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2000
ANNUAL REPORT
FUELS
Clean Air Partnership Formed
to Support Fuel Neutrality
A coalition of school districts, transit agencies,
business groups and the petroleum industry found common
ground in opposing unreasonable regulations proposed
by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD)
early in 2000. The district’s proposed fleet rules,
called the 1190 series, would have mandated that alternative
fueled buses, trucks, taxis and other heavy equipment
be purchased by public fleet operators when new vehicle
acquisitions were considered. The coalition was called
the South Coast Clean Air Partnership (SCCAP) and was
led by environmental spokesperson Bob Sulnick, who previously
founded the American Oceans Campaign.
The Coalition’s goal was to amend the District’s fleet
rules to be fuel neutral, allowing the use of clean
diesel technology combined with particulate traps to
compete with alternative fuels. SCCAP members argued
that the AQMD must allow school districts and transit
agencies to select the fuel that makes the most economic
sense for them while still meeting the clean air objectives
of the rules. Coalition participants also testified
before the AQMD Board that clean diesel consumes less
energy, is more cost-effective and emits fewer greenhouse
gases than compressed natural gas.
"Follow CARB’s Lead"
The SCCAP coalition called on the district to follow
the lead of the California Air Resource Board (CARB)
which had already passed landmark regulations for urban
transit agencies that were fuel-neutral. The Coalition
stated that the AQMD rules should be consistent with
the ARB’s rules to minimize the tremendous impact the
proposals would have on Southern California’s economy.
SCCAP members remain active in pursuing fuel neutrality
for fleet rules in both the South Coast and before other
air districts and transit agencies across the state.
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