Cleaner-Fueled Vehicles Hit City Streets
Cleaner-fueled vehicles powered by electricity and natural gas are not science fiction. They are in cities across California helping reduce emissions and smog.
The American Lung Association of California’s Clean Fleets Program is working to make cleaner-fueled vehicles commercially successful in California by urging local governments and other public and private fleets to buy zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) or the next cleanest vehicle available. This effort would not be possible without the generous support of The Energy Foundation.
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"Creating long-lasting public policy will ensure the health of our community."
Henry Perea
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"Our poor air quality has had a powerful and lasting impact on our lives," says Councilman Henry Perea, who spearheaded a successful effort in Fresno to pass a zero emission vehicle ordinance. Fresno was the second city in California to pass such an ordinance and the first one to have an active Clean Air Advisory Committee.
"Creating long-lasting public policy will ensure the health of our community," says Perea, who was honored for his role as a clean air advocate with the American Lung Association of California’s Clean Air Award.
The American Lung Association of Central California worked with Perea and others through the Clean Fleets Program. Since that first clean air policy was passed in Fresno, about 40 mayors from Central Valley cities have joined forces and pledged to reduce emissions and protect public health in their communities.
The Central Valley has some of the worst air pollution in the country and one of the highest asthma rates. Air pollution is a major contributor to lung diseases such as asthma and emphysema.
Cities Adopt Cleaner Transportation Policies
More than 30 cities and counties in California have adopted cleaner transportation policies, resolving to buy cleaner-fueled cars, vans, buses and trucks. It seems to be working in big and small cities.
San Francisco passed a cleaner fleets ordinance and the Transportation Authority has already purchased more than 500 cleaner-fueled cars and vans, including electric, natural gas and hybrid electric. In addition, the MUNI district will purchase 30 electric buses, which are currently being used successfully in Santa Barbara.
Silicon Valley cities also want to help improve air quality. While only the town of Los Gatos has actually passed a resolution, several cities are already purchasing cleaner-fueled vehicles, including Cupertino, Santa Clara, Los Altos, Gilroy, Saratoga, San Jose, and Palo Alto. In the East Bay, Contra Costa County has passed a cleaner transportation resolution.
North of San Francisco, 13 cities in Humboldt, Lake, Marin, and Sonoma counties have passed resolutions, including Arcata, Belvedere, Cotai, Eureka, Fairfax, Lakeport, Mill Valley, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, San Anselmo, Sausalito, Sebastopol, and Sonoma.
In Sacramento, the Regional Transit Agency is nearing a complete turnover of its fleet to natural gas.
Central Valley cities Clovis, Fresno and Tulare have passed cleaner transportation resolutions and have purchased more than 100 cleaner-fueled vehicles between them, including 13 natural gas cars, pickups and vans; 24 electric vehicles; three natural gas solid waste trucks; and five propane vehicles. Fresno and Tulare have also purchased lower-emission police cars.
In the Inland Counties of Southern California, the cities of Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Temecula have all passed resolutions. In Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, the cities of Ojai, Point Heuneme, and Santa Paula have all passed them.
Businesses on the Right Road
Businesses around California are moving in the right direction as several large and small companies are switching their fleets to cleaner-fueled vehicles. UPS has a large fleet of natural gas trucks in California and a number of other companies are using natural gas vehicles including, Harris Ranch, Kavanaugh Coffee Company, Raley’s grocery stores, Super Shuttle, and Waste Management Inc.
The American Lung Association is trying to educate businesses about the benefits of using cleaner-fueled vehicles, including reduced fuel costs, less maintenance, and government incentive programs.
Protecting Cleaner Transportation
The American Lung Association will continue to promote cleaner transportation through its successful program funded by The Energy Foundation and to protect the state’s zero emission-vehicle (ZEV) program and incentive programs like the Carl Moyer Fund, which provides funding to businesses that convert their dirty diesel equipment to cleaner-fueled engines.
These programs have spurred technology advances that will continue to improve air quality in California and make it easier to breathe.
The American Lung Association will address cleaner transportation and other clean air issues during its Clean Air Month in May. To find out more about Clean Air Month and what you can do, visit www.californialung.org
To find out more about the Cleaner Transportation Program, visit http://www.californialung.org/spotlight/cleanfleets.html and link to a list of cleaner-fueled vehicles and other information to help promote cleaner transportation.
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