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8 Cosponsors:
9 Kim F. Coleman
Ken Ivory
Marsha Judkins
Susan Pulsipher
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11 LONG TITLE
12 General Description:
13 This resolution commends Jordan School District for investing in the state's largest fleet
14 of natural gas buses.
15 Highlighted Provisions:
16 This resolution:
17 ▸ commends Jordan School District for its contribution to improved public health and
18 fiscal responsibility through acquiring school buses that operate on compressed
19 natural gas.
20 Special Clauses:
21 None
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23 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
24 WHEREAS, Utahns rank air quality among their highest concerns, and individuals
25 living along the Wasatch Front rank air quality as their highest priority among their top 10
26 concerns in the state;
27 WHEREAS, Utahns' major concerns with air quality include ozone and very fine
28 particulate matter that are produced from the burning of fossil fuels;
29 WHEREAS, the Wasatch Front is known to have some of the most challenging
30 short-term air quality issues;
31 WHEREAS, in 2017 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reclassified the
32 Wasatch Front from a "moderate" to a "serious" nonattainment area, based on the Clean Air
33 Act's air quality health standards;
34 WHEREAS, although vehicle contribution to air pollution has decreased over time and
35 will continue to decline with both the implementation of Tier III fuel and automobile standards
36 and rapidly increasing fuel economy standards, fossil fuel combustion engines continue to
37 account for approximately 48% of emissions that lead to poor air quality in Utah;
38 WHEREAS, as Utah's population continues to grow, so will the challenge of reducing
39 tailpipe emissions;
40 WHEREAS, Utah public schools have over 2,400 buses that transport 175,000 children
41 every day;
42 WHEREAS, most of the school buses being used by school districts and charter schools
43 burn diesel fuel;
44 WHEREAS, numerous studies have concluded that the younger a person is, the more
45 susceptible that person is to the dangers of diesel exhaust fumes, resulting in increased health
46 risks associated with lung disease, cancer, and heart disease;
47 WHEREAS, the concentration of numerous idling diesel school buses around schools
48 contributes to poor air quality, impacting the health of children and other members of the
49 community;
50 WHEREAS, inversions settle into the valleys along the Wasatch Front during the
51 school year, trapping exhaust fumes and fine particulate matter in the air we breathe;
52 WHEREAS, numerous efforts have been made over the past several years to remove
53 older diesel school buses in Utah and replace them with clean fuel alternatives such as
54 compressed natural gas (CNG), clean diesel, electricity, propane, or hybrid capability;
55 WHEREAS, one CNG school bus saves the equivalent of the emissions produced by 35
56 cars on the road;
57 WHEREAS, Jordan School District became a leader in clean fuel school buses when it
58 began acquiring CNG school buses 30 years ago;
59 WHEREAS, Jordan School District continually demonstrates leadership in clean fuel
60 school buses and currently has the state's largest fleet of CNG school buses;
61 WHEREAS, Jordan School District is contributing to cleaner air and better health for
62 students and residents along the Wasatch Front through the use of CNG school buses in place
63 of diesel school buses;
64 WHEREAS, in 2018 Jordan School District used $1.7 million in grant money to
65 purchase 36 new CNG school buses, bringing its total number of CNG buses to 105;
66 WHEREAS, more than half of all of the school buses used by Jordan School District
67 are CNG buses; and
68 WHEREAS, each CNG bus saves Jordan School District at least $6,000 per year,
69 resulting in an annual savings in fuel costs of $630,000:
70 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
71 Governor concurring therein, commends Jordan School District for its exemplary contribution
72 to the public health of the citizens of the state of Utah by acquiring a fleet of CNG school buses
73 with little additional expense to taxpayers, reducing emissions, and improving air quality.
74 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor commend Jordan
75 School District for being an excellent example of environmentally sensitive, forward-thinking,
76 and fiscally responsible leadership in the state of Utah.
77 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor commend Jordan
78 School District for its fiscal responsibility in seeking grants and rebates to acquire CNG school
79 buses and a CNG fueling facility, resulting in lower ongoing operational costs of its school bus
80 fleet.