SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO-AM,) The Sioux Falls School District is buying cleaner, greener school buses with the help of a $500,000 grant from the EPA.
Manager of School Bus Incorporated, Jim Shafer, says the new buses are unbelievably cleaner than older models.
"We are up to about a 70 percent reduction in the amount of particulate matter coming out of the diesel engine than what it was before," Shafer tells KELO Radio News. He says if you put this new bus in downtown Philadelphia, for example, there would be cleaner air coming out of the tail pipe than coming in.
Shafer says they already have ten new buses for this school year and hope to purchase another 10 or 12 next year.
Emissions from diesel engines can not only contribute to air pollution, but also lead to asthma and other respiratory problems. Children are particularly susceptible as their lungs are not fully developed. Children also tend to have a faster breathing rate when compared to adults.
“Our community is fortunate to receive this award from the EPA. As our city continues to grow, we will need to continue to protect our natural resources, and clean air is no exception," says Matthew Gedney, Environmental Analyst with the City of Sioux Falls.