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"THERE'S CHANGE IN THE AIR" - ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLE ARMADA LAUNCHED AT LOGAN AIRPORT WITH UNVEILING OF PUBLIC SERVICE CAMPAIGN

Release Date: 06/20/1996
Contact Information: Alice Kaufman, EPA's New England Regional Office; (617) 918-1064 and Barbara Platt, Massport; (617) 561-1818

BOSTON, MA -- An alliance among public agencies and private companies is making clean air a priority at Logan Airport. The Clean Air Partners -- the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Massport, The NEES companies, and Boston Edison Company -- today launched an armada of clean fuel vehicles at Logan International Airport and unveiled a new clean air public service campaign. The Clean Air Partners are making Logan Airport an international showcase of how airports can improve air quality through the use of new alternative fuel vehicles and technologies.

"Today, too often, the first breath of air visitors to New England take in is a plume of smoke from a bus at Logan. This effort is a giant step toward a friendlier, healthier 'welcome' when you arrive at New England's front door," said John P. DeVillars, administrator for EPA's New England office. "We are transforming Boston's Logan International Airport into a testing ground for cleaner vehicle technologies, and by doing so, we will not only improve New England's air quality, we will advance her economy as well. This modest effort alone is taking thousands of pounds of pollutants out of the air and creating new jobs at three New England companies."

The principal elements of The Clean Air Partners' Logan clean vehicle effort are:

• New England's first electric taxi will begin making runs from the airport to downtown Boston;
• For the first time anywhere, rental car companies have agreed to operate a portion of their shuttle bus fleet on clean fuels. The Dollar, Thrifty and National rental car companies will begin operating compressed natural gas shuttle buses between the airport terminals and the rental car offices at the airport;
• An electric shuttle bus will join the fleet of Massport shuttle buses operating at Logan this summer;
• The Airport Water Shuttle will be powered by a new clean fuel -- biodiesel -- for its regular runs from Rowes Wharf to the airport; and
• A CNG shuttle bus, owned and operated by Massport, will circle the airport transporting approximately 250,000 passengers each year between terminals and to the subway station. The vinyl-wrapped CNG bus is the flagship of the public service campaign, and bears the message: "There's change in the air. It's this bus, powered by clean fuel, compressed natural gas."

• Reduced fare coupons (50 percent discount) for taking the Beacon Management Company's biodiesel-powered water shuttle to the airport;
• Informational brochures on clean fuel technologies;
• Public service advertisements in the airport and at Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) subway stations servicing the airport; and
• A kiosk at the airport with information on clean air, clean fuel technologies, and vehicles at the airport

The average diesel bus emits an estimated 1,000 pounds of pollutants each year. A CNG powered bus emits approximately 50% fewer smog forming pollutants and also produces substantially fewer particulates, or soot, a known human carcinogen.

Massport currently operates 26 shuttle buses that run on cleaner fuels, including compressed natural gas (CNG), and biodiesel, significantly reducing smog causing air pollutants from these vehicles. Each airport shuttle bus travels approximately 45,000 miles per year, three times further than the average automobile travels in that same time. For the first time, rental car companies are choosing to operate vehicles on clean fuels at Logan airport. This project will demonstrate the environmental and economic benefits of a large and diverse fleet of clean fuel passenger vehicles operating in a single geographic location.

"Massport believes in clean fuels," said Massport Executive Director and CEO Stephen P. Tocco. "I am pleased that we have established a clean fuels program and infrastructure that enables Logan Airport to serve as a leader in testing clean fuel technology."

"Long-range ozone transport and vehicle emissions are the two major obstacles preventing this region from meeting our clean air goals," said Jeff Tranen, president of New England Power Company, a subsidiary of The NEES companies. "We feel strongly that the alternative fuel vehicle project at Logan is an important demonstration that cost-effective emission reductions from vehicles are possible through public/private innovation and cooperation."

"Massport and Massachusetts are leading the way in electric vehicle development. This project at Logan Airport, with the support of EPA, showcases that leadership by featuring a car manufactured by Solectria of Wilmington, Massachusetts, funded by Boston Edison, a leading EV advocate, for use in a local taxi fleet," said Carl Gustin, senior vice president of Boston Edison Company. "It marks another milestone in making Massachusetts ready for a new wave of electric vehicle initiatives, which will include two electric buses and an electric van, all of which will be built in Boston for delivery to Logan by year-end."

"I recognize that converting two of our shuttle buses will not have a huge impact on improving the air quality in Boston given the magnitude of the problem, but I'm cognizant of the fact that individuals and corporations alike, are responsible to do their part, taking the first step in improving the quality of air in which they live and work," said Jim Marcotte, co-owner of Thrifty Car Rental Company.

"This is an exciting public/private partnership that introduces innovative technology and new fuels to the public and helps clean the air," said Barbara Kwetz, director of the air quality division for the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.

"It is high time that we got serious about the fact that pollution from vehicle exhaust is responsible for half of the air quality problems in New England," DeVillars added. "Like last summer, we're likely to have thousands of people in Massachusetts alone headed for emergency rooms because of smog in the coming months. We can do something about that, including right here at the gateway to the region -- Logan International Airport."