The goal of the West Coast Collaborative is to leverage federal funds to strategically reduce emissions from the most polluting diesel sources in
impacted communities. The Collaborative seeks to improve air quality and public health by targeting the highest polluting engines with the most cost
effective control strategies.
DERA 2020: California Air
Resources Board School
Bus Zero-Emission Electric
Replacement Project
The West Coast Collaborative (WCC) is pleased to
announce the California Air Resources Board's (CARB's)
receipt of a United States Environmental Protection
Agency (US EPA) Diesel Emissions Reduction Act
(DERA) State grant to replace heavy-duty school buses
with zero-emission electric buses. This project will be
implemented using $680,997 in DERA grant funding
combined with $465,929 in matching funds from CARB,
and $1,320,000 in cost-share funds from participating
fleets.
What is the Project?
This project will be implemented through a partnership
between CARB, the North Coast Unified Air Quality
Management District (NCUAQMD), and participating fleets to
replace 6 heavy-duty school buses with all-electric alternatives
throughout rural areas of California.
Why is this project important?
This project's primary objective is to improve the environmental
health of children by partnering with local school bus owners to
replace old, higher emitting diesel school buses with zero-
emission battery-electric vehicles. Exposure to diesel exhaust
has been associated with decreased lung function and
retarded lung development and can also exacerbate the
symptoms of asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia. This project
will reduce children's exposure to diesel emissions as well as
the negative health effects associated with exposure. Expected
unquantifiable benefits of the project include increased
awareness of the need to improve air quality, particularly
among parents, school officials and others concerned with
child health and welfare.
What are the Environmental Benefits?
Over the remaining lifetime of the 6 affected engines, these
upgrades are estimated to reduce emissions of oxides of
nitrogen (NOx) by 10 tons, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) by 1
ton, hydrocarbons (HC) by 1 ton, carbon monoxide (CO) by 3
tons, and carbon dioxide (CO2) by 1,102 tons. Additionally, the
reduction of PM2.5 emissions will also reduce black carbon
(BC), which influences climate by directly absorbing light,
reducing the reflectivity ("albedo") of snow and ice through
deposition, and interacting with clouds.
Who are the Partners on this project?
The project will be led by CARB, a state agency tasked
with protecting air quality in the State of California, in
partnership with the NCUAQMD and participating school bus
fleets. CARB received the DERA grant award through the
WCC, will distribute the grant funds to NCUAQMD, which will
then distribute funds to participating eligible school bus
owners. CARB will be responsible for data monitoring and
reporting for the project.
What is the Collaborative?
The WCC is an ambitious partnership between leaders from
federal, state, local, and tribal government, the private sector,
and environmental groups committed to reducing diesel
emissions along the West Coast. Partners come from all over
Western North America, including: Alaska, Arizona, California,
Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Canada and
Mexico and the Pacific Islands. The WCC is part of the U.S.
EPA National Clean Diesel Campaign
www.epa.gov/cleandiesel
How can I find out more Information?
For more information on this project, please contact Dana
Mayfield at US EPA (mayfield.dana@epa.gov 1415-972-3008).
For more information on the WCC, please visit our website.
www.westcoastcollaborative.org
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