Transportation Department Is More Green Following Addition of New Emissions Solution

Thanks to a generous grant from Ohio EPA's Clean Diesel School Bus Fund Retrofit Program, Hamilton Local Schools' Department of Transportation was able to purchase and install Donaldson's retrofit Diesel Oxidation Catalyst Mufflers on nearly half of the buses in our fleet. This improvement will allow these buses to cut their diesel emissions by up to 30% everywhere they travel.

Our district is always looking for opportunities to maximize the use of community tax dollars. By receiving this grant, we are able to equip a dozen buses with this new cost-effective, maintenance-free technology that will free up operating funds for other needs within our Department of Transportation.

"We are very thankful to have received this grant," explained district transportation coordinator Barb Haughn. "It has been great partnering with the Ohio EPA and Donaldson to make this upgrade a reality. This upgrade is allowing us to decrease emissions while allowing us to get more out of each dollar our community provides for our daily operations."

According to Ohio EPA's website, grants are funded from civil penalties Ohio EPA collects from environmental violations, and federal grants. Since the program began, Ohio EPA has awarded more than $7 million to retrofit 2,337 school buses with emission controls and 544 buses with idle reduction equipment. These grants have removed more than 145 tons of pollutants from the Ohio skies. Grants have been awarded to 129 school districts and developmental disability programs.

Learn more about the Ohio EPA's program and the Donaldson DOC Retrofit Muffler system that was installed.