Driving a Greener Future

As part of its "Green Fleet" initiative, NCDAC upgrades its transport fleet with cleaner-burning, more efficient models that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Aa part of its Green Fleet initiative, the NC Department of Adult Correction (NCDAC) is replacing 32 aging diesel transit buses with new, cleaner-burning models – helping to modernize its fleet and improve air quality for NC communities. The three-year project, funded by a NC Department of Environmental Quality grant that leverages Volkswagen Settlement funds, is complete.  The final bus hit the road this month.

Together, the new buses will likely travel more than 630,000 miles annually, primarily in rural areas with populations who have higher-risk medical needs and are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change, according to the US Census Bureau and the NC Medical Journal.

“Today’s diesel engines release a fraction of emissions compared to older technology and ensure reliable and cost-efficient transportation for our staff and those in our custody,” said Trish Deal, NCDAC Deputy Secretary of Support Services. “Replacing our aging fleet is a cost-effective, responsible way for us to be good neighbors and contribute to healthier NC communities, too.”

The new buses are already on the road, having replaced high-emission models that were more than 20 years old. Together, the fleet will significantly cut nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) – greenhouse gases that are major contributors to air pollution. Overall, CO2 emissions will be reduced by more than 13,000 metric tons over the vehicles’ lifetime.

One-at-a-time, each of the 32 buses was towed to the agency’s Fleet Management facility in Raleigh, where five men from Wake Correctional Center leveraged their auto mechanics and fabrication skills to drain it of all fluids, remove the radio, antenna, and all communications components.  

As a final step, each bus was crushed at a Garner recycling plant and its parts recycled or disposed of, in keeping with environmental best practices. Each time, NCDAC received a new 44-passenger bus for immediate use.

Other NCDAC Green Fleet initiatives include investing in hybrid and zero-emission vehicles, improving energy efficiency across facilities, and expanding EV charging infrastructure. The agency is working toward replacing its entire fleet with more environmentally friendly transport options. Learn more about NCDAC Sustainability initiatives at www.dac.nc.gov/supportservices.

###