Clean Diesel Pushed for School Buses in California

In an open letter to South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), the Diesel Technology Forum (DTF) is pressing for the inclusion of clean diesel technology as an option for future school bus purchases in southern California school districts. “Tremendous progress has been made in cleaning up diesel emissions that now put it virtually on par with alternative fuels, but at a far lower cost,”

FleetOwner Staff

April 20, 2001

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“Tremendous progress has been made in cleaning up diesel emissions that now put it virtually on par with alternative fuels, but at a far lower cost,” said the DTF’s executive director Allen Schaeffer. “It seems counter-intuitive that SCAQMD would have invested so much over the years in cleaning up diesel emissions and working on incentive and other programs only to effectively slam the door shut on this dramatically improved technology at this critical time.”

The SCAQMD Board is slated to vote at its hearing today on a measure that would effectively dictate that the majority of school districts in the region purchase only natural-gas powered buses in the future.

Along with other groups including school districts and coalitions, the DTF is questioning SCAQMD's promises that “other state funding – not classroom dollars” will be available to offset what DTF comnsiders to be far-higher costs for CNG buses and new refueling stations.