Low emission school buses rolling in Springfield

About half of the 300 buses that transport public school students in Springfield will soon produce lower emissions.

By September, these buses will be fitted with equipment to reduce harmful diesel fuel emissions.

While 50 buses already have the devices installed, all of the fleet will get the technology installed some time during the school year (September 2007 – June 2008).

This initiative, being undertaken by the school board, is being supported by a grant from the Cities for Climate Protection^® Campaign in the U.S.A.  Additional funding is being sought from the state government of Illinois.

Private and commercial vehicles are a leading source of greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants.  Reducing vehicle use and using alternative forms of transportation and alternative fuels are some approaches to reducing these vehicular emissions.  For more information, please visit www.iclei.org/ccp.

Springfield is one of 201 local governments in the U.S.A. that are currently Members of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability.  For more information on ICLEI and its activities in the U.S.A., please visit www.iclei.org/usa.

Source:  “School buses to get emissions reduction equipment”, The Republican, 6 August 2007.