Old School Meets New, Adams 14 Celebrates Greener School Buses at Community Event

Press Release

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (August 22, 2013) – Adams County School District 14 (Adams 14) invites the community to celebrate the launch of three environmentally friendly propane school buses.  These new buses are the result of funding awarded to Adams 14 by the Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC).

What:   Celebration to highlight the new fleet of propane buses in Adams 14

  • Free hot dogs, chips, and popsicles
  • “Test ride” the new buses
  • Informational booths

When:   Saturday, Aug. 24, 2013,  11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where:  Adams City High School, 7200 Quebec Parkway, Commerce City

In 2012, the District applied for and received  funding  from the RAQC that allowed Adams 14 to replace three older, high-polluting diesel buses with three propane buses. The addition of the new buses will both improve air quality and reduce fuel costs.  Adams 14 is just the seventh district in Colorado to introduce propane school buses. 

The District’s new buses, which are manufactured by Blue Bird, offer many benefits over conventionally fueled school buses. Not only do they reduce carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide and total hydrocarbon emissions, but they also virtually eliminate particulate matter.  Additionally, noise levels on the buses are decreased by as much as 50 percent when compared to diesel counterparts, which makes it easier to hear the children on board.  Fuel costs are also reduced by 40 to 50 percent over diesel buses, and because propane autogas burns cleaner than gasoline or diesel, it results in less engine wear and tear and reduced maintenance costs.

Adams 14 transportation services manager Albert Francisco estimates that replacing the old buses with the new will, on an annual basis, reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 35,800 pounds, save $12,000 in fuel cost and positively impact on-board interaction. 

 “We are pleased to offer improved air quality to our children and our community, as well as significant cost savings to our district, with the addition of these cleaner propane buses,” said Francisco. “We are grateful to the support of the RAQC in helping us make this happen.”

“Both the students and the drivers love the reduced noise,” Francisco continued.  “And, because students don’t have to yell at each other to be heard, there is actually a decrease in student management issues.”

The District took possession of the buses in May; students began experiencing the new buses for the first time at the start of the new school year on August 12.

About Adams 14:
Adams 14 is Colorado’s 26th largest school district, and serves more than 7,500 students annually. Nestled in the historic community of Commerce City, Adams 14 strives to ensure academic success for every student by providing highly effective classroom instruction, supplemental enrichment opportunities and parent/family collaboration opportunities.  To learn more about Adams 14, visit adams14.org.

About the Regional Air Quality Council:

The Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC) is the lead air quality planning agency for the seven‐county Denver metropolitan area. The Council’s main purpose is to develop plans and programs to keep the region in compliance with federal air quality standards, with significant input from area citizens, business, and local governments. The RAQC also develops and implements initiatives to help public and private on and off road operators voluntarily reduce emissions and fuel consumption. To learn more about the RAQC, visit www.raqc.org.

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Charge Ahead Colorado

The Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC) and Colorado Energy Office (CEO) have closed the current Charge Ahead Colorado funding period. The RAQC and CEO will open the next application round in April. The next deadline for funding is 5:00 PM MST on May 1, 2014. 

For more information on Charge Ahead Coloradoa summary of funding amounts, criteria, eligibility and how to apply, please click here.

Photo credit: Ambur Cole Photography

Charge Ahead Colorado Grant Application Open

The Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC) and Colorado Energy Office (CEO) have opened a fourth round of funding for the seven-county Denver Metro Area. The next deadline for funding is 5:00 PM MST on October 1, 2013. 

For more information on Charge Ahead Coloradoa summary of funding amounts, criteria, eligibility and how to apply, please click here.

Photo credit: Ambur Cole Photography

Charge Ahead Colorado Program Brings 41 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations to State

Press Release

Charge Ahead Colorado — a program formed in partnership by the Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC) and the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) to improve air quality and encourage the deployment of electric vehicles — has awarded 13 public entities and two not-for-profit organizations with grant funding to support the purchase of electric vehicles (EVs) and the expansion of EV infrastructure. Overall, the program will provide financial support for the purchase of 10 EV fleet vehicles and the construction of 41 new EV charging stations across the state.

The following entities have received funding from Charge Ahead Colorado:

  • American Lung Association
  • City of Arvada
  • City of Aurora
  • City of Boulder
  • City of Colorado Springs
  • City and County of Denver, Department of Environmental Health
  • City of Durango
  • City of Fort Collins
  • City of Golden
  • City of Lafayette
  • City of Lakewood
  • City of Loveland
  • International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW-68)
  • Pueblo County
  • Town of Carbondale

A list of projects and descriptions may be found here.

The new charging stations supported by the Charge Ahead Colorado Program will increase the total public charging stations in the state from 79 to 116. The 37 public EV charging stations being installed under the program will be placed in easily accessible locations such as court houses and transit centers. Many of them will offer free charging, or allow free charging when regular parking fees are paid.  The additional four private charging stations will allow local governments and other entities to expand the use of EV in their fleets.

“While the number of public and private fleets and individuals interested in electric vehicles has grown in recent years, many have questioned whether there are enough charging stations to truly serve EV drivers,” said Ken Lloyd, executive director of the RAQC.  “We are pleased to be partnering with CEO to offer funding that will help to alleviate these concerns and expand EV infrastructure to support the further adoption of EVs in the metro area and across the state. Our air quality will definitely benefit.”

Charge Ahead Colorado is made possible by two separate funding sources: 1. a federal Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality (CMAQ) grant awarded to the RAQC by the Federal Highway Administration and administered through the Denver Regional Council of Governments and the Colorado Department of Transportation, and 2. Colorado’s state legislature, who in 2009 established a fund within the CEO to administer grants to local governments for electric vehicle infrastructure. The program directly contributes to the RAQC’s efforts to improve the air quality in the seven-county Denver Metro region and CEO’s efforts to continue the upward trend of innovation in the diversity of transportation fuels in Colorado.

“Electric vehicles are a key component of Colorado’s effort to diversify our transportation fuels mix,” said Tom Hunt, Policy Programs Manager at the Colorado Energy Office.  “We are happy to work with the RAQC and our local government partners to remove barriers to EV adoption by expanding access to charging stations.”

The RAQC has opened an additional opportunity for funding for EV and EV infrastructure that will close on July 1, 2013. Interested applicants are encouraged to visit www.cleanairfleets.org for more information. 

RAQC Announces Second Round of EV/EVSE Funding

The Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC) and Colorado Energy Office (CEO) have opened the second round application period for EV and EVSE funding. Applicants should note a number of changes have been made to the application. Applicants are encouraged to review the updated application carefully. 

Based on applicant input during the question and answer session, the RAQC and CEO have made changes and offered clarifications to the EV and EVSE application. The updates are outlined in the Question and Answer Session Responses. To access the document, please click here. Please review this document in its entirety.

Please click here to access the updated application and review a summary of funding amounts, criteria, eligibility and how to apply.