Lung Health News, Fall 2000 / Winter 2001
American Lung Associations around the state are working with their local transit districts to encourage the replacement of old smoke-spewing diesel buses with lower-polluting buses. Some transit districts like Los Angeles and Fresno have already decided to replace diesel buses with natural gas, thanks in part to the American Lung Association and other environmental groups who voiced their support for lower-polluting transit buses not powered by diesel.
Unfortunately, transit districts in California can still purchase diesel buses. The California Air Resources Board left that loophole when it passed new regulations last February requiring transit agencies to purchase lower-polluting vehicles by 2010, which could include natural gas or some other lower-polluting fuel as well as those powered by newer, less-polluting diesel technology. By allowing transit agencies to continue purchasing diesel, it means less reduction in the cancer-causing byproducts of diesel exhaust, which have been classified as toxic air contaminants by the Air Resources Board.
The 2000-2001 State budget approved by Governor Gray Davis includes $50 million for the Carl Moyer Program to subsidize the cost of purchasing lower-emitting and alternatively fueled buses and trucks, and $50 million for reduced-emission school buses.
