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Nov 11, 2008 9:30 pm US/Central
DART Controversy: Foreign Oil Or Natural Gas
Which New Buses Should DART Buy?
Reporting
Jack Fink
DALLAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
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This summer's high gas prices raised awareness of how much this country relies on foreign oil. Energy independence is a hot topic in North Texas, but are residents willing to pay more for alternative fuels?
DART is faced with that question in its decision to purchase more than 500 new buses for use in 2010.
State agencies have sent letters to the board recommending natural gas buses. Billionaire T. Boone Pickens' company submitted a bid it says would cost less than diesel.
But DART staff says diesel buses are cheaper and more economical. They are recommending the board select clean diesel buses over those powered by compressed natural gas (CNG).
At first, DART said CNG buses would be $53 million more expensive than diesel to buy, operate and build fueling stations.
But four months later, DART officials say CNG would be $200 million more because the price of clean diesel has dropped. Some board members raised doubts.
"You're trying to sell us on 537 diesel buses without giving us the full information that we need," said Jerry Christian, DART board member.
"I'm very concerned," said Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert. He points to the T in Fort Worth, which has used CNG buses for nearly 20 years.
Leppert favors CNG because it's produced locally in the Barnett Shale.
"At some point we have to be in the position of turning our back and eliminate the dependence we have on foreign oil," he said. "Unfortunately, diesel doesn't do that. DART isn't going to change the world on it, but its those sorts of decisions we have to make."
But DART's board chairman favors clean diesel, saying the more expensive CNG buses would impact DART's other projects.
"We just may not be able to build as quickly as we like," said Randall Chrisman, DART Board Chairman. "Fares we always look at it as a separate issue."
The clean diesel bus engine hasn't won EPA certification yet, but DART believes that will happen. The DART board has delayed a vote twice now, but could decide next month.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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