Connecticut

School Bus Retrofit Program

The Connecticut Clean School Bus Program was created to: 1) establish grants for municipalities and local and regional school boards for reimbursement of the cost of retrofitting full-sized school buses that are projected to be in service on or after September 1, 2010; 2) develop and implement an outreach plan and educational materials regarding the program, and; 3) assist municipalities and local and regional boards of education and bus companies to retrofit their full-sized school buses. (Reference Connecticut General Statutes 22a-21j and 22a-21k)

Zero Emission Bus Implementation Plan

As part of a state effort to identify strategies to expand the availability and use of hydrogen fuel and renewable energy sources, the Connecticut Department of Transportation, in consultation with the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, Inc., must develop a plan to implement zero emission buses on a state-wide basis. The plan should be completed by December 31, 2010, and include the technological, facility, and financial arrangements necessary to fully implement such a bus fleet, including identifying specific locations for hydrogen fueling stations along state highways and other locations. (Reference House Bill 6649, 2009)

Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Labeling Requirement

The Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection is required to work with the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles to: 1) establish a greenhouse gas (GHG) labeling program for new motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less; and 2) educate the public about the labeling program and GHGs. The label should include the vehicle greenhouse gas score and the average greenhouse gas score for vehicles in the same class. (Reference Connecticut General Statutes 22a-201 through 22a-201c)

Alternative Fuel and Fuel-Efficient Vehicle Acquisition and Emissions Reduction Requirements

Any state agency that purchases cars and/or light-duty trucks for their fleet must: 1) have an average U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimated fuel economy of at least 40 miles per gallon; 2) comply with state fleet vehicle acquisition requirements set forth under the Energy Policy Act of 1992; and 3) obtain the best achievable fuel economy per pound of carbon dioxide emitted for the applicable vehicle classes. Alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) purchased by the state to comply with these requirements must be capable of operating on an alternative fuel that is available in the state.

In addition, at least 50% of all cars and light-duty trucks purchased or leased by the state must be capable of using alternative fuel, hybrid electric vehicles, or plug-in electric vehicles. All AFVs purchased or leased must be certified to the California Air Resources Board's (ARB) Low Emission Vehicle II Ultra Low Emission Vehicle Standard, and all light-duty gasoline vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles purchased or leased by the state must be certified, at a minimum, to the California ARB Low Emission Vehicle II Ultra Low Emission Vehicle Standard. Beginning January 1, 2012, the required percentage of alternative fuel or advanced vehicles increases to 100%. The Commissioner of Administrative Services is required to report annually on the composition of the state fleet, including the volume of alternative fuels used.

Department of Public Safety vehicles that the Commissioner of Public Safety and Commissioner of Administrative Services designate as necessary for the Department of Public Safety to carry out its mission are exempt from these provisions.

(Reference Executive Order 22, 2009, and Connecticut General Statutes 4a-67d)

School Bus Emissions Reduction

Prior to September 1, 2010, each full-sized school bus with an engine model year of 1994 or newer, transporting children in the state, must be equipped with specific emissions control systems, including either: 1) a closed crankcase filtration system and a level 1 device, level 2 device or level 3 device; 2) an engine certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to meet Model Year 2007 emission standards; or 3) use compressed natural gas or other alternative fuel certified by the EPA or the California Air Resources Board to reduce particulate matter emissions by at least 85% as compared to ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel. (Reference Connecticut General Statutes 14-164o)

Low Emission Vehicle Standards

The Commissioner of Environmental Protection has adopted regulations to implement the light-duty motor vehicle emission standards of the state of California for vehicles with a model year of 2008 or later. (Reference Connecticut General Statutes 22a-174g)

Emissions Reduction Credits

Any state mobile emission reduction credits program must allow credits for emission reductions achieved by converting a vehicle to operate on an alternative fuel when such conversions are eligible for such a credit, even if the conversion took place before the credit program began. (Reference Connecticut General Statutes 22a-174i)