From: Phil Rossi, CAC [info@cleanaircarolina.org]
Sent: Tuesday, October 27, 2009 11:04 AM
To: joseph_oneill@ncsu.edu
Subject: Cleaner air is within our reach


Dear Joseph,

Phil Rossi shows the circle of soot left after conducting a tailpipe test.

Clean Air Carolina celebrates your ongoing support and dedication to healthy air!

On Wednesday Clean Air Carolina, in partnership with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and Union County Public Schools, held a press conference to announce a $536,000 grant that will reduce diesel pollution from 71 school buses and 15 fuel trucks. Both school systems will use the grant to purchase and install pollution control devices on school buses that will reduce the following amount of harmful pollutants:

•    PM2.5 (Particulate Matter) - 156 kg/yr
•    NOx (Nitrogen Oxide) - 210 kg/yr
•    CO (Carbon Monoxide) - 1,168 kg/yr
•    VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) - 526 kg/yr

I conducted a test on the two school bus tailpipes using white handkerchiefs in an effort to demonstrate how much pollution can be captured by emissions control devices. Take a look at the photograph above - notice the dark and dirty circle of diesel soot on the hanky? It was great to provide the press a visual example of the current pollution that will be addressed by this grant. It was exciting to find six news articles and/or video published online and in print. Here is one that was published in the Charlotte Observer the following day:


Grant will help limit diesel emissions
CMS and Union County schools will install filters on buses and fuel trucks.

By Steve Lyttle, slyttle@charlotteobserver.com
Posted: Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg and Union County school systems will receive $536,000 to install equipment that limits unhealthy emissions from diesel buses and fuel trucks.

The money is in a grant received by Clean Air Carolina through a federal program.

The school systems will use part of the money to install diesel particulate filters on buses and fuel trucks, and some to buy equipment that measures the amount of soot and other toxic pollutants emitted from tailpipes.

The two school systems already share equipment to clean diesel emissions, officials said.

"Breathing-related illnesses are one of the biggest reasons why our students miss school," CMS Superintendent Peter Gorman said. "Anything we can do to clear the air will help a lot."

Beth St. Martin, of the Union County Asthma Coalition, said breathing problems for children have a wide impact on families.

"It affects them financially and physically, of course, but it even limits family members from doing things like volunteering in the community," she said.

School buses built in 2007 or afterward come equipped with the diesel filters. But that accounts for about only 20 percent of the bus fleets being used, say CMS and Union County schools officials. So the two systems are putting filters on as many older buses as possible.

Phil Rossi, who heads the N.C. Clean Diesel Campaign for Clean Air Carolina, said his organization is working to obtain more grant money.

The grant announced Wednesday is available to areas that do not meet national air quality standards, which includes the Charlotte region.


Click here to view more media coverage.

Last week our momentum grew stronger and together we've shown Charlotte's leaders that cleaner air is within our reach. Partnerships like these ensure healthier air for our children and strengthen our efforts to improve the air quality in the entire region. Leveraging regional leaders who are committed to reducing diesel pollution will ultimately help us reach our goals.

This is a critical time to stay involved because we can't do this kind of work without your support. If you haven't already done so, now is the time to become a member and help prepare us for the next round of opportunities for healthier air.

You can join or renew your membership by visiting us online at www.nccleanair.org.

Thank you!!

For cleaner air,

Phil Rossi
Program Director, NC Clean Diesel Campaign

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