State and Local Partnership Funds Addition Of Natural Gas Buses To County's Ride On Fleet To Reduce Air Pollution

Header--Montgomery County, Maryland. Press Releases

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Contact: Esther Bowring, 240-777-6530
Carolyn Biggins, 240-777-5800

For Immediate Release (June 5, 2000)

STATE AND LOCAL PARTNERSHIP FUNDS ADDITION
OF NATURAL GAS BUSES TO COUNTY'S
RIDE ON FLEET TO REDUCE AIR POLLUTION

Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan today joined State and regional leaders in announcing that nineteen new Ride On buses, powered by compressed natural gas (CNG), are being put into service under a program sponsored by The Clean Alternative partnership. The Clean Alternative is funded by the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and administered by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) through separate agreements with GRI (formerly known as the Gas Research Institute) and Dorfman & O'Neal, Inc. of Washington, D.C. The Maryland Department of the Environment is also a sponsor of the program.

"Through this agreement, we're helping to reduce traffic congestion and prevent pollution," said Duncan. "The support of The Clean Alternative program has made it easier for the County to purchase low emission vehicles that reduce air pollution while lowering our fuel and maintenance costs."

Montgomery County is the first jurisdiction to take advantage of The Clean Alternative's program that offers financial incentives to replace high mileage and high fuel-use vehicles that are major contributors to high pollution levels, such as taxicabs, shuttles, buses, and delivery vans and trucks, with advanced technology cars and trucks. Jurisdictions, businesses, and organizations in Calvert, Charles, Frederick, Montgomery, and Prince Georges Counties that use more than 3,000 gallons of fuel or drive more than 45,000 miles a year may be eligible for support from the partnership to offset the higher initial cost of purchasing low polluting vehicles. To qualify, organizations must have at least ten vehicles and have been in continuous operation for at least five years. The Clean Alternative is working with other fleets in the region to bring them into the program.

"Providing funding for compressed natural gas buses is just one part of the State's $23 million Commute Smart Program," said Transportation Secretary John D. Porcari. "By providing a balanced transportation system and alternatives to driving such as transit, HOV lanes and teleworking, the State is helping reduce congestion, improve air quality and enhance the quality of life for all Marylanders."

Other methods of encouraging CNG vehicle purchase are also available, including Maryland Energy Administration rebates up to $4,000 for each dedicated alternative fuel vehicle, Federal tax deductions and state tax credits.

The CNG buses purchased by the County will replace the oldest and most polluting diesel buses in the fleet. The new acquisition increases the number of the County's cleaner burning Ride On buses to 24, or over ten percent of all the buses the County operates. MDOT contributed $670,000 toward the purchase of the 19 Orion Heavy Duty CNG transit buses with Detroit Diesel Series 50 dedicated natural gas engines. Each new bus cost about $70,000 more per vehicle than a standard diesel bus. The Clean Alternative paid $35,000, or 50 percent of the incremental cost of each new CNG bus, with the County paying the other $35,000.

"COG supports the use of alternative fuels vehicles throughout the region," said COG Executive Director Michael Rogers. "The COG board recognized this as an emerging strategy for improving air quality when it sanctioned the creation of the regional alternative fuels partnership in 1993. Montgomery County has been an innovative leader in our regional effort. We look forward to working on this project with many other organizations in the metropolitan area."

The goal of The Clean Alternative is to reduce the emission of nitrogen oxides (NOx) into the atmosphere. NOx and volatile organic compounds from diesel and gasoline exhaust combine to create ground-level ozone, a major source of smog. Combustion of these standard fuels also generates fine particulates and toxic chemicals. The 19 CNG buses will reduce NOx emissions by 278 tons and non-methane hydrocarbons by 117 tons.

"Montgomery County is showing the way for our region," said Elliott Negin, spokesman for the Natural Resources Defense Council. "The Washington-Baltimore region is among the top ten worst areas in the country for ozone pollution, and getting diesel buses off the streets of our neighborhoods will help remove toxic carcinogens and nitrogen oxides, a major cause of smog, from our air." The County has operated five CNG Ride On buses since 1996. In 1998, maintenance and operating costs for those five buses were $.72 per mile compared with $1.50 per mile for diesel buses. The County's 24 CNG buses will replace the need for over 200,000 gallons of diesel fuel next year, and with the County's currently contracted CNG prices of $.69 per gallon compared to $1.06 per gallon for diesel fuel, potential cost savings are substantial. Maintenance reliability and customer acceptance of the CNG buses have been comparable to diesel buses. The range of the buses is about 50 miles greater than equivalent diesel buses, so fueling will only be required once a day.

"We have made the commitment over the next 15 years to using alternative fuels with a significant percentage of our bus fleet," said Carolyn Biggins, general manager of the County's Ride On bus service. "The County will now have the opportunity to more accurately evaluate operator and public acceptance of the new buses, as well as cost, maintenance, environmental, and economic data to determine whether we further expand our CNG fleet."

The County also operates other CNG vehicles as part of its fleet operations, including pickup trucks, vans, and cars. The Maryland Energy Administration recently provided a $36,000 rebate to the County for purchasing nine additional dedicated CNG pickup trucks and cars.

Barwood, Inc. of Montgomery County also received a $150,000 grant from The Clean Alternative partnership toward the purchase and improved operation of 30 CNG Ford Crown Victoria taxicabs. NOx emissions will be reduced by 89 tons and non-methane hydrocarbons will be reduced by 25 tons when the typical older cab is replaced. Barwood first purchased CNG taxis in 1996 and its CNG fleet also includes wheelchair-accessible minivans, vans and buses.

For more information about The Clean Alternative, contact Daivamani (Siva) Sivasailam, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, at 202-962-3226 or contact him at http://www.mwcog.org/trans.html.

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