VERMONT COALITION TO REDUCE VEHICLE IDLING (VCRVI)

Vermont Coalition to Reduce Vehicle Idling (VCRVI)
“Turn Off the Key and Breathe Free”

A broad-based coalition of organizations working together with the common mission of reducing vehicle idling in Vermont.

VCRVI Statement of Purpose

CURRENT COALITION MEMBERS

MEETING: APRIL 27, 2009

The coalition's first meeting took place April 27 at the State Office Complex in Waterbury.
For a full outline, see meeting minutes.

Meeting overview:

A. Funding of idling initiatives including:

• Idle-Free VT grant proposal to work with commercial fleet operators

• American Lung Assoc. and VT Clean Cities Coalition joint grant proposals to fund a Rutland County pilot idling reduction program

B. Strategies for furthering idling reduction including:

• Legislation: several strategies and actions to secure passage of H.97, commercial truck idling bill in 2010

• Education: business as in the proposed commercial fleet operators project, and general public as in the proposed Rutland County pilot program

• Schools: specifically increased participation of school districts in the school bus no idling law on school property to apply the optional provision in this law for all other vehicles on school property

MEETING: JUNE 18, 2009

The coalition had its second meeting at the State Office Complex in Waterbury.
For a full outline, see meeting minutes.

Meeting overview:

A. Fleet vehicle update: Don Ostler of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, as the coalition's truck advocate, spoke with members of the VT Truck and Bus Assn. (VBTA): Roland Bellavance, President, and Ed Miller, VBTA Lobbyist. They expressed concerns about enforcement of potential legislation to limit diesel idling (H.97) and listed exemptions desired.

B. Name of group / mission: The group brainstormed about a coalition name and mission, based on the most effective way to achieve the goal of idling reduction. See Minutes for specifics on a proposed name and mission statement, drafted by Paul Markowitz of the Sierra Club.

C. Working with schools: Paul Markowitz of the Sierra Club continued his contacts with schools with the primary goal of implementation of an idlling policy on school premises for vehicles other than school buses as an option in the school bus idling law.

MEETING: NOVEMBER 4, 2009

The coalition had its third meeting at the State Office Complex in Waterbury.
For a full outline, see meeting minutes.

Meeting overview:        

A. Updates:
• UVM Transportation Research Center (TRC) to look at idling behavior in Rutland
• Colchester giving money to its school district to develop eco driving component as part of driver's education
• Eco driving training presented by UVM TRC to maximize efficiency
• Idle-Free VT: updates on op-eds, Dummerston passed no idling resolution, replenished pamphlets for DMV, Environmental Action Conference display with American Lung Assoc., support and speaking engagement for 4H Youth Environmental Council Meeting on vehicle idling in Vermont
• VT Community Climate Change and Energy Conference, Lake Morey 12/5. Deb Sachs wondered if one of the towns could facilitate a round table about idling

B. Vermont Idle-Free Fleets campaign: American Lung Assoc. received a $15,000 grant from DEC for fleet operators idling reduction campaign. Wayne Michaud hired as coordinator. Discussion on outreach, publicizing campaign

C. Other efforts:
• Jennifer Green states DPW approves update of Burlington no idling ordinance now enforceable year round
• Paul Markowitz is contacting School Boards Assoc. and Superintendents Assoc. asking them to remind members of the option in the school bus idling law for other vehcles on school property in their newsletters

D. H.97: discussion on educational component, exemption language, enforcement language and issues, and potential advocates to help with bill passage

E. Other business: work with towns/energy committees to adopt no idlng resolutions, directly with selectboards and via article petitions for town meetings