Action Alert -January 2006

Help Reduce Air Pollution in Illinois!!

PLEASE CALL YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE TODAY at 217-782-2000. ASK HIM or HER TO VOTE YES ON HB 4782,

A bill to limit diesel idling!!

The following is background on the issue:

HB 4782 would prohibit unnecessary idling of diesel vehicles and would reduce harmful air pollution from fine particulate matter and toxic gases. Emissions from diesel engines contribute large quantities of pollutants into the atmosphere including fine particulate matter, as well as toxic gases such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide. Diesel engines account for more than 75% of all fine particles in the air. The fine particles of the particulate matter become lodged in the lungs or adsorbed into the bloodstream. The US EPA has linked emissions from diesel exhaust to asthma attacks, lung cancer, cardiopulmonary disease and cardiovascular disease. Children and older adults are especially at risk.

Illinois wants clean air!

Two thirds of Illinois residents still live in areas that don’t meet minimal health standards dues to deadly fine particle soot. Diesel vehicle emissions account for much of this pollution. Thirty states, counties and cities have already passed legislation limiting idling of diesel engines, including New York, Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, California, Denver, and St. Louis.

Limited idling saves fuel and maintenance costs

For large trucks, the idling of a diesel engines can waste up to a gallon of gas per hour. In addition to the cost of fuel, the idling also adds to the maintenance costs due to the wear and tear on the engine. This bill seeks to reduce unnecessary idling of trucks and buses. For vehicles of 8,000 lbs or more, such idling would be limited to 5 minutes in a 60 minute period. The bill contains exceptions for emergency vehicles, maintenance reasons, low temperatures (<32F), mandated rest periods for drivers with sleeper cabs, airport equipment, bus passenger safety, transit buses on bus routes, safety inspections, and production agriculture vehicles.

Alternatives to long duration idling are available

Many trucks idle at rest stops in order to provide heat or air conditioning and electricity to the cab. Long distance truck drivers typically stop for rest periods lasting 6-8 hours per day, over 300 days per year. The energy consumed by idling the truck engine is far in excess of energy need to heat the cab. The vast majority of fuel consumed during long duration idling can be saved and air emissions reduced by installing one of several idle control technologies currently on the market that provide heat, air conditioning and electrical power. Such technologies include small auxiliary engines or truck stop electrification.

Please call your state representative to let him or her know that we want clean air in Illinois. Ask him or her to vote YES on HB 4782.