Some of the most well-meaning environmental sacrifices, it turns out, are stupid.
The city of Santa Monica, Calif., is prepared to sacrifice hundreds of millions of dollars to achieve environmental purity. During a recent meeting of the city council, council members warned that buying new electric buses would hurt, but insisted the purchase would be worth it when Santa Monica transit becomes completely emissions-free.
“It may be a little bit painful to buy some buses, folks, but it’s our job to do it,” Councilman Terry O’Day said during a council study session in April. “We have the responsibility to lead in this county on these issues and to take the risks.”
What exactly is the cost of that responsibility? More than $500 million over three decades.
According to a city council analysis, transitioning the natural gas burning fleet of 200 buses into zero-emission electric vehicles by 2040 will cost hundreds of millions of dollars. As the Santa Monica Daily Press noted, the analysis only accounted for capital and operational costs. They didn’t even factor in funding for additional construction and infrastructure costs.
This is the lunatic fanaticism driving liberal cities to buy buses they don’t need, and Santa Monica is a particularly zealous convert in pursuit of zero emissions.
Ridership is down in that city as commuters, who are more committed to getting to their destination on time than reducing the collective carbon footprint, call Ubers or take their own cars. As a result, the Big Blue Bus line has lost 20 percent of its passengers in the last three years. And environmental sacrifices are already being made. Santa Monica became the country’s first with a municipal transit fleet run entirely on renewable natural gas with near-zero emissions.
According to an analysis commissioned by the city council, those near-zero natural gas buses cost $2.82 a mile, while a battery powered electric bus goes the same distance for $4.05.
But the city council will endure those expenses. They received a $3 million grant from the state for 10 truly zero-emission buses in April. Council members just gave their blessing to that pilot program Tuesday. Before dropping almost $50 million in taxpayer dollars for buses that fewer and fewer people ride, at least Santa Monica will explore all their options.
Nearby Los Angeles wasn’t as cautious. That city was so eager to rid themselves of diesel and natural gas powered buses they contracted with a Chinese company. Those buses can barely drive up hills, can’t drive reliably for more than 100 miles, and keep breaking down.
But apparently none of that matters when you put environmental zealotry above what commuters actually want.
