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26 Illinois Parks and Recreation By Kathleen Hesik By 2011, the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County will replace its fleet of fossil-fuel-powered vehicles with clean, alternative-fuel-powered units. The district is currently operating vehicles that use natural gas (CNG), propane (LPG), ethanol (E-85) and biodiesel (B-20) alternative fuels. As a result, more than 280,000 pounds of volatile organic compounds like carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide will not be released into the air every year. There will be less dependence on foreign oil. And through grants, rebates and maintenance savings after replacing its entire fleet, the alternative fuels program will benefit the district with a net savings of nearly $200,000. May/June 2003 27
Changing or improving any aspect of an agency involves the examination of expenses, revenues, savings and benefits. Converting or replacing agency vehicles includes consideration of governmental policies and programs, alternative fuel vehicle availability, infrastructure development, technological adjustments and more. Although it sounds like a headache, in the end, use of alternative vehicles will save money, reduce overall maintenance and improve air quality. Although not widely publicized or promoted, alternative fuel vehicles can be purchased in Illinois. Ford, Volkswagen, General Motors and Daimler-Chrysler are just a few of the 15 current manufacturers that produce alternative fuel vehicles to date. Unfortunately, fueling an alternative fuel vehicle is not as convenient as just gassing up, which can be done on almost every corner. However, there are different options for finding a fueling station depending on the type of alternative fuel the vehicle needs. Currently in Illinois, there are 13 ethanol (E-85), 22 natural gas (CNG) and 81 propane (LPG) public stations that provide alternative fueling. In addition to public fueling sites, many agencies, including the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, with the support of grants and rebates, have constructed small alternative fueling stations for their own fleet vehicles. As an incentive to facilitate alternative fuel usage in the market, several governmental programs and credits are available to offset the costs of fueling infrastructure development. For example, the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) program was authorized in 1991, and has recently announced that it will award the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County with a $500,000 grant toward its alternative fuel program. Congress' Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) provided $6 billion in funding to this program, which promotes surface transportation and other related projects that contribute to air quality improvements and reduce congestion. The United States Department of Energy supports the use of alternative fuels and offers additional grants and funding to promote low vehicle emissions and alternative fuel. There are rebates available as incentives to convert or replace a fossil-fuel-powered vehicle. State and federal programs also help to offset the incremental cost of using an alternative fuel vehicle. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), which designated the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County an "Illinois Green Fleet" in April 2002, and the Chicago Area Clean Cities program are just two organizations that offer financial encouragement and give environmental rationale to make a change.
Another advantage of alternative fuel vehicles is less maintenance. The maintenance is considerably less than that of a fossil-fuel-powered vehicle. Studies have shown a seven percent increase in engine life for an alternative fuel vehicle. Because of cleaner burning fuel, engines need less frequent oil changes and have fewer problems than those burning fossil fuel. More importantly, alternative fuel can cost less. The United States accounts for 10 million barrels of oil per day. With the ever-delicate supply of petroleum and our dependence on foreign countries, the price of gasoline is unstable. In years to come, using alternative fuels produced in the United States that are made with items such as corn, soy and other natural by-products may turn out to be a huge savings. More important than receiving grants, saving money, reducing maintenance on vehicles or becoming less dependent on foreign oil is the opportunity to provide cleaner auto the citizens of DuPage County, Illinois and the global community. According to the EPA, 60 percent of carbon monoxide in the United States comes from trucks and automobiles. In the average U.S. city, automobiles can account for 95 percent of carbon monoxide emissions. On average, a standard gasoline-powered passenger car traveling 12,500 miles each year will emit 77 pounds of hydrocarbons, 575 pounds of carbon monoxide, 38 pounds of nitrogen oxides and 11,450 pounds of carbon dioxide. Depending 28 Illinois Parks and Recreation "...through grants , rebates and maintenance savings... the alternative fuels program will benefit the district with a net savings of nearly $200,000." on which alternative fuel is used, the same vehicle will produce 80 percent fewer emissions. As the population, economy and popularity of DuPage County grows, so does the forest preserve district. To keep up with the demands for more trails, off-leash dog areas and less commercialization, the district continues to acquire open space. The ultimate goal of these open spaces is to provide conservation, education and recreation to the people of DuPage County. What many residents do not realize is that by acquiring these open spaces, the district is helping prevent pollution production, which would inevitably take place if the same areas were developed. These undeveloped natural areas also act as environmental niters that help keep pollution levels down. Along with the acquisition of open spaces, the forest preserve district is safeguarding the region's clean air by using alternative fuels. This program will continue to reduce the county's current pollution level. It can also be an encouragement to other agencies and businesses to do the same. To learn more about alternative fuel options and incentives, visit the following: • the United States Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center Web page at www.afdc.doe.gov • Clean Cities Program Web page at www.cdties.doe.gov • the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Web page at www.epa.gov You can also call the National Alternative Fuels Hotline at (800) 423-1363. For more information on the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County's alternative fuel vehicle program, call the manager of fleet services at (630) 792-2113. Kathleen Hesik is a public affairs specialist for the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County.
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