HEADLINES Going Green Takes on Added Meaning at NSTA Te National School Transportation Association figured to
benefit from an EPA rule change last year that allowed trade orga- nizations to directly apply for federal clean diesel grants. In January, member companies learned details of the first major benefit. With National Clean Diesel Campaign head Jim Blubaugh in
attendance at the NSTA Mid Winter Meeting, NSTA announced it won a $2.44 million grant for new school buses, diesel particu- late filter retrofits and fuel operated heaters for three contractor companies in Wisconsin and one in Minnesota. Te federal mon- ey was tied to last year’s Diesel Emissions Reduction Program awarded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Winning companies, Dousman Transportation Company, Dur- ham School Services and Riteway Bus in Wisconsin, and M&M Bus Service Inc., in Minnesota, matched the award with a com- bined $5.31 million in additional money. “Having that resource through NSTA is invaluable,” said Rob
Nelson, president of Dousman Transportation in Dousman, Wis., which operates a total fleet of 290 buses out of eight locations for 40 school districts in the suburbs of Milwaukee. Te company received 21 Tomas Built Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses with 2011 model-year bodies and 2007-compliant engines.
Riteway in Richfield, Wis., northwest of Milwaukee, received 78
new school buses, and the Durham location in Racine, received DPFs for 62 of its school buses. Meanwhile, M&M Bus in Annan- dale, Minn., is retrofitting 26 buses with fuel-operated heaters. Robin Leeds, an industry consultant to NSTA, prepared the
ARRA grant, as well as another for fiscal year 2010 clean diesel funds. She said grant writing continues to be one of the biggest obstacles facing school districts. “Te larger districts all have people on board to do grant writ-
ing, but for small districts, this is a problem,” she said. “Not only do they not have the grant writing experience, but there are also (dollar) minimums you can apply for, as each EPA region has a minimum request. Small districts and contractors have problems meeting those, so they need to partner with another group.” Only public entities, state agencies or non-profits are allowed
to submit grant proposals. “Without Robin, I can’t imagine it being as successful as we were,” Added Dousman’s Nelson.
Read about NSTA member companies honored with NSTA Green Fleet Certification Awards at
www.stnonline.com/go/503.
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20 School Transportation News Magazine March 2010
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