Connecticut
Current Campaigns
Reduce Diesel Pollution
Victory: New funding bill for school bus retrofits!
In late June 2007 the Connecticut General Assembly and Governor approved a state budget which included $10 million for diesel school bus retrofits.
The funding, spread out over 2 years, will cover the full cost of purchasing and installing pollution control devices for the approximately 3,400 school buses in the state that are able to be retrofit and aren't scheduled to be immediately replaced. Pollution controls will keep exhaust out of the cabin and reduce tailpipe pollution up to 85% and retrofits must be completed by September 1st, 2010.
Background
Diesel pollution has serious effects on the health of Connecticut residents. Diesel pollution contributes to smog, is implicated in childhood asthma, and is associated with asthma attacks, heart attacks, and cancer. See how diesel pollution affects your community—enter your zip code here
Diesel pollution is also a major global warming pollutant as diesel "black carbon" soot traps heat and warms the atmosphere. While the Federal government set strict standards for new diesel engines starting in 2007, these standards do not apply to existing diesel vehicles, which can remain on the road for decades.
As the CT Alliance Against Diesel Pollution, Environment Northeast, Clean Water Action and allies are working to close this loophole by taking action at the state level. There are commercially available pollution controls which can reduce harmful diesel emissions from current vehicles by up to 90 percent. In 2007 we need to pass legislation prioritizing the clean-up of school buses, transit buses and state construction equipment because these vehicles place children at risk of serious health disorders and are concentrated in highly polluted urban areas.
Ask your organization to join the CT Alliance Against Diesel Pollution (CAADP coalition packet download) (pdf, 44 kb)
Clean Water Action Campaign Victories
Since 1998, Clean Water Action has won a number of legislative and regulatory victories. Please read more about highlights of our successes.
