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Cleaning Up School Bus Fleets: Less Fumes, Same Zoom…

Cleaning Up School Bus Fleets: Less Fumes, Same Zoom…. A presentation of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Clean School Bus Coalition. Eric Cheung, Clean Air Council Staff Attorney/ Coordinator Philadelphia Diesel Difference Program

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Cleaning Up School Bus Fleets: Less Fumes, Same Zoom…

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  1. Cleaning Up School Bus Fleets: Less Fumes,Same Zoom… A presentation of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Clean School Bus Coalition. Eric Cheung, Clean Air Council Staff Attorney/ Coordinator Philadelphia Diesel Difference Program Presentation to the PA Association of School Business Officials 2004 Transportation Conference October 21, 2004

  2. Yellow Buses in PA:ZOOMING ALONG • School buses provide an important service for PA residents • 25,823 school buses in operation statewide • 1,513,603 students transported to school • 346,477,854 annual miles traveled • 37,222 school bus drivers employed (PA School Bus Association) • Environmental benefits • Community-based transportation - not required under PA law. • Approximately 80% of all public school students are transported by buses (School Bus Information Council) • “B” Grade/”Ahead of the Curve” (Union of Concerned Scientists) • 80% of bus PA buses are relatively new (1990s) (UCS) • Other benefits • Cost per pupil of public expense $491 (SBIC) • PA Student fatalities from 1995 – 2000: 5 (all in 1995/1996) (PSBA)

  3. Diesel Pollution: THE FUMES • Health risk to children • Exacerbates chronic respiratory diseases, bronchitis, asthma • Contains known carcinogens • Particularly harmful to developing lungs and can even inhibit lung capacity • Contributor to poor air quality • Diesel trucks and buses are responsible for two-thirds of all particulates, and 40% NOx, which is a smog precursor, from highway vehicles in PA. (US EPA) • The Philadelphia region has consistently been in violation of the federal health standards for smog and will be designated as being in violation of the new fine particulate standard. • Philadelphia area statistics concerning diesel particulates (from 1999) • 260 premature deaths • 3,700 asthma attacks (economic cost: $160,000) • 32,000 missed days of work (economic cost: ($4.4 million in lost wages)

  4. Introducing The Southeastern PA Clean School Bus Coalition • Promoting ways and providing assistance to reduce air pollution from school buses. • Coalition participants: • Greater Philadelphia Clean Cities Program • Energy Cooperative of Pennsylvania • Lower Merion School District • Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission • PennFuture • PA Department of Environmental Protection • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency • Philadelphia Air Management Services • School District of Philadelphia • Philadelphia Diesel Difference • Clean Air Council • Johnson Matthey • Rentar Environmental Solutions

  5. Philadelphia Diesel Difference • Promotes voluntary Clean Diesel technologies and strategies in order to improve air quality in the Greater Philadelphia region. • Coordinator: Clean Air Council/Philadelphia Air ManagementServices • For more information:Eric Cheung215-567-4004 ext. 237www.cleanair.org/dieseldifference

  6. Greater Philadelphia Clean Cities Program • Promotes alternative fuel vehiclesand other petroleum-displacingmeasures to improve air quality,promote economic development,and reduce imported oil. • Coordinator: Energy CooperativeOf Pennsylvania • For more information:Nathalie Shapiro(215) 413-2122http://www.phillycleancities.org/

  7. New Diesel Regulations • Mid-2006: Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) required for all on-road diesel vehicles • 2007: Original equipment manufacturers produce engines with cleaner exhaust systems • Combined: New regulations will result in at least 90% reduction of particulates and 95% reduction in NOx. But until then…

  8. Voluntary Clean Options!!!!!! For Diesel Engine Vehicles, Including School Buses

  9. Clean Option #1: Diesel Retrofits/After-Treatment Devices • Diesel Particulate Filters + ULSD • Diesel Oxidation Catalysts • Repower or Replace • Success Stories: • Wissahickon • North Penn • Upper Darby • West Chester School District (through Krapf Bus Company) • North Allegheny County • General McLane

  10. Clean Option #2: Cleaner Burning Diesel Fuel • Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) • Sulfur content at or less than 15 ppm • Can reduce particulates by 5 – 9% alone. • Diesel Particulate Filters must use ULSD • Incremental cost 8 to 25 cents more per gallon • Emulsified Diesel • Water blend • Can see 50% reduction in particulates • Incremental cost of 20 cents more per gallon • Other Additives • Check to be sure technology has been verified

  11. Clean Option #3: Idling Reduction • Idling Reduction Technologies • Auxiliary Power Units • Direct-Fired Heaters • Automatic Engine Idle • Idling Reduction Laws • Philadelphia • Allegheny County (2004) • Voluntary Idle Reduction • Clean Air Council Program • School district policies

  12. Clean Option #4: Alternatively Fueled Buses • Compressed Natural Gas • Propane • Biodiesel • Success Stories: • Lower Merion School District (CNG) • Medford Township School District (Biodiesel) • Springfield Township School District (Methanol) • Great Valley School District (Biodiesel pilot project)

  13. Biodiesel • Made from vegetable oil (commonly soy or recycled restaurant grease) • B20 blend results in 10-15% particulate reductions, but a slight NOx increase • Success Stories: PA Turnpike Commission, Valley Forge National Park, Willow Grove Naval Air Base • 25 – 30 cent per gallon increase • Suppliers: • EnergyCooperative of Pennsylvania • World Energy

  14. Funding Opportunities • Clean Buses For Kids Program (www.cleanbusesforkids.com) • $20 Million for Diesel Retrofits • Possibility of Biodiesel/ULSD blend • Only School Districts who own/operate their fleet can participate • We will provide assistance to Southeastern PA fleets • U.S. EPA – Clean School Bus USA - $50 Million expected • U.S. DOE/Greater Philadelphia Clean Cities – State Energy Program Special Projects • PA DEP – AFIG • Philadelphia Diesel Difference – Adopt-A-School Bus

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