MEDIA ADVISORY
SRP to fund emission controls for school buses
A+ Bus Program to offset diesel emissions, lower pollution
SRP is currently taking applications from school districts for the SRP A+ Bus Program, which will provide funding to districts to retrofit their in-service school bus diesel engines with emission-control equipment.
School buses are one of the safest ways for children to get to school, but pollution from older diesel vehicles has health implications for everyone, especially children, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. On average, nationwide, students spend an hour and a half each day in a school bus often on idling buses.
The donated systems will reduce particulate emissions from buses by 60 to 90 percent, and SRP will fund the maintenance of the retrofit equipment through Dec. 31, 2015. The funding is available to public school districts throughout Maricopa, Pinal and Yavapai counties.
"The goal of this program is to help reduce children's exposure to diesel exhaust and to reduce the amount of air pollution emitted from older school buses," said Lori Singleton, SRP manager of Sustainability Initiatives and Technologies.
In addition, SRP will develop educational materials to help teach students about the various ways technology can be utilized to solve air-quality issues.
The deadline to apply for this grant funding is Nov. 19. You can go online to download an application. For more information, contact Tina Drews, SRP Project Manager, at (602) 236-2497, or by e-mail at aplusbus@srpnet.com.
