Karin Dowdy




Saratogan commended for natural-gas vehicle efforts

Karin Dowdy recognized as clean air champ

By Jason Baker

Karin Dowdy doesn't see herself as an environmentalist. She simply thinks officials are overlooking an innovative and practical solution to a growing air-pollution problem. Besides taking giant steps toward helping remedy the situation, Dowdy has been awarded for her efforts.

Dowdy said that through research she has learned that compressed natural gas, or CNG, has enormous potential as a clean fuel. Her interest in the subject was sparked about 10 years ago by PG&E vehicles that had stickers on them proclaiming that they were burning clean natural gas. Dowdy began to research the subject, and continued to work with officials even after PG&E moved its CNG operation to the East Bay. The more people she spoke to, the more she understood that CNG was being overlooked as a fuel resource, she said.

Dowdy said that research has shown that compressed natural gas, when used instead of gasoline, reduces noxious emissions by about 75 percent. And constant haggling over inefficient public transit systems coupled with the inherent American desire to drive personal vehicles indicates no break in the growing congestion on Bay Area roadways. "It seemed to me CNG would be most accessible to the majority of people for the least cost," Dowdy said.

After being appointed to the Saratoga Public Safety Commission and serving on the Board of Trustees at West Valley-Mission Community College District, Dowdy continued promoting her vision to eliminate air pollution. With representatives from several South Bay cities and Santa Clara County, she founded the South Bay Clean Cities Coalition. The coalition was recognized for its efforts by the U.S. Department of Energy, which also recognized the South Bay as a U.S. Clean Cities Region.

Upon realizing that no one vehicle fleet in Saratoga was large enough to justify the cost of a CNG fueling station, Dowdy pulled together fleets from West Valley College, the Postal Service and the city of Saratoga. Between them, they had enough vehicles to qualify for funding to build a CNG fueling station in the city's corporate yard and convert dozens of vehicles to run on CNG. The station opened in 1996, and 50 or more CNG vehicles are still in use by the organizations.

In recognition for her efforts, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District selected Dowdy as a 1999 Clean Air Champion. The award, co-sponsored by the American Lung Association of the Bay Area, RIDES for Bay Area Commuters and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, honors individuals for their exceptional efforts to help reduce Bay Area air pollution. Winners will be honored at an awards ceremony on Sept. 1 in San Francisco.

"These awards help recognize individuals who go above and beyond to clean up air pollution, based simply on their own drive and desire," said Luna Salaver, spokeswoman for the district. "Karin helped get 50 gas-guzzling cars off the road and replaced them with clean-air technology. She is the first award winner to focus on CNG technology. It's important that we recognize these individuals for their contributions to clean air."

Along with the award, Dowdy will receive a new mountain bike courtesy of Voodoo Cycles in Sunnyvale.

Dowdy said many vehicle manufacturers are beginning to produce a significant number of alternative-fuel vehicles. She suspects many will initially be designed as bi-fuel vehicles, giving drivers the option to use gasoline when natural gas is not available. Additionally, Dowdy helped Assemblyman Jim Cunneen to draft AB71, which would allow clean-air vehicles to travel in carpool lanes, providing another incentive for people to use clean-air vehicles. Dowdy said the bill so far has received positive support from legislators.

"We should be looking for the best way to accommodate what people want to do and are going to do," Dowdy said. "You can't force people out of their cars."

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