Following an almost two decade effort to reduce vehicle emissions in the city where nobody walks, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority retired it’s last diesel bus this week and has now become the only major transit agency nation-wide to install a complete bus fleet that is fully equipped with alternative fuel technologies.  

This Southern California urban area began running diesel busses in  the 40’s and now the MTA has over two thousand busses powered by compressed natural gas, in addition to six gas-electric hybrids and one fully electric bus.  

MTA officials estimate that by eliminating diesel engines the city can reduce the cancer causing particulate matter released from these busses by 80% .  Ahhh, a breath of fresh air.  I’d love this since I get head ache’s every time I travel through LA.

While these buses cost more to purchase and maintain than the old school diesels’, clean air and efficiency will offset the upfront costs in the long run. Using less imported fuel to power this mass transportation project and lower gas prices is priceless considering you have no plumes of exhaust billowing out the back of the buss.  

While this is an important step for clean air and a break from the exhaustion of the nasty old bus pulling away from the curb,  it is key to note that this project was long in coming and cities like my home town of Santa Barbara has already replaced our entire bus fleet to incorporate alternative fuels.
I’m excited about this progress and would love to see this program expanded nationwide.  Although I don't think compressed natural gas is the best choice of alternative fuels, but this is one step forward for communities to breath easier.

Yesterday's election is notable for many reasons, but one in particular for us in California was the defeat of Proposition 23. If you don't know what Prop 23 was all about, it is important to have some idea. This ballot initiative was sponsored by out-of-state oil companies seeking to suspend the state's landmark climate law enacted in 2006, AB 32, and would only bring it back if unemployment levels reached 5.5 percent, effectively killing it. Assembly Bill 32 called for the state to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, and provided a framework for how to reach that goal. Of course, this meant that the energy Californians receive must transition to cleaner sources, to the dismay of the oil companies.

Results came in from the election, and show that voters rejected Prop 23 wholeheartedly. According to figures, over 93% of precincts reported, and over 61% voted against the measure. This is great news for those of us living in this state, as the clean tech industries we support can continue to provide us with technology and building materials that will take us toward better energy sources. We can't wait to see what this will mean in the years ahead of us for the building industry. One thing we do know however is that it will strengthen the building codes and standards such as CalGREEN and LEED being used today.