INDUSTRY CONNECTIONS
MAJOR NGV INCENTIVE LEGISLATION AWAITS FLORIDA GOVERNOR’S SIGNATURE
Gov. Bill Scott was expected at this report to sign into law legislation that promotes the use of natural gas fuel for vehicles, including school buses. Te Florida Natural Gas Vehicle Act, HB 579, provides a five-year period of no taxes on compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied nat- ural gas (LNG) used as a transportation fuel. After the five-year period, natural gas would be taxed at $0.21 per gallon (compared to $0.31 for diesel). Te bill would eliminate existing decal and license programs for natural gas fuel and would instead require the same licensing and taxes that now apply to diesel vendors. Te measure is designed to encourage owners of commercial fleets, as well as school bus fleets, to invest in new natural gas vehicles through grants administered by the Florida Department of Agriculture’s Office of Energy.
Charlie Hood, director of school transportation
at the Florida Department of Education, said his office was still reviewing the bill at press time and planned to update districts at the Florida Asso- ciation for Pupil Transportation Symposium last month in Punta Gorda, Fla. Other measures, such as excise-tax exemptions
for certain uses of natural gas and exemptions designed to spur the development of more refueling infrastructure, are also included in the legislation. It also requires the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability to complete a report reviewing taxation of natural gas motor fuel. Te bill received overwhelmingly bipartisan
support among lawmakers, passing with a 39-0 affir- mative vote from the Senate on April 30 and a 116-2 vote in the House on May 2.
$9M in Clean Diesel Funds Available to School Districts Nationwide
School districts have until June 25 to submit
proposals to fund school bus emissions-reduction projects tied to the EPA’s National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program, part of the Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA). Te RFP stage for $9 million in FY2013 funds opened on May 9. EPA said grantees would be notified this month, with funds being awarded this fall. Eligible projects include verified emission control technologies such as exhaust controls; cleaner fuels and engine upgrades; verified idle-reduction technol- ogies; verified aerodynamic technologies; low-rolling resistance tires; certified engine repowers; and/or certified vehicle or equipment replacement. EPA will fund 100 percent of projects that
Wheelchair-securement manufacturer Q’Straint named U.S. Paralympian Victoria Arlen, 18, as the company’s brand ambassador. Arlen, who lost the use of her legs to the rare viral disease transverse myelitis in 2006, broke the world record in winning the gold medal in the women’s 100-meter freestyle swimming event at the 2012 Paralympic Games in last summer in London. She also took home silver in the 400-meter freestyle, the 4x100-meter freestyle relay and the 50-meter freestyle swimming events.
26 School Transportation News July 2013
install eligible and verified exhaust-control tech- nologies as well as idle-control technologies and low-rolling resistance tires. Te agency will fund up to 40 percent of other projects including labor and equipment for alternative-fuel conversions, certified engine re-power and certified engine updates. School districts operating school buses and other
fleet vehicles must compete with commercial truck companies and operators of locomotives, agri- cultural equipment, cargo vehicles and mining or energy production providers. Regional, state, local or tribal agencies may also apply for funds. In April, President Obama’s FY2014 proposed
budget included a 70-percent reduction in DERA funds. Several weeks later, the EPA published a report for Congress that highlights the improve- ments DERA projects have had on air quality and fuel savings over the 10-year life of the program.
Ü BIZ BITES IC Bus parent company
Navistar sold its recreational vehicle business on May 16 to Allied Specialty Vehicles, which owns Type-A school bus manufacturer Collins Bus Corporation... The School Bus Safety Company won three Telly Awards for its series of training videos on safety and bullying prevention… Tyler Technologies announced the winners of the 2013 Tyler Public Sector Excellence Awards for ERP and School Solutions, including Tulsa Public Schools in Oklahoma (for Munis and Versatrans) and New Caney ISD in Texas (for Versatrans)…American Traffic Solutions posted a video on YouTube that shows numerous motorists blowing past school buses with stop arms extended as they load and unload students at bus stops within Mansfield Independent School District near Dallas... ESW CleanTech, a diesel- emissions control company, acquired the assets and product line from Cleaire Advanced Emissions Controls LLC…Stertil-Koni recently made a threefold announcement to introduce The Stertil-Koni Sales Academy and The Stertil- Koni Distributor Forum and to report that its new heavy-duty “Freedom Lift” will be available later this year…Stock Transportation bus driver Sarah Brake was recognized by the Upper Grand District School Board in Palmerston, Ontario, on May 16 for saving the life of a 9-year-old girl who began choking during a morning run. Brake had completed her first-aid course three weeks prior.
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