NextEnergy Helps Michigan School Buses Go Green

Project will provide more than $115,000 in funding to reduce harmful emissions emitted by school buses in key Michigan school districts

DETROIT, Dec. 21 -- NextEnergy, Michigan's alternative energy accelerator, in partnership with the State of Michigan, is working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to decrease diesel exhaust exposure by thousands of Michigan's school children, through the EPA Clean School Bus USA program. NextEnergy is implementing a new program to purchase and install 58 EPA approved diesel oxidation catalysts (DOC) on qualifying school buses in key Michigan school districts.

"NextEnergy's primary emphasis is in the advancement of technologies to reduce our nation's dependence on fossil fuels. Accelerating the market adoption rates of commercially available emissions control technologies allows us to improve the environment today while we advance the development of tomorrow's technologies," said Jim Croce, CEO, NextEnergy. "This program will positively impact the health of more than 18,000 total students in the proposed districts who are potentially exposed to diesel emissions everyday."

NextEnergy is receiving $95,000 in EPA funding for the project. School districts and technology suppliers will provide $20,000 in match funds, making for a combined total of $115,000 in funding that will enable the purchase of diesel oxidation catalysts to be retrofitted into school buses. NextEnergy is working with Hamilton Community Schools, Hartland Consolidated Schools, Howell Public Schools, and Edwardsburg Public Schools on this project.

The retrofitted school buses, in combination with the use of cleaner fuels will reduce particulate matter, ozone, and diesel exhaust that school children are exposed to everyday. "We are pleased about the opportunity to partner with NextEnergy to provide safer transport for thousands of Michigan children who ride school buses every day," said Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Director Steven E. Chester.

In letters to the EPA, the Michigan Association of School Boards and Michigan Association of School Administrators pledge full support to NextEnergy's initiative, stating, "Reducing school bus emissions is a critical element to lessening our children's and the general public's exposure to diesel exhaust and emissions."

EPA data indicates that each DOC installed can reduce particulate matter pollution anywhere from 20-90 percent per bus. Following are additional benefits of the Clean School Bus USA program:

  *  Short-term benefits: Increased understanding gained by school personnel
     and the general public of the environmental and economic effectiveness
     of the use of technologies such as diesel oxidation catalysts.
  *  Intermediate benefits: Districts and drivers will have an increased
     knowledge of methods to help reduce emissions.  This may include
     decisions to reduce idling or purchase additional emission reduction
     technology.
  *  Long-term benefits: A significant reduction in nitrogen oxides, sulfur
     oxides, and air toxins.  Public health benefits, especially for
     children in the funded districts, include decreased emissions from and
     exposure to diesel exhaust, improved air quality, and reduced risk of
     asthma aggravation.

NextEnergy collaborated with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, a Clean School Bus USA grant partner, as well as Okemos Public Schools to gain valuable resources from past grant projects to determine target fleets and best practice information.