Before, after, but preferably not during the Netroots Nation panel Energizing America: Setting an Agenda for Progress, take the time to visit and explore a truly Energy COOL visitor.
The Austin Independent School District will bring their Plug-In Hybrid Electric School bus (PHESB), one of very few in the nation, to outside the Convention Center and have people their to explain the bus, its successes, and the systems.
NOTE: Coding problems kept me from post the full discussion at Daily Kos. For a robust discussion of school buses see the full post at EENR and Docudharma.
Recent test results show that the IC Bus Plug-In-Electric School Buses "can improve fuel efficiency by more than 70 percent compared to standard diesel-powered school buses." In addition to the fuel economy savings, other benefits include:
Over 40% reduction in CO2
Over 30% reduction in Particulate Matter
Over 20% reduction in NOx
Analysis suggests that aggressive deployment of PHESBs could save the equivalent of 1/2 day of projected US fuel use per year. This isn't a silver bullet to the challenges of Peak Oil and Global Warming, but a nice piece to insert.
But the benefits are far more extensive. These buses would provide the potential for emergency power amid a disaster (manmade or otherwise), mobile power for public events, and reduce the impact of diesel fumes on children's health. (Combining PHESBing with 'green diesel', and this health threat basically disappears.)
One of the key challenges to achieving these benefits is the price differential between PHESBs and the standard bus. Amid tight (tighter than normal) local budget environments, spending additional money upfront for future fuel savings and for 'intangible' items like children's health is difficult. IC Bus took a step in the right direction with a $40k reduction in the price of the PHESBs. Now, there are 19 PHESBs out there in America. I have heard nothing other than rave reviews of them. Last I heard: an order of 100 PHESBs and IC Bus can drop the price to the point where the fuel saving will be compelling for school administrators purchase decisions, even without considering the quite real (but less direct to the budget) benefits like reduced pollution and emergency power reserves.
This is why Energize America is proposing, as part of the Freshman Energy Smart Acceleration Act, an effort to get past that barrier.
The FESA PHESB Act would provide $60 million / year to spark the PHESB industry and to make PHESBs the standard for school systems. First year, $35 million for paying up to 50% of cost of PHESB for acquiring school district (40% year 2, 30% year 3, 20% year 4, 10% year 5); $10 million for paying up to 85% of PHESB cost for disadvantaged school districts (maintain this level); $5 million for PHESBs for military bases (for two years; after that for buying PHESBs for prison system and other requirements); $5 million for V2G (vehicle-to-grid) research and deployment assistance specifically focused on school buses. Note: No state to receive more than 20% of the funding per year; minimum of 20 states per year in funding. All 50 states to have PHESBs supported for purchase by year 5. By the end of the fifth year, if the average assistance is $50k, this program would foster introduction of over 4000 PHESBs and make PHESBs competitive with traditional diesel school buses for purchase decisions.
Now, this is not a "done" deal. The realities of school transport differ across the country. In my area and many places in the United States, publicly owned and operated yellow buses are everywhere to be seen. Some areas contract out their school transportation. And, other areas are striving to eliminate school buses. ('Let the parents drive' seems to be the moto.) What is the case where you live? In any event, even though this concept might require more fleshing out, the basic point remains: there will be high payoff, and payoff in many ways, to moving America's school bus transportation away from diesel (and diesl-fume spewing) buses.
Ask yourself: Are you doing your part to ENERGIZE AMERICA?
Are you ready to do your part?
Your voice can ... and will make a difference.
So ... SPEAK UP ... NOW!!!
Join Jerome a Paris, Devilstower, Energy Smart candidates Debbie Cook (CA-45), Jeff Merkley (OR-SEN) and Mark Begich (AK-Senate), and myself for a conversation about Energizing America: Setting an Agenda for Progress Friday morning in Austin, Texas.