June 2, 2006
To Replace Buses Up to 47 Years Old
The Southland’s clean air agency today approved nearly $3 million to
replace 15 of the region’s oldest diesel school buses with new,
clean-burning natural gas-powered buses.
“Health studies continue to show the importance of reducing children’s
exposure to air pollution and particularly harmful diesel exhaust,” said
William Burke, Ed.D., Governing Board Chairman of the South Coast Air
Quality Management District. “Today’s action puts us one step closer to our
goal of replacing all dirty diesel school buses in the Southland with
cleaner technology.”
The South Coast Air Quality Management District’s Governing Board
approved the funding today to purchase new compressed natural gas (CNG)
powered buses as well as CNG fueling stations for five school districts (see
following list). The program is funded by $2.1 million from the state and
$857,750 from AQMD. The Legislature approved $12.5 million last year to
replace 89 of the oldest buses statewide.
|
School District |
# of Buses to be Replaced |
|
ABC Unified |
1 |
|
Azusa Unified |
2 |
|
Downey Unified |
2 |
|
Fontana Unified |
8 |
|
Huntington Beach City |
2 |
Since 2000, AQMD’s Board has become a national leader in adopting
policies and providing incentives to replace dirty diesel school buses with
alternative fuel models, including:
- Adoption in 2001 of Rule 1195, requiring that school districts
purchase alternative fuel buses, when they replace older ones, if outside
funding is available;
- Approval of $55.8 million to date to replace 357 older diesel buses
with 271 new CNG and 86 lower-emitting diesel buses, and retrofitted more
than 2,100 buses with particulate traps; and
- Soliciting applications for $14 million in funding to replace older
buses and $5.45 million to retrofit additional buses with particulate
traps. Applications are due by July 7 and incentives are expected to be
awarded this fall.
In other action today, AQMD’s Board:
- Approved $640,000 in funding to modify the hydrogen fueling station at
SunLine Transit in the Coachella Valley to meet fueling needs for their
expanding hydrogen fleet. SunLine is currently the only station in the
Southland that provides hydrogen fueling for transit buses; and
- Conducted a public hearing and continued until June 9 a final vote on
adopting a proposed $119.1 million budget for the fiscal year 2006-07 and
increasing fees to recover costs for AQMD’s regulatory programs. Staff
presented two options for the fee increase:
- A 10 percent increase for permit processing, annual permit renewal
and emission fees for each of the next three years, through fiscal year
2008-09. In addition, a 3.65 percent increase for all other fees
(source testing, lab analyses, etc.) for fiscal year 2006-07 only; or
- A 3.65 percent across-the-board increase for all fee categories for
fiscal year 2006-07.
AQMD is the air pollution control agency for Orange County and major
portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
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