Fueling Up - Environmentally Safe Alternatives For School Vehicles

A presentation of the Clean Yellow Bus Association of Southeastern PAEric Cheung, Senior AttorneyClean Air Council/ Coordinator Philadelphia Diesel Difference ProgramPresentation to the PA Association of School Business Officials50th Anniversary Conference and ExhibitsMarch 10, 2005

Yellow Buses in PA:• 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)

Diesel Pollution:• Health risk to children

– Exacerbates chronic respiratory diseases, bronchitis, asthma– Contains known carcinogens– Particularly harmful to developing lungs; inhibits 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 is in violation of the federal health standards for smog and fine particulates.

• 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 ($4.4 million in lost wages)

Introducing The Clean Yellow Bus Association of Southeastern PA

• 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

• Philadelphia Diesel Difference

• Clean Air Council

• Johnson Matthey

• Rentar Environmental Solutions

•Krapf Bus Co.

•Sprague Energy

• PennFuture

• PA Department of Environmental Protection

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

• Philadelphia Air Management Services

• School District of Philadelphia

Philadelphia Diesel Difference

• “[A] coalition of diverse partners with a mutual interest in reducing air pollution from diesel engines in the greater Philadelphia area through voluntary programs”

• Coordinator: Clean Air Council

• Chair: Philadelphia Air ManagementServices

• For more information:Eric Cheung215-567-4004 ext. 237www.cleanair.org/dieseldifference

Philadelphia Diesel Difference – Members

• Working Group - Coalition of public, private and nonprofit partners– Members endorse Diesel Difference

Chapter– Monthly meetings– Meeting minutes and monthly

presentation available on website• Executive Committee – DVRPC,

Philadelphia Health Department, Philadelphia Managing Office, Clean Air Council, Amtrak, PA DEP, US EPA

• Subcommittees – address specific topics of interest to Diesel Difference stakeholders – Technical– Criteria– Corporate Sponsor

Philadelphia Diesel Difference - Services• Technical support• Information clearinghouse• Recognition Program – for fleets that

successfully complete clean diesel project

• Website – comprehensive regional resource on clean diesel technologies and strategies – www.cleanair.org/dieseldifference

• Quarterly Newsletter• Adopt-A-School Bus• Latest funding information• Fleet outreach/assessments• Community events

Greater Philadelphia Clean Cities Program

• “[T]he mission of the Clean Cities Program is to advance the economic, environmental, and energy security of the United States by supporting local decisions to adopt practices that contribute to reduced petroleum consumption in the transportation sector.”

• Coordinator: Energy CooperativeAssociation Of Pennsylvania

• Promotes alternative fuel vehicles, idle reduction technologies, fuel economy, fuel blends and hybrids

•For more information:Nathalie Shapiro(215) 413-2122http://www.phillycleancities.org/

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…

Voluntary Clean Options!!!!!!

For Diesel Engine Vehicles, Including School Buses

Clean Option #1: Diesel Retrofits/After-Treatment

Devices• Diesel Particulate Filters + ULSD

– Cost: $6,000 - $10,000– 60% reduction in pollution (DPF

alone)– Up to 90% with ULSD

• Diesel Oxidation Catalysts– Cost: $600 - $2,000– 20 – 50% reduction in pollution

• EPA/CARB – verified technologies• Repower or Replace

Clean Option #1: Success Stories

• Wissahickon • North Penn

(in progress)• Upper Darby

(in progress)• North Allegheny

County• General McLane• Unionville –

Chadds Ford(in progress)

• West Chester School District (through Krapf Bus Company)

• Upper Moreland(in progress)

• Garnet Valley(in progress)

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

Clean Option #3: Idling Reduction

• Idling Reduction Technologies– Auxiliary Power Units– Direct-Fired Heaters– Automatic Engine Idle– Shore Power Electrified Truck

Stop– Advanced Electrified Truck

Stop• Success Stories (both in progress):

– Advanced Electrified Truck Stop in Carlisle

– Amtrak Automatic Engine Start Stop For Locomotives

• Idling Reduction Laws– Philadelphia– Allegheny County (2004)

Clean Option #3: Idling Reduction – Anti-Idling

Policies• PA State School Bus Anti-Idling Campaign – Clean Air Council Program– Encourage all PA school districts to

implement school bus anti-idling policies

– Can be either Board Resolution or part of bus operations handbook

• Statewide Stakeholder Group– Includes PA DEP, PASBO, PA Bus

Association, PA State Educators Assoc., Pupil Transportation Association of PA

• Success Stories:– Lower Merion– North Penn– Unionville – Chadds Ford

•For more information:Aaron Firestone(215) 567-4004 x 273http://www.cleanair.org

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)

Biodiesel• Made from vegetable oil (commonly soy or recycled

restaurant grease)• B20 blend results in 10-15% particulate reductions, but a

possible slight NOx increase• Success Stories: PA Turnpike Commission, Valley Forge

National Park, Willow Grove Naval Air Base

•20 – 25 cent per gallon increase (but new tax incentives have come out)

•Suppliers:

–Energy Cooperative Association of PA

–World Energy

Funding Opportunities• Clean Buses For Kids Program

– Program closed as of November, 2004

– 7 school districts were awarded funding in PA: Canon-McMillan, Charleroi, Fort LeBoeuf, Garnet Valley, Upper Moreland, Unionville-Chadds Ford, West Shore

• U.S. EPA – Clean School Bus USA - $7.5 Million expected this Spring

• U.S. DOE/Greater Philadelphia Clean Cities – State Energy Program Special Projects – Money available now for AFV buses, AFV fueling stations, and hybrid diesel buses

• PA DEP – AFIG• PA DEP – Small Business Advantage

Grant –heaters• Philadelphia Diesel Difference – Adopt-

A-School Bus • CMAQ – through your MPO