Bill Overview
Title: California Clean School Bus Equity Act
Description: This bill removes a limitation on amounts that may be provided under the clean school bus program administered by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Sponsors: Rep. Porter, Katie [D-CA-45]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals who benefit from cleaner school transportation
Estimated Size: 53000000
- The Clean School Bus Equity Act aims to provide more funding for clean school buses which would potentially reduce air pollution and improve health outcomes for students.
- It also benefits bus drivers, school staff, and communities by reducing diesel emissions and improving air quality.
- The bill impacts school districts across the U.S. that can apply for grants under the clean school bus program.
Reasoning
- The target population is centered around students, bus drivers, and school staff who are directly impacted by the change in school bus emissions.
- A significant portion of the U.S. population will likely have no direct impact from this policy, so it's reasonable to include interviews from unaffected individuals.
- Considering the policy's budget constraints, direct impacts on Cantril wellbeing may vary greatly across demographics due to the regional and situational differences in exposure to bus emissions.
- The indirect benefits such as improved air quality could have a more widespread impact, even among those who do not directly interact with school transportation.
- Individuals working in industries related to clean energy technology may see indirect employment benefits.
- The policy has a long-term horizon, with full effects projected over 20 years, making it necessary to take into account the prolonged timeframe for assessing wellbeing changes.
Simulated Interviews
School Bus Driver (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy will help reduce my exposure to harmful diesel fumes, which is a huge relief.
- I hope it will also help other drivers and the kids' health.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
School Principal (Sacramento, California)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Cleaner school buses would contribute greatly to student health and reduce absenteeism.
- It's also a step towards more sustainable practices in education.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Student (San Diego, California)
Age: 15 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm excited about not smelling diesel every morning on the way to school.
- My parents are also relieved because I'm asthmatic.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Environmental Policy Analyst (Chicago, Illinois)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's a great initiative, but it will need strong implementation support.
- The ripple effect could be substantial if managed well.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Retired Engineer (Austin, Texas)
Age: 63 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Cleaner buses are a win for public health and the environment.
- I hope they expand this federally and inspire other states.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Public Health Researcher (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy will provide valuable data for examining health outcomes linked to transportation emissions reductions.
- It's a significant step towards demonstrating the benefits of cleaner transit systems.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Student (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 17 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This change aligns with my environmental values and our school club's mission.
- It's uplifting to know policies are being enacted for such positive environmental change.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Mechanic (Detroit, Michigan)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm curious about how my skills will transfer as more electric buses are used.
- There's potential for new opportunities and trainings, which is exciting.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
City Planner (Houston, Texas)
Age: 25 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This initiative is a proactive measure supporting broader environmental goals.
- I'm hopeful but aware that funding and follow-through are key.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Environmental Activist (New York, New York)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is inspiring as it marks progress toward clean transportation goals.
- Continual advocacy is necessary to ensure governmental adherence and expansion.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $500000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $600000000)
Year 2: $525000000 (Low: $420000000, High: $630000000)
Year 3: $551250000 (Low: $441000000, High: $661500000)
Year 5: $605437500 (Low: $484550000, High: $726750000)
Year 10: $768991406 (Low: $615193125, High: $922860203)
Year 100: $500000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $600000000)
Key Considerations
- The adaptation period for schools to switch from traditional to electric buses can vary significantly.
- The initial cost increase can be offset by long-term savings in health and maintenance.
- There is inherent uncertainty in estimating the exact savings from health benefits, making this an approximate forecast.