by David Goldstein
Ventura Unified School District will replace two diesel buses with two electric ones and purchase two charging stations, using a grant from the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District. This was one of two awards, totaling $1.56 million; the other went to the Ocean View School District in Oxnard, which will replace one diesel bus with an electric one and purchase one charging station. Grants cover the cost of charging equipment and 87% of the price of the buses. The three new buses will significantly reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming, according to Karin Grennan, Public Information Officer with the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District.
Unfortunately, idling of cars is also common near schools during drop-off and pick-up of children. Although it may not be as comfortable to turn off the air conditioner and roll down windows instead of running the engine, there are good reasons for parents to do so.
Most people waste one to two tanks of gas every year by idling, according to Grennan. She cites studies concluding that idling for 10 seconds uses more fuel than restarting the engine of modern cars with fuel injection, and frequent restarting has little impact on the battery and starter, whereas excessive idling can damage important engine components.
There are also health reasons to avoid idling. “Pollution from exhaust contributes to lung infections, pneumonia, influenza and asthma, and children are sensitive to lower levels of air pollution than the general public,” according to Grennan.
For heavy-duty vehicles in California, with some exceptions, idling more than five minutes is illegal. School bus idling near schools is allowed “only when necessary for safety or operational concerns,” according to IdleFreeCalifornia.org.
The Air Pollution Control district has funded eight school buses since 2019. In fall, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency received nearly $1 billion to help school districts replace buses with lower-emitting versions. This month, California Air Resources Board and the California Energy Commission began accepting applications for $500 million in Zero-Emission School Bus and Infrastructure Grants.
Another program targets high-emission vehicles. The Air Pollution Control District’s Old Car Buy Back Program pays people $1,000 to retire 1997 or older cars. Vehicles must be operational and registered in Ventura County. In seven years, this program has taken more than 300 highly polluting vehicles off Ventura County’s roads.
A more generally targeted grant program, sponsored by the non-profit Coalition for Clean Air, offers up to $1,000 for projects planned for the week before California Clean Air Day, October 2, 2024. Eligible projects include campaigns against idling, conducted by local governments, health care organizations, or business or community organizations.
Motor vehicles produce more than half of the air pollution in the county, according to Grennan, so programs like these help clean our air.
More information: http://www.oldcarbuyback.com/ventura.php or call 800-717-7624
David Goldstein, an Environmental Resource Analyst with the Ventura County Public Works Agency, can be reached at (805) 658-4312 or [email protected]
