________________________________ From: Press Releases from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources [[log in to unmask]] Sent: Monday, December 14, 2009 3:40 PM To: Dana Wade Subject: DNR NEWS - New Bus to Cut Pollution in Clinton [cid:image001.jpg@01CA7CD3.D4353180] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 14, 2009 NEW HYBRID SCHOOL BUS BOOSTS EFFORT IN CLINTON TO REDUCE FINE PARTICLE AIR POLLUTION CONTACT: Mindy Kralicek, DNR Air Quality Information Specialist and DERA Grant Manager, (515) 281-7832, [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>; Dr. Richard Basden, Superintendent, Clinton Community School District, (563) 243-9600 x31, [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> CLINTON – A new Thomas-Built hybrid C2 school bus was delivered to Clinton Community School District Dec. 14, a purchase that will help reduce air pollution levels in the city. This bus was purchased with a grant from the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) State Clean Diesel Grant Program. Clinton Community School District was selected because it is an area of concern for fine particle pollution (close to the EPA health threshold) and it operates several of the oldest, most polluting school buses in Iowa on regular daily routes. Clinton Mayor Rodger Holm proclaimed Dec. 14 as Clean School Bus Awareness Day in the city. A brief ceremony welcoming the new hybrid bus was held at Eagle Heights Elementary School. This is the first Thomas-Built hybrid C2 school bus for Iowa. The Thomas-Built hybrid school bus uses an electric parallel system. A smaller diesel engine is used to power the bus because an electric motor/generator stores and adds power back into the transmission as it operates. Two plug-in hybrid school buses made by IC Corporation are operating in Nevada and Sigourney school districts. Iowa’s air contains a relatively high concentration of fine particles across the state—70 percent of the EPA’s health threshold. Mix in prevailing winds, high automobile traffic areas, electricity generation, industry and open burning and areas in eastern Iowa are dangerously close to levels the EPA considers not clean. Clinton is one of those areas of concern. Clinton’s school bus fleet contains several of the oldest school buses still in regular route use. In fact, the bus that will be disabled when this new hybrid is put in operation is a 1983 Bluebird 84-passenger bus. Three more old buses will be replaced in the spring by new diesel buses meeting current EPA emissions standards, also with a DERA grant. The Health Effects Institute says the pollution emitted from one 1988 bus is equivalent to the amount 60 new diesel buses emit. The Thomas-Built hybrid bus is expected to emit 30 percent less than a new diesel bus. Breathing diesel exhaust is dangerous. It contains fine particles and 40 toxic air contaminants that attack lung tissue and enter the bloodstream. Children are the most vulnerable to the effects of air pollution because they breathe 1.5 times the air volume for their size and their lungs are still growing. More about reducing diesel exhaust and the Diesel Emissions Recovery Act is available at http://www.iowadnr.gov/air/RIDE/index.html and http://www.epa.gov/diesel/. -30- --- You are currently subscribed to econewswire as: [log in to unmask] To unsubscribe click the Unsubscribe link below, or send a blank email to: [log in to unmask] http://Membership.Lists.ia.gov/u?id=5088844W&n=T&c=F&l=econewswire (click here to unsubscribe) or send a blank email to If you received this message from a friend and would like to sign up for DNR Eco News Wire e-mails, please send a blank e-mail to: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> ________________________________ Spam<https://storm.simpson.edu/canit/b.php?i=48950548&m=6b04fe191702&c=s> Not spam<https://storm.simpson.edu/canit/b.php?i=48950548&m=6b04fe191702&c=n> Forget previous vote<https://storm.simpson.edu/canit/b.php?i=48950548&m=6b04fe191702&c=f> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp Sign up to receive Sierra Club Insider, the flagship e-newsletter. Sent out twice a month, it features the Club's latest news and activities. Subscribe and view recent editions at http://www.sierraclub.org/insider/