Buses go Green in Rochester
Collaborative efforts result in cleaner air and healthier kids
Celebration planned for February 19 at Herbert Hoover Elementary School

ROCHESTER, Minn. – A voluntary collaboration of businesses, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations called Project Green Fleet is reducing the pollution created by transit and school buses in the city of Rochester.

The public is invited to learn about Rochester’s “green” buses at a celebration hosted by Herbert Hoover Elementary School at 369 Elton Hills Dr. NW on Tuesday, February 19th from 10 to 11 a.m. Short presentations will explain why these buses represent an important effort to keep Rochester’s air clean, and a mechanic will be available to show actual retrofits and explain how they work. Speakers include Cathy Moeger, Division Director, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency; Dr. Fred T. Nobrega, Executive Director of the Zumbro Valley Medical Society; and Glenn Heins, Third Grade Teacher at Hoover Elementary.

Buses are made “green” by the installation of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved filters and catalyst mufflers that can reduce engine emissions by up to 50%. Buses eligible for retrofits are older buses with diesel engines that are expected to still provide many years of service—newer buses create less pollution and don’t need retrofits. Installation of retrofits on all of Rochester’s eligible school buses will be completed soon: a total of 36 buses. In addition, eight transit buses are eligible and are also being retrofitted.

Vehicles with diesel engines contribute more than 50% of the air pollution generated by traffic in Minnesota. Those pollutants can concentrate inside a bus: studies have shown that pollution levels inside a school bus can be up to five times higher than outdoor air. Because children breathe more air relative to their body weight than adults, they are especially susceptible to the health problems these pollutants can cause, such as asthma and other lung diseases.

Participation in Project Green Fleet is entirely voluntary. Air quality in Minnesota currently satisfies the standards established by the federal Clean Air Act. As a result, there is no regulatory mandate to retrofit diesel engines to make them run cleaner. But ignoring pollution sources such as diesel engines places the quality of Minnesota’s air at risk. Says David Thornton, assistant commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, “Minnesota is proactively taking responsibility to enhance our quality of life by reducing harmful emissions and lowering the health risk to children.”

Rochester’s green buses are part of a larger statewide effort by Project Green Fleet. To date, more than 480 buses have been retrofitted in cities such as Duluth, Bemidji, Minneapolis and St. Paul. Those retrofits have reduced emissions exposure for approximately 30,000 school children. Project Green Fleet plans to complete the retrofitting of all eligible school buses in the state within the next four years—a total of some 4000 buses.

That’s a lot of clean buses, and their retrofits are being made possible through the generous support of Project Green Fleet’s many sponsors. In Rochester, clean buses have been made possible through the support of Rochester Public Utilities, the city of Rochester, Flint Hills Resources, and the Mayo Foundation. Partners include First Student Bus Company, Donaldson Company, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and U.S. EPA Region V.

Project Green Fleet is a project of Clean Air Minnesota, a partnership of businesses, environmental groups, government agencies and citizens, co-chaired by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy. Project Green Fleet is coordinated by the Minnesota Environmental Initiative, a nonprofit that seeks solutions to Minnesota’s environmental problems through innovative partnerships. For more information about Project Green Fleet, contact Kabby Jones at 612-334-3388 x109 or kjones@mn-ei.org.

About Rochester Public Utilities

As the municipal utility of Rochester, Minn., for more than 110 years, RPU provides high-quality and reliable electricity to over 45,000 customers. Water customers number more than 34,000. RPU continually investigates innovative technologies to help customers realize the best value from the services they receive. Current initiatives include fuel cell research, wind power, and photovoltaic offerings.

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