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Cupertino became one of the first cities in Santa Clara County to make a commitment to clean air when it adopted a resolution in support of clean fuel vehicles on April 7.
The unanimous decision means that the city will purchase clean fuel vehicles such as electric, hybrid-electric and compressed natural gas vehicles for its city fleet whenever possible.
"It's important for the city to be a role model on clean air education as well as adopting clean air policies," said Councilwoman Dolly Sandoval, who has worked with the American Lung Association to bring the resolution to Cupertino. "It's just a smart way to save our planet and protect our health."
One of the major benefits of having clean air is a healthier environment for all residents.
According to the American Lung Association, one of the leading factors causing asthma and other breathing difficulties is smog from high-emission vehicles.
"I think the increasing asthma rate has really opened people's eyes to how bad the air really is in California," said David Dias, spokesperson for the American Lung Association of Santa ClaraSan Benito Counties. "And it's not just caused by diesel. The emissions from a lot of automobiles, such as sport utility vehicles, are very bad for the environment."
According to Dias, the number of people with asthma has more than doubled in the past 20 years nationwide. Currently approximately 150,000 people in Santa Clara County have some type of breathing difficulty.
These figures have led eight American Lung Association affiliates in California to initiate the Clean Vehicle Resolution in numerous communities. So far 25 cities have passed the resolution statewide, including three cities in Santa Clara County—Los Gatos, Morgan Hill and Cupertino.
"We've been receiving unanimous support from all the cities; it's just been wonderful," Dias said. "We're not asking cities to replace their public safety and emergency vehicles, such as firetrucks and ambulances. And we're not asking cities to replace their fleet overnight. We're simply asking them to share the responsibility of reducing air pollution by acquiring zero- or low-emission vehicles whenever possible."
In addition to environmental and health benefits, there are other incentives for cities to use zero- or low-emission vehicles.
Dias said that although electric, hybrid and natural gas vehicles might cost more than regular vehicles, cities save more money on gasoline in the long run.
"It also helps to lessen our dependence on Middle Eastern oil," Dias said.
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