administration released its proposal for TEA-21 reauthorization, the Safe and Flexible Transportation Efficiency Act of 2003 (SAFETEA), on Wednesday, May 14. The proposal recommends a total spending level of $247 million for highway and transit programs. It proposes to cut the Clean Fuels Formula “Clean Bus” Grant Program (Section 5308) which guaranteed a minimum $100 million and a maximum $200 million annually for the purchase of buses using cleaner burning fuels and more efficient propulsion technologies, and related infrastructure. The administration argues the program is unnecessary because “40 percent of buses procured with Federal transit assistance use alternative fuels.” Statistics from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) show, however, that 80 percent of buses manufactured in 2002 were diesel-powered. The Administration also proposes to replace the Advanced Vehicle Technologies Program (Section 5506), an underfunded research and development program for advanced vehicle technologies with a Multimodal Research Program. Research into advanced heavy-duty vehicle technologies like hybrid engines, including those used for buses, would be eligible for funding, which under the proposal would come from the Highway Trust Fund at $100 million over six years.  EESI is currently conducting an analysis of this proposal to be distributed to the Clean Bus Network and Hill staff.  Anyone interested in providing input into this review, please contact Ray Minjares at rminjares@eesi.org  or 202-662-1883.

House and Senate Energy Legislation Support Clean Bus Deployment

Energy legislation currently under consideration in the House and Senate (HR 6 and S 14, respectively) include provisions that support the development and demonstration of hydrogen propulsion systems in heavy-duty vehicle applications, including transit buses. In HR 6, the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Heavy-Duty Vehicles Program (Sections 15031 to 15033) would provide a total $50 million for the funding of four fuel cell bus demonstration projects beginning in 2004. The Senate version (Section 812) would provide the same funding level for five years, but begin in 2006 and establish ten demonstration sites.

The House bill goes a bit further, establishing clean bus deployment programs for both transit and school bus fleets. Section 15022 would establish a competitive grant program through the Department of Energy’s Clean Cities Program to provide ten geographically dispersed project grants to state and local government or to metropolitan transportation authorities. Public transit or school buses would be eligible for up to $20 million per project site at a 50 percent cost match. No less than 20 percent, but no more than 25 percent of grant funding provided for under this section would go to low-sulfur diesel conversions. The House bill also establishes a National Clean School Bus Deployment program (Section 23001), a Fuel Cell School Bus Development and Demonstration Program (Section 23002) and a Diesel Retrofit Program (Section 23003). The bill authorizes $300 million for the implementation of Sections 23001 and 23002 during fiscal years 2004 to 2006. No funding limit is placed on implementation of the Diesel Retrofit Program. 

The Senate version of the energy bill also includes language similar to the CLEAR Act, which provides consumer tax credits based on a formula, for the purchase of alternative fuel vehicles – including light and heavy duty vehicles, and fueling infrastructure.  The credit is provided to consumers, and in the case of non-taxed entities (such as governments), the seller would receive the credit and be encouraged to enter into price negotiations with the buyer.  A possible amendment may be added on the floor that would allow non-taxed entities to receive the credit for transfer or sale to another entity.  The House version of the bill has a very weak version of the CLEAR Act, which provides some incentives for AFV but excludes hybrid vehicles and includes diesel.  For more information on the CLEAR Act provisions, see http://www.ngvc.org/ngv/ngvc.nsf/bytitle/CLEARACT2003.html

The House Energy Policy Act of 2003 (H.R. 6) has been passed, whereas the Senate bill is still under consideration. EESI is conducting a more detailed analysis of the clean bus provisions in both versions of the energy bill and will make this available shortly.

Harlem Children Demonstrate One of Highest Asthma Rates Ever Recorded

One in four children in central Harlem has asthma, according to preliminary findings of a study sponsored by the Harlem Hospital Center and Harlem Children’s zone, a nonprofit group. Preliminary findings of the study were double what researchers expected and demonstrate that the incidence of asthma in poor, urban areas is higher than previously believed. Dust, pollen, animal hair, air pollution and cold air contribute to the development of asthma. Moreover, Harlem, East Harlem and South Bronx are centers of diesel bus and truck traffic, significant mobile source emitters of air toxins, particulate matter and nitrogen oxides (an ozone precursor) known to increase the likelihood of contracting the disease. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has shown that fine particulate matter and oxides of nitrogen within diesel exhaust can impair lung function, contribute to asthma, decrease the body’s respiratory defense mechanisms and increase vulnerability to acute respiratory illness. Six percent of Americans have asthma and 5,000 of them die from the disease each year. The two organizations won a grant in 2001 from the Robin Hood Foundation to help the families of asthmatic children improve their quality of life. Hospital staff will screen around 2,200 children under 13 living within a 24-block area of central Harlem and publish final results thereafter. (NY Times April 19, 2003 )

Clean Air Settlement to Clean Up School Buses

Austin , Texas will receive $750,000 to retrofit school buses as part of a recent clean air settlement. Archer Daniels Midland Co. of Decatur, Ill and Alcoa Inc. of Pittsburgh , PA agreed to settle federal pollution charges with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Justice Department to spend nearly 680 million dollars in 16 states to reduce industrial air pollution and retrofit school buses with cleaner engines. Bus retrofits involve the modification of older vehicle equipment that does not meet national air quality certification standards and who’s older technology contributes to poor air quality. Other settlements recently reached by the EPA also provide funding for diesel bus retrofits. EPA announced April 21 the largest settlement with an electric power company, Virginia Electric Power Co., which agreed to provide $13.9 million to fund projects in each of five states including bus retrofitting. On March 7 EPA also finalized a settlement with Toyota Motor Co. which agreed to spend $20 million to retrofit up to 3,000 diesel fleet vehicles. View the press releases here.

EPA Proposes New Rules to Reduce Emissions from Off-Road Diesel Engines

The Environmental Protection Agency proposed new rules April 16 to reduce the sulfur content of diesel fuel consumed by off-road engines including construction, farm and other industrial equipment. The sulfur content of fuel used by these engines is currently 3,400 parts per million (ppm), but the proposed rules would reduce this to 500 ppm beginning in 2007 and then to 15 ppm in 2010. Sulfur contributes to the formation of acid rain, but also interferes with after-treatment devices installed on vehicles to reduce emissions like particulate matter and nitrogen oxides. As a result of the rule, off-road engines for the first time will be fitted with emission control equipment. The proposal will be open to public comment until August 20. In 2001, similar rules affecting on-road diesel fuel were established to reduce sulfur content from 500 ppm to 15 ppm by mid-2006 and require engine manufacturers to begin phasing in production of cleaner diesel engines between 2007 and 2010. View the new rules here.

New York City Becomes Newest Member of Federal Clean Cities Program

The Department of Energy designated New York City as the newest member of the Clean Cities Program. This program supports public and private partnerships that deploy alternative fuel partnerships and supporting infrastructure. New York City has been a leader in the deployment of cleaner buses, committing to the demonstration and purchase of a hybrid-electric bus fleet, the operation of natural gas buses, and the installation of after-treatment devices. Clean cities coalitions are the foremost network of local clean vehicle deployment partnerships in the country. The first clean city was designated in 1993 and has since been joined by more than eighty clean city coalitions. Visit http://www.ccities.doe.gov/ to learn more.

The Clean Bus Update was written by Ray Minjares and edited by Naomi Friedman .  For questions or comments about this newsletter or any of the topics it covers, please send an email to rminjares@eesi.org addressed to Ray Minjares at the Environmental and Energy Study Institute.