Fuels & Vehicles

Why do Alternative Fuels matter?

Let’s start with Your Health! Nitrous Oxide (NOx) is a gas emitted from cars powered by fossil fuel engines and is directly linked to respiratory issues. If fewer of these cars are on the road, there will be a reduction in the amount of NOx being pumped into the atmosphere. The World Health Organisation report as many as 7 million people die prematurely every year as a result of air pollution. Here is a breakdown of the averages for outdoor pollution-caused deaths:

In Wisconsin, mobile sources contribute 55% of the total emissions of nitrogen oxides and 24% of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These two pollutants are the main ingredients that create harmful ground-level ozone. These pollution numbers translate directly into serious health risks for you, your family, and your neighbors:

• Breathing Danger: The combination of nitrogen oxides and VOCs leads to high levels of ozone, which acts like a “sunburn” for your lungs. This can trigger health problems, especially for children, older adults, and people with asthma.
• Invisible Killers: Vehicles also emit tiny, fine particles called Particulate Matter 2.5 or PM 2.5. These particles are so small that they can bypass your body’s defenses and enter your bloodstream. Unhealthy levels of PM 2.5 increase the risk of heart disease, asthma, and reduced lung function.
• Climate & Future: Beyond immediate health, transportation is the largest contributor of direct U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, locking in a changing climate that will affect all aspects of our future health and well-being.

Children are especially vulnerable to air pollution from cars, trucks, and buses. Their lungs and brains are still developing, and they breathe faster than adults, meaning they take in more pollution with every breath. Exhaust from vehicles releases harmful pollutants like ozone and fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which can trigger asthma attacks, reduce lung growth, and increase the risk of long-term heart and respiratory disease. Many schools and playgrounds sit near busy roads, creating pollution “hot spots” where kids spend much of their day. The result? More missed school days, more ER visits, and fewer chances for healthy outdoor play.

The good news: choosing cleaner fuels and electric vehicles can make a real difference. Replacing diesel buses, trucks, and cars with low- or zero-emission options helps protect growing lungs, reduce asthma triggers, and create healthier communities for every child. Cleaner air means healthier kids and a stronger, brighter future for Wisconsin families.

Different fuel options can dramatically reduce harmful emissions, leading to healthier air. Below is a quick overview of several cleaner alternatives and their health-related benefits:

Electric Vehicles (EVs):

• Produce zero tailpipe emissions, improving local air quality, especially in dense urban centers.
• Saved the average driver $943 annually in fuel costs in 2024 compared to gasoline vehicles.
• Over a vehicle’s lifetime, drivers can save $6,000 to $12,000 compared to a typical gas-powered car.
• Battery EV drivers can achieve a 75% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional vehicles.

Natural Gas (CNG):

• Burns cleaner than gasoline or diesel, emitting fewer pollutants like nitrogen oxides and particulate matter.
• CNG prices have historically been more stable than gasoline or diesel.
• In January 2025, CNG prices nationwide were $0.07 per GGE less than gasoline and $0.18 per DGE less than diesel.

Propane:

• Lower carbon content compared to gasoline or diesel; emits reduced levels of nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide.
• Especially beneficial for school buses due to simpler maintenance.
• Diesel buses cost $0.38 per mile to operate, while propane buses cost $0.29 per mile for one fleet, saving nearly $1.13 million in fuel costs over one year.
• Propane buses require fewer oil changes and avoid diesel emissions system costs (like DEF systems).

Biofuels (Biodiesel & Ethanol):

• Biodiesel reduces particulate matter emissions; Ethanol lowers carbon monoxide emissions.
• U.S. biomass-based diesel industry generated $42.4 billion in economic activity in 2024.
• Supported 107,400 jobs and benefited the soybean-growing and broader agricultural economy.

Cost: Working for cleaner air is the ultimate economic stimulus for Wisconsin families and businesses. Air pollution from traditional fuels drives up costs for everyone, impacting your personal medical bills, education taxes, and even community productivity when parents miss work to care for sick children. New analysis from the 2035 Report 2.0 projects massive future savings from switching to clean transportation. By 2050, this transition is estimated to save over $1.3 trillion by avoiding environmental and health costs. This unprecedented saving ultimately translates into a reduced financial burden on taxpayers by curtailing public healthcare cost. This immense savings is what you get back: lower healthcare costs for you and your employer, more community productivity, and resources freed up for schools instead of illness.

Specifically, by achieving 100 percent zero-emission passenger vehicle sales and non-combustion clean electricity generation by 2035, the national, cumulative health benefits could reach the following levels by 2050:

• 89,300 fewer premature deaths
• 2.2 million fewer asthma attacks
• 10.7 million fewer lost workdays

Our Call to Action: Partner for Cleaner Air with WCC
WCC provides the resources and technical assistance needed to help organizations and fleets explore and adopt cleaner fuel options, directly supporting community health goals. Work with us to make informed choices that reduce local greenhouse gas emissions and create a healthier environment for all residents. Our team offers:

• Fleet Coaching: WCC has helped members install EV chargers, put together reports that help inform their fleet decisions, and provide information on the opportunities that exist for members to further develop their fleet.
• Funding Support: Letter of Support writing, grant assistance in identification and writing
• School District Coaching
• And more!

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References:

• American Lung Association. (2023). Driving to clean air: Health benefits of zero-emission cars and electricity.
• Clean Fuels Alliance America. (2024). Economic impact of biodiesel on the U.S. economy 2024 [Report].
• National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. (n.d.). Air pollution and your health.
• ROUSH CleanTech. (n.d.). The total cost of ownership for propane school buses.
• The 2035 Report. (2020). The 2035 report 2.0: Accelerate our clean transportation future.
• U.S. Department of Energy, Clean Cities and Communities. (2025). Clean cities and communities alternative fuel price report, January 2025 [Report].
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2024). Westside neighborhoods – environmental justice and air quality assessment [Report].
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.a). Sources of greenhouse gas emissions.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.b). Health and environmental effects of particulate matter (PM).
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.c). Health effects of ozone pollution.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.d). What if one of your cars was electric?.
• Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. (n.d.). Mobile sources and fuels.