This video was produced by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Information Programs in December 2012. Speakers include Dennis Butler, AC Transit; Daniel Kammen, University of California, Berkeley; Iris Starr, Oakland Public Works Agency; James Pachan, AC Transit; Raymond Davis, AC Transit; and Lindsay Wright, Oakland Tourism Bureau.

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[Dennis Butler] Our region is a very green region.
We serve the people.

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It’s not just carrying them around town, but it's doing it in a way
that’s going to be sustainable for the long term.

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[TEXT: Innovative Cities Oakland, CA. Americans are greening their
transportation systems.]

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[TEXT: Dennis Butler, AC Transit] AC Transit had had a long history
in experimenting and adopting

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alternative energy technologies and green technologies.

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So it just seemed like a way that we could contribute to developing
some environmentally sustainable technology

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by converting 700 buses to compressed natural gas.

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[TEXT: Daniel Kammen, University of California, Berkeley]
Oakland has been one of the hotbeds for taking these ideas and
putting them into practice.

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What can you do to encourage the use of green vehicles?
You start it at the city level.

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[Iris Starr] The city doesn’t own AC Transit;
we work in partnership with them.

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[TEXT: Iris Starr, Oakland Public Works Agency]
If we are doing smart transportation then we are not putting so many
cars on the road.

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[TEXT: James Pachan, AC Transit]
We provide service to about 60 million passengers per year.

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The customers really like it because it doesn’t have any emissions.

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So as it’s traveling down their street, it’s not going to pollute
their neighborhood.

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[TEXT: Raymond Davis, AC Transit]
Since I’ve been driving it, it’s gotten a lot of attention.

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I think the more of them they put out there the better it is.

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[TEXT: Lindsay Wright, Oakland Tourism Bureau]
Other cities could take a look at our AC Transit system and really
learn

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about all the advanced technologies that are taking place right now.

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[Daniel Kammen] Sustainability has been pushed by the public.

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My hope is what happens in California will go nationwide.

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[Dennis Butler] We consider stewardship of the planet to be an
important part of what we do.

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The people we serve are interested in environmental sustainability.

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They love the bus, they love being part of a technology
demonstration program

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that’s going to improve bus service and improve the ecology
everywhere.

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[TEXT: Americans are greening their transportation systems.]

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[TEXT: Share your ideas. Facebook.com/CONX
Facebook.com/ConversationsOurPlanet]

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[TEXT: Produced by the U.S. Department of State]