COUNTYWIDE : Clean Air Funds Weighed for 3 Plans

South Coast Area Transit should receive 15 new buses fueled with compressed natural gas, according to a citizens advisory group studying ways to use a new $1.5-million Clean Air Fund.

The buses are among three spending recommendations from the fund’s advisory committee that the Board of Supervisors will consider Tuesday.

In addition to $300,000 for the new buses, the committee also recommended that $75,000 be given to the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District to develop an air pollution education program for high school students.

Another $20,000 should be awarded to the Ventura Unified School District to pay for renovation of the solar heating system at Buena High School’s swimming pool, the committee recommended.

The Clean Air Fund was established in 1991 by 3M Co. of Camarillo to provide money for projects that improve air quality in the county.

It may be the only one of its kind in the state.

Money in the fund came from 3M’s sale of banked air-pollution credits to Procter & Gamble’s Oxnard plant.

The company earned the credits, monitored by the Air Pollution Control District, by reducing pollution-causing emissions beyond the level required by county regulations.

According to company officials, 3M created the fund because of a company policy against profiting from the exchange of emission credits.

The spending plan for the fund specifies that $300,000 remain in a permanent endowment and that the balance be spent in $400,000 increments in three consecutive years.

If the supervisors approve the funding recommendations, the nonprofit Ventura County Community Foundation would be authorized to release the funds.

The foundation is holding the $1.5 million in a trust.

However, SCAT officials have not decided whether they want compressed natural gas buses.

The funds could only be used for the compressed natural gas buses and installation of a refueling station for the buses, officials said.

SCAT’s board of directors is also considering buying new diesel buses equipped with better pollution controls.

The board is expected to decide early in 1993.

“The availability of Clean Air Fund monies for this project could influence this decision,” states a report from Richard Baldwin, Air Pollution Control District officer.

SCAT officials could not be reached for comment.

Although the new diesel buses are cheaper, according to air pollution control engineer Mike Villegas, buses fueled by compressed natural gas have lower emissions.