> About Us > Chair's Messages October 2006

Getting even greener with hybrid buses

There was a time, not that many years ago, when you did not want to get caught in traffic behind a bus and be subjected to its obnoxious, black tailpipe emissions. But Metro Transit is not your father’s transit system.

In 2005, Metro Transit became a national leader in using ultra low-sulfur fuel. It is a specially refined diesel fuel that has dramatically lowered sulfur content (15 to 30 parts per million of sulfur compared with 500 parts per million for low-sulfur diesel) and thus reduced emissions.

In July, Metro Transit began fueling all of its buses with B-5, a diesel fuel with 5 percent biodiesel made from soy. It now is testing a 20 percent biodiesel blend.

And now we have approved a five-year plan to replace 314 buses in our Metro Transit fleet as part of a broad effort to further reduce tailpipe emissions, operating costs and reliance on foreign oil. This new, “Go Greener” initiative includes the addition of 150 hybrid-electric buses to the three hybrids now in service, as well as the purchase of 164 standard buses with the latest engine technology.

With this “Go Greener” effort, we expect to cut Metro Transit’s emissions by 168 tons each year and replace 1.23 million gallons a year of non-renewable fossil fuel with soy-based fuel consumption and hybrid technology.

This initiative is good not only for the environment, but also for our bottom line. By embracing the latest engine technology and renewable fuel components, we estimate that we’ll reduce Metro Transit’s fuel costs by $652,000 a year.

I also am extremely proud of the efforts by our regional wastewater system to enhance our environment. In 2005, the Metro Plant put into full operation three new “fluidized bed” incinerators that have reduced air emissions of many pollutants – including particulates, carbon monoxide, mercury and lead – by more than 95 percent.

Our treatment plants also have instituted new treatment processes that have cut our phosphorus discharges into the Mississippi River and other waterways by nearly 50 percent since 2003.

In our annual surveys, Twin Cities residents say the thing they prize most about our region is our natural environment. The Council is making every effort to protect and enhance that environment for future generations.

Peter Bell

October 2006