MACON, Ga. — Wilkes County Schools (WCS) has marked the historic milestone of becoming the first school district in Georgia to serve all of its 25 daily bus routes exclusively with zero- and ultra-low-emission school buses. WCS’ new fleet of electric and propane-powered buses eliminates regular diesel bus routes, significantly improving air quality for students and the surrounding community, while also significantly reducing operating costs.

Blue Bird Corporation (Nasdaq: BLBD), the leader in electric and low-emission school buses, delivered 5 electric and 12 propane-powered school buses to Wilkes County Schools. The company’s electric school buses generate zero emissions and can carry approximately 60 students up to 130 miles on a single charge.

WCS can considerably lower its operating expenses by replacing diesel with electric school buses due to reduced fuel and vehicle maintenance costs. School districts have reported paying a mere 19 cents per mile in energy costs for electric buses compared to fuel costs of up to 79 cents per mile for their diesel buses.

WCS will also rely on Blue Bird’s industry-leading propane buses for its student transportation needs. Blue Bird’s propane buses for the school district can carry approximately 60 students around 250 miles on a single tank of propane autogas. Propane school buses generate 96% fewer harmful emissions than their diesel counterparts.

In addition, propane-powered school buses help the school district to lower the total cost of ownership of its bus fleets by realizing fuel and maintenance cost savings of up to $3,700 per bus annually compared with diesel buses. WCS presently operates a fleet of 22 Blue Bird propane buses. Thus, the school district could save more than $1.2 million over the 15-year life of its vehicles.

“We are proud to be among the first school districts in the nation to launch a fleet of all electric and propane-powered school buses,” said Michelle Smith, superintendent of Wilkes County Schools. “Blue Bird’s zero- and ultra-low-emission school buses will help us to create a healthier environment for our students and our communities at-large while significantly lowering our operating costs. Together, we have transformed our ambitious vision of clean, sustainable student transportation into a reality.”

“We are delighted to supply Wilkes County Schools with our industry-leading, electric and propane-powered school buses,” said Albert Burleigh, vice president of North America bus sales at Blue Bird Corporation. “Moving forward, students on all 25 daily routes will travel exclusively on zero- and ultra-low-emission buses to and from school. We applaud Wilkes County Schools for putting student and community health first.”

The leading provider of school bus fleet electrification-as-a-service, Highland Electric Fleets, installed five new Tellus charging stations to support the district’s five electric school buses. These chargers allow WCS to utilize overnight and downtime charging, ensuring the buses are always ready to meet transportation needs.

“We’re thrilled to be one of the partners helping Wilkes County Schools transition to a fully clean school bus fleet, bringing lasting air quality to students and cost-saving benefits to the school district,” said Duncan McIntyre, CEO of Highland Electric Fleets. “By adding electric school buses and charging infrastructure, WCS is investing in healthier, more resilient communities, while ensuring that students have a safe, reliable ride to school every day.”

WCS received a $2,335,000 grant through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) highly effective Clean School Bus Rebate Program to purchase its Blue Bird electric and propane-powered school bus fleet. This program is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) which provides a total of $5 billion over five years for clean school bus transportation nationwide. The EPA has already awarded nearly $3 billion through the landmark bipartisan initiative. The program to date will enable more than 1,300 school districts nationwide to replace old diesel buses with nearly 9,000 electric and ultra-low emission vehicles.

Blue Bird is the only U.S.-owned and operated school bus manufacturer in the United States. The company remains the proven clean transportation leader with more than 2,000 electric-powered, zero-emission school buses in operation today.

In addition, Blue Bird is the only school bus manufacturer in the United States to offer propane-powered school buses. Today’s propane engine is 90% cleaner than the most stringent federal emission standard set by the EPA. New and even stricter emission standards will take effect in 2027. Blue Bird’s ultra-low emission, propane-powered school buses exceed those emission standards already today.

Wilkes County Schools purchased its advanced electric and propane-powered vehicles through Blue Bird’s authorized school bus dealer Yancey Bus Sales & Service in Austell, Ga.

About Blue Bird Corporation

Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) is recognized as a technology leader and innovator of school buses since its founding in 1927. Our dedicated team members design, engineer and manufacture school buses with a singular focus on safety, reliability, and durability. School buses carry the most precious cargo in the world – 25 million children twice a day – making them the most trusted mode of student transportation. The company is the proven leader in low- and zero-emission school buses with more than 20,000 propane, natural gas, and electric powered buses in operation today. Blue Bird is transforming the student transportation industry through cleaner energy solutions. For more information on Blue Bird’s complete product and service portfolio, visit www.blue-bird.com.

About Wilkes County Schools

Located in historic Washington, Georgia, Wilkes County Schools serves approximately 1,250 students within a diverse and inclusive rural community. Guided by the vision of “Excellence Without Exception,” the district is dedicated to transformative education, offering robust programs in STEM, fine arts, Career and Technical Education, Advanced Placement, and dual enrollment. With a commitment to critical thinking, lifelong learning, and educator development, Wilkes County Schools fosters a safe, innovative learning environment. Grounded in community collaboration and a tradition of continuous improvement, the district prepares students to excel in an ever-evolving, competitive global workforce. For more information, visit www.wilkes.k12.ga.us.

About Highland Electric Fleets

Highland Electric Fleets is the leading provider of electrification-as-a-service for school districts, governments, and fleet operators in North America. Founded in 2019, Highland offers a unique suite of products that make it simple and affordable to upgrade to electric fleets today. Active in 30 states and Canada, Highland is responsible for the first use of electric school buses in a commercial vehicle-to-grid (V2G) program and the largest electric school bus project in the United States to date. To learn more, visit www.highlandfleets.com.

The post Wilkes County Schools Leads Way as Georgia’s First District with All-Clean School Buses appeared first on School Transportation News.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it tentatively selected 70 applicants to receive over $735 million from the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program for the purchase and implementation of zero-emission heavy duty vehicles, including electric school buses.

EPA stated on Dec. 11 that the applicants span 27 states, three Tribal Nations, and one U.S. territory.

The School Bus Sub Program portion of the grant includes $490 million to fund new zero-emission electric school buses and associated infrastructure and looks to deliver approximately 70 percent of total funding to school bus replacement projects. The funds being awarded will go toward the purchase of over 1,600 electric school buses.

EPA also said it will be working with the selected applicants to finalize award details and “currently anticipates finalizing awards in early calendar year 2025 once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied.” Depending on the scale of each individual project, implementation will occur over the next two to three years.

Some of the grant fund allocation for zero-emission buses and infrastructure include an anticipated $35 million to Boston Public Schools to replace 125 diesel and propane school buses with electric school buses as well as purchase chargers for the buses. Multiple school districts in California are slated to receive funds. Over $20.3 million is destined for Los Angeles Unified School District to replace 50 fossil fuel-powered school buses and $15.1 million to Oakland Unified School District to replace 60 of its buses with electric school buses.

A full list of tentative applicants and project fund amounts can be found here.

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Related: EPA Announces Nearly $900M Awarded in Latest Clean School Bus Rebate
Related: Preparing for Electric School Bus Infrastructure
Related: (STN Podcast E221) EV Prognostication, Garage Star Perspective on NY Electric Pioneer Suffolk

The post EPA Awards Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program Funds Nationwide appeared first on School Transportation News.

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is offering to fund local education agencies (LEAs) in the state to purchase propane-powered school buses.

The Missouri Propane Education and Research Council said in a press release that DESE is providing $970,000 million in funding to school districts for the purchase of the propane school buses. School districts can apply for up to four propane buses at $24,250 each.

Application consideration will be based on data received. At the time of the release last month, the DESE said it had received over two dozen applications and about dozen more spots were available.

Guidance from DESE stated that school buses must meet certain eligibility requirements, including being a 2024 model or newer equipped with an EPA certified engine, and purchased rather than leased. LEAs will need to provide a title, certificate of origin, or a purchase order to the department, showing the purchase of the buses with grant funds, by June 15.

The applications are due Dec. 15. DESE stated that “after the initial application period, should funds remain available, a second round of funding will be offered using the same criteria that will be applied to the first round.”

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Related: Missouri Director of Transportation Furthers Safety and Sustainability
Related: Propane Best Immediate Option For Greening Fleet, Says Rural Missouri School District
Related: School Districts Replace Diesel Buses with Propane, Electric

The post Propane Bus Grant Provides Funding Opportunities for Missouri Districts appeared first on School Transportation News.

A new U.S. president will be announced to the world this month. Why does the outcome of the 2024 presidential race play a role in advancing school transportation? I believe the outcome will have a significant impact on the future of electric school buses, particularly through policy direction, federal funding, and regulatory support for clean energy initiatives.

The public perception and imagery of the dirty, black smoke-spewing school bus are things of the past. Today’s buses are cleaner, greener and safer than ever. Does the
school bus industry have a chance to shift the public’s perception of school buses as being antiquated? Absolutely.

Headlines abound, especially in the wake of the growing zero-emission school bus movement. Remember when Kamala Harris couldn’t resist sharing her love for school buses? “Who doesn’t love a yellow school bus?” she asked, emphasizing the nostalgic bond so many Americans have with these iconic vehicles.

This increased attention isn’t a coincidence. It aligns with an unprecedented wave of federal funding. The latest application round of EPA Clean School Bus Program funds offers $986 million dollars in rebates. I hope you’re taking full advantage of these funds to modernize your fleet, as it might be the last time we see this sort of unprecedented federal funding.

If the winning administration prioritizes green energy and climate action, could we expect continued or even increased federal support for electric school buses? Congress would have a say, but the Biden-Harris administration has already demonstrated strong support for transitioning to zero-emission vehicles. A new administration with similar priorities could push to expand these programs, increase funding, and implement more aggressive timelines for phasing out diesel buses. Conversely, an administration less focused on climate change might reduce or eliminate such funding, slowing the progress toward electrification in school transportation.

Still, some transportation directors have told me electric school buses don’t make sense for their school districts because of battery range limitations, or they simply found them too complex to navigate with local utilities and infrastructure partners.

At STN EXPO West in Reno, Nevada, this past summer, I heard a lot of renewed interest in diesel school buses, which are cleaner and more efficient than ever before. Yet while newer models and engine technologies have made great strides due to EPA and California Air Resources Board emission standards, the reality is that environmental concerns and negative public perceptions persist, especially in districts where budget constraints prevent timely fleet upgrades. Many school districts are still relying on aging, less fuel-efficient buses, with older engine or emission technology that contributes to a larger carbon footprint.

Federal regulations on emissions standards play a key role in driving the transition to electric vehicles. A president who prioritizes environmental regulations would likely continue or strengthen mandates that push school districts to adopt electric buses over traditional diesel ones. Tighter emission rules could force the retirement
of older, higher polluting buses, creating an increased demand for electric alternatives. Conversely, a president who favors deregulation might relax emission standards, making it easier for school districts to continue operating older diesel fleets without financial or regulatory pressure to upgrade.

Perceptions are shaped by media coverage, politics, public opinion, and how well we communicate the advancements in school bus technology and environmental impact. With the right messaging, we can shift the narrative toward one that highlights the progress we’re making.

In many cases, the gap between perception and reality boils down to communication. Stakeholders—parents, school officials, and government representatives—need to understand the complexities of operating school buses, including the challenges posed by budget limitations and aging vehicles. We also need to emphasize the advancements being made, particularly with green energy.

The yellow school bus is more than a means of transportation. It’s a symbol of family, education and community. The time is now to redefine the public’s perception and showcase the modern realities of school transportation.

The presidential race will either accelerate or slow the adoption of electric school buses, depending on the winning candidate’s stance on environmental policy, regulatory frameworks, infrastructure development, and economic incentives. A government committed to sustainability and clean energy would likely propel the school bus industry toward an electric future.

Whatever the outcome of this election, it’s up industry stakeholders like you to spread the word about the benefits of all school buses—a future that’s safer, greener and cleaner than ever before.

Editor’s Note: As reprinted in the November 2024 issue of School Transportation News.

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Related: (STN Podcast E216) Right Tools & Right People: Driver Shortage, Electric Buses & More in NY
Related: Why the EPA Shouldn’t Favor Electric School Buses
Related: 5 Ways Large Districts Can Improve Transportation Operations with Technology
Related: Managing Transportation Data and Keeping It Safe

The post Red, Blue, Green & Yellow appeared first on School Transportation News.

FRISCO, Texas — Attendees heard about the health, monetary and operational benefits of propane autogas school buses in a Friday session during the Transporting Students with Special Needs and Disabilities Conference.

“What did you do differently, and how did you do it?” This was the question asked of Diana Mikelski, director of transportation for District 211 in Illinois, after she transported students with special needs to school in a propane-powered school bus rather than a diesel one. During the Friday session, sponsored by Blue Bird and the Propane Education & Research Council, she shared that educators were impressed with how calm, quiet and ready to learn the students were when they arrived at school.

She shared that her drivers also benefit from the cleaner air when loading and unloading students. Furthermore, both drivers and aides can hear and speak to students onboard without shouting. When the special needs propane bus was replaced with a diesel one during repairs, a parent noted that his child much preferred the quieter propane.

Steven Whaley, a Blue Bird alternative fuels manager, noted that noise and temperature considerations may be part of some students’ Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Mikelski confirmed that both aspects could be much better managed on a propane bus.

In addition to students on special needs routes, those on general education routes also profit from the quiet, clean propane buses, Mikelski added. “I’m glad they can all enjoy these benefits,” she said.

“It’s also helping staff as well,” she said. Now her drivers prefer driving the propane buses, with some noticing fewer health symptoms. The rumbling noises and fuel smells are missing with propane buses as well, leading to community approval.

Mikelski said she had good buy-in with her mechanics due to all the work involved with diesel buses. “It’s a learning curve but once they knew it, they loved it,” she declared. The district doesn’t go through parts as fast and her budget has improved, she shared.

“We are constantly saving with propane,” she said.

Implementing Propane

Whaley reviewed Blue Bird’s current offerings of diesel, gasoline, propane and electric school buses as well as how they measure up to the continuously tightening California Air Resources Board and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency emissions standards.

For those districts that may struggle with electrification, he proposed propane solutions as that fuel is safe, clean, easily accessible and good in cold weather. He shared stats from Anthony Jackson, transportation director for Bibb County School District in Georgia, showing that propane is about the same as diesel in cost per mile.

Tom Hopkins, business development manager for Blue Bird energy partner ROUSH CleanTech, explained that despite the current abundance of EV funding, districts should consider whether they can acquire, run, and train staff to operate those buses if said funding should wane.

Considering everything required of a school bus operation, Hopkins said that propane provided a relatively easy and cost-effective option to swap to. He noted that propane buses are about half as noisy as diesel buses, providing a “cleaner, healthier, safer ride to school.”

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Related: School Districts Replace Diesel Buses with Propane, Electric
Related: School Bus Contractors Share Why They Switched to Propane
Related: Why the Solution is Propane and Electric for Bus Fleets
Related: Green Bus Summit Spotlights Clean School Bus Progress

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Brian Raygor, national autogas business manager for propane provider Ferrellgas, addressed the scalability of propane autogas refueling infrastructure. There are permanent, temporary and mobile configurations.

He reviewed some options that the School District of Philadelphia had taken advantage of when it added 38 propane-powered school buses to its fleet on October 24.

“We can build the stations to meet your needs,” he declared.

Regarding contingencies, Raygor reviewed a rapid repair and mobile fueling solution that was put in place to assist Kansas City Schools when a school bus propane pump went down. Whaley advised districts to utilize the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fueling Station Locator so they will have fuel when needed.

The post Students, Staff at Illinois District Approve of Propane School Buses appeared first on School Transportation News.

School bus seat belt legislation is back in Congress. STN’s November issue includes features on industry leadership, EV battery technology, and more.

“We find a way to make it happen.” Craig Beaver, administrator of transportation for Beaverton School District near Portland, Oregon, and the 2024 STN Transportation Director of the Year, discusses the paths that led him to his current storied leadership position, as well as the knowledge and technology that goes into school bus driver retention and clean bus trailblazing.

Read more about leadership.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

 

 

Message from School Radio.

 

 

Stream, subscribe and download the School Transportation Nation podcast on Apple Podcasts, Deezer, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and YouTube.

The post (STN Podcast E234) Leadership, Awarded: Meet the 2024 Transportation Director of the Year appeared first on School Transportation News.

The transition to electric school buses (ESBs) is revolutionizing student transportation and helping school districts across the U.S. reduce their environmental impact. However, many districts have encountered significant challenges with charging infrastructure, especially when it comes to cost and complexity. First Charge^TM, a patent-pending, modular, and scalable solution, is designed by school bus operators for school bus operators to address these very challenges.

Unlike traditional charging systems that require costly trenching and construction, First Charge^TM utilizes an innovative hub-and-spoke design with all components installed above ground. This eliminates the need for extensive subsurface work, significantly reducing installation costs and speeding up deployment. The system is highly flexible, capable of adapting to fleet growth and operational changes over time.

Available in four different configurations—including ground-based and floating options for areas prone to flooding—First Charge^TM ensures districts can meet their electrification needs efficiently and affordably. The system supports up to 45 chargers and is available through a convenient subscription model that includes energy management, maintenance, and fleet optimization.

Download the full white paper to learn how First Charge^TM can help your district overcome the challenges of electrification and achieve sustainability goals.

Fill out the form below and then check your email for the white paper download link.

The post (Free White Paper) Transforming Electric School Bus Infrastructure with First Charge™ appeared first on School Transportation News.

LOS ANGELES, Calif.- GreenPower Motor Company Inc. (NASDAQ: GP) (TSXV: GPV) (“GreenPower”), a leading manufacturer and distributor of purpose-built, all-electric, zero-emission medium and heavy-duty vehicles serving the cargo and delivery market, shuttle and transit space and school bus sector, today announced it has undertaken a process of selling its tradable emissions compliance credits earned under various regulations related to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, fuel consumption, renewable energy and clean fuels.

“Through the manufacturing and sale of GreenPower’s all-electric, purpose-built, zero-emission commercial trucks, passenger vehicles and school buses, we have generated hundreds of tradable credits and will continue to generate significant numbers of tradable credits” said GreenPower CEO Fraser Atkinson. “We are in discussions with a number of traditional OEM manufacturers and have also engaged veteran brokerage firm, Kardos & Associates LLC, to assist us in selling our credits, which if a sale is completed, based on Tesla’s success in trading credits, could generate significant potential revenue for GreenPower. Given the increasingly more stringent emissions standards being implemented by state and federal regulators, the demand for credits is increasing and GreenPower is positioned to benefit by supplying traditional OEMs with the credits needed to ensure compliance with the regulations.”

California’s Advanced Clean Truck (ACT) regulation, EPA’s Phase 3 GHG regulation, NHTSA’s Fuel Consumption Credit program, and other state-level mandates each include credit trading programs that provide manufacturers enhanced compliance flexibility and the opportunity for reduced compliance costs through the acquisition of credits. Through these programs, manufacturers have the opportunity to earn credits by exceeding the emissions standard specified in the regulations. Once generated, the credits can either be used to offset internal deficits or traded to other manufacturers. Being a manufacturer of all-electric trucks, GreenPower has no internal deficits and is thus positioned to trade every credit it generates. Entities interested in participating in GreenPower’s process of selling the tradable credits can contact Fraser Atkinson at fraser@greenpowermotor.com.

About GreenPower Motor Company, Inc.
GreenPower designs, builds and distributes a full suite of high-floor and low-floor all-electric medium and heavy-duty vehicles, including transit buses, school buses, shuttles, cargo vans and a cab and chassis. GreenPower employs a clean-sheet design to manufacture all-electric vehicles that are purpose-built to be battery powered with zero emissions while integrating global suppliers for key components. This OEM platform allows GreenPower to meet the specifications of various operators while providing standard parts for ease of maintenance and accessibility for warranty requirements. GreenPower was founded in Vancouver, Canada with primary operational facilities in southern California. Listed on the Toronto exchange since November 2015, GreenPower completed its U.S. IPO and NASDAQ listing in August 2020. For further information go to www.greenpowermotor.com.

The post GreenPower Has Generated Hundreds of Tradable Credits And Undertakes Process to Sell its Carbon Credits appeared first on School Transportation News.

Working to achieve energy resilience isn’t just about implementing electric school buses into a district fleet. It also keeps students and communities served during natural disasters and power outages.

An information-packed webinar examined U.S. electric school bus adoption rates and challenges while sharing stories of several school districts that achieved energy resilience for emergency preparedness and low-emissions goals.

Numbers Increasing

Marcus Gilmore, senior advisor of clean mobility strategy for webinar sponsor ENGIE North America, shared on Wednesday that over 12,000 electric school buses (ESBs) serving approximately 230,000 students across 49 U. S. states were awarded, ordered, delivered, or are operating as of this June. The stats are courtesy of the World Resources Institute Electric School Bus Initiative data dashboard, which indicates that 12,241 ESBs were committed as of Oct. 1.

California unsurprisingly leads with 3,110 buses. New York, Maryland, Florida, Virginia and Texas each have anywhere from 385-764 buses. Georgia, Oregon, Oklahoma, Mississippi and South Carolina are in the game with over a hundred buses each.

“This leadership is driven by state policies and funding programs,” he explained. “Understanding these factors can help improve adoption rates.”

The rollout will continue as California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, New York, and Washington state all have binding school bus transition goals while other states have non-binding goals or have ESB-promoting legislation in the works.

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Related: Low-income Areas Need Electric School Buses the Most, WRI Analysis Indicates
Related: Training School Bus Technicians for an Electric Fleet
Related: WATCH: STN EXPO Reno Live Stream – The Scalability of Electric School Buses

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Sources of funding include the historic U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program that has awarded $2.8 billion to school districts to date, with more funding to come. In the latest round, applicants can request funds for 25 to 50 buses, doubled from the previous round. Eligible replacement buses can be electric, CNG or propane, and there are scrappage requirements for old buses.

For better acceptance chances, he encouraged districts to have a complete, detailed application that focuses on community improvement.

Gilmore also highlighted regional funding programs in New York, New Jersey, Texas, Illinois, Colorado and California.

EPA also expects 70 percent of the $932 million available through the Clean Heavy Duty Vehicles Program to go toward school buses.

Neal Bartek, ENGIE’s project director of microgrids, noted that federal agencies and utilities can also help with funding for infrastructure projects.

Challenges & Solutions

Before ordering electric school buses, districts may face a lack of funding, charging infrastructure, or even of the awareness of the benefits of these vehicles. These, Gilmore said, can be solved with research, government funding and collaboration with utilities.

“It’s crucial to have a clear strategy and to make sure you have effective stakeholder engagement when you’re in the initial stages of planning for your fleet transition,” Gilmore said.

He also advised collaborating with utilities “frequently and early.”

He added that it’s important to know details like which chargers will fit with which buses and what routes the buses will be running, so the correctly specified equipment can be procured. “Definitely build flexibility into your plan,” he said, since this technology is rapidly developing.

Gilmore shared that some tech schools can help train district staff on ESBs and that ENGIE is available to help as well.

ENGIE can help districts find and apply for grants they may have missed, he added.

School Districts Seek Energy Resilience

Neal Bartek, ENGIE’s project director of microgrids, dove into the topic of energy resilience, which is defined as the ability to withstand and rapidly recover from power outages and continue operating energy-dependent services. He explained that a resilient power system reduces the likelihood of long-duration outages, limits the scope and impact of outages when they do occur, and rapidly restores power after an outage.

Driving this demand is climate change and natural disasters like Hurricanes Helene and Milton that recently struck Florida, increasing energy demands, cybersecurity concerns, decarbonization goals like the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, technology advancements in renewable energy and batteries, and more.

Sustainable microgrids are a large part of this conversation, Bartek said. In a school transportation setting, the infrastructure typically consists of onsite solar photovoltaic (PV) generation, battery energy storage, a source of backup generation, smart chargers, and integrated microgrid controller.

When the grid is operating normally, these can be used to lower utility costs, he explained. When the grid is disrupted, they function independently to continue to power necessary components like buses and buildings.

He reviewed the situation of Santa Barbara Unified School District in Southern California, where schools served as safe havens during the Thomas Fire in December 2017. To better prepare for the future, district staff started looking into energy resiliency solutions to preserve critical energy loads during emergencies and power outages.

ENGIE’s comprehensive solar PV and microgrid solution was selected with the company completing system design, installation and maintenance. This was financed by a 28-year, no money down, Power Purchase Agreement, where ENGIE maintains ownership and maintenance responsibilities of the system.

Santa Barbara USD now has the benefits of operating critical facilities during power outages, backing up lighting, food storage, data and communication systems; reducing its utility bills with about 90 percent of the district’s annual energy needs met by solar; and having expert operations and maintenance handled by ENGIE.

The El Dorado Union High School District (EDUHSD) serves approximately 7,000 high school students in central California. Increasing prevalence of wildfires in the county has led to utility-mandated public safety power shutoff events.

EDUHSD had previously successfully mitigated its rising electricity costs by partnering with ENGIE to install solar PV panels on its parking shade structures. It next retrofitted three schools with LED lighting to reduce energy consumption and turned two campuses into sustainable microgrids by adding solar PV panels, battery energy storage, and a diesel generator which only kicks in when battery levels fall below 20 percent.

“The district’s schools can operate regardless of utility outages and can support the local community as a place of shelter and access,” Bartek shared.

He confirmed that EDUHSD achieved $6.4 million in net cost savings over the life of the project, a 77 percent reduction in consumption of electricity from the grid, and the carbon emissions reduction equivalent to removing 120 cars from the road.

“The ability to create a predictable environment where we can open and power our schools, and keep our students in class, regardless of what is happening with the grid, is wonderful,” said Superintendent Ron Carruth.

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Related: Webinar Takes Student Transporters Into eBus Express Lane
Related: (STN Podcast E221) EV Prognostication, Garage Star Perspective on NY Electric Pioneer Suffolk
Related: Electric School Bus Manufacturing Included in Nearly $2B Federal Energy Grant
Related: Updated: Rising Insurance? Additional Balancing Act Needed Amid Electric School Bus Push

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Located in northern San Diego County, San Marcos Unified School District serves 19,500 students in a 55-square mile territory that extends into four cities. In planning for an electric bus fleet, district officials needed to ensure continuity of operations during emergencies and other grid interruptions.

The district partnered with ENGIE to install 40 ESB chargers with smart charging software, electrical infrastructure for 35 future chargers, onsite solar PV and battery energy storage, and microgrid controls and backup generation. Bartek said this resulted in a $40 million net energy cost savings, including 46 percent reduction in electricity costs.

LED lighting, battery energy storage, and HVAC mechanical replacements were also installed.

“There are a lot of incentives out there. I got really lucky finding ENGIE. They’ve been a great partner to work with,” stated Executive Director of Transportation Mike Sawyer.

Bartek noted that energy resilience can be used to provide food, shelter and warmth for displaced residents or emergency service providers.

He also reviewed factors ENGIE needs to know when planning and sizing an energy resiliency system, such as what the current infrastructure is like, how much load districts need backed up, for how long, and how fiscally conscious they need to be.

Watch the webinar on demand.

The post Webinar Reviews Community Benefits of School Bus Electrification appeared first on School Transportation News.

LISLE, Ill. — Please join IC Bus for a detailed webinar for customers in states adopting EPA, CARB and GHG regulations in 2025 and how they will affect us in the coming years. We will also go over the new bundled solutions and how they can help our customers in their zero emissions journey.

We will be offering a date for ACT only adopting states and ACT + Omnibus adopting states. Please register for the webinar date/ time below that works best for your situation by clicking the corresponding link below.

• Date: Thursday, October 17, 2024
  Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM CT
  For: 2025 ACT Only Adopting States (NJ, NY, WA)
  Register for this webinar.
• Date: Friday, October 18, 2024
  Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM CT
  For: 2025 ACT + Omnibus Adopting States (CA, MA, OR)
  Register for this webinar.

The post Join IC Bus For Legislative Update Webinars appeared first on School Transportation News.

School bus electrification in the US has come a long way in the past decade, with especially robust growth in the past two years. School districts across the nation have committed to purchasing more than 12,000 electric buses, and there are over 3,500 already on the road.

Though broadly positive, these results don’t tell the whole story. In fact, districts vary widely in their progress on the fleet electrification journey. Those in the earliest stages are working on obtaining buy-in and making sense of constantly evolving funding incentive programs. Those that have ordered vehicles must carefully time and plan the deployment of supportive infrastructure. And those that already have vehicles in operation are navigating energy cost management and resiliency challenges.

This new webinar sponsored by ENGIE North America will update K-12 fleet professionals on the current state of bus fleet electrification, explore technical requirements, and help prepare business cases for each stage of the journey.

Drawing on a long history of providing eMobility and other sustainable energy solutions to K-12 districts, ENGIE experts will share:

• A breakdown of adoption rates and trends: national, regional, and equity-focused
• A review of recent and upcoming incentive programs, with application windows
• Challenges and best practices for each fleet electrification stage
• Case studies on deployments of eMobility infrastructure, including the latest trend in K-12: sustainable microgrids

Brought to you by ENGIE North America

REGISTER BELOW:

 

Presenters:

Marcus Gilmore
Senior Advisor, Clean Mobility Strategy
ENGIE North America

Gilmore has over a decade of experience in the clean energy sector, leading impactful sustainability initiatives for corporations, cities, and governments. At ENGIE, he works with organizations to develop and implement strategies for transitioning to zero-emission vehicle fleets and other clean energy solutions. Previously, Gilmore led multiple state and utility market transformation programs accelerating electric vehicle adoption, charging infrastructure deployment, and medium/heavy-duty vehicle fleet electrification. He holds a MS in PR and Corporate Communications from NYU and an MSc in Major Program Management from the University of Oxford.

Neal Bartek
Project Director, Microgrids
ENGIE North America

Bartek has more than 20 years’ experience leading diverse, cross-functional teams to success in projects across varied domains such as distributed energy resources (DER), IT, and traditional utility infrastructure including pioneering microgrid and advanced energy storage projects. Prior to ENGIE, he held multiple roles at San Diego Gas & Electric. He holds a BS in Operations Research and Industrial Engineering from Cornell University.

The post (Free Webinar) Current State of School Bus Electrification: Adoption Rates, Emerging Trends & Challenges appeared first on School Transportation News.

School districts will once again have funding opportunities to replace diesel school buses with zero- or low-emission vehicles through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Clean School Bus Program.

The Clean School Bus Program is a five-year, $5 billion program that was signed into law through the 2001 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law by President Joe Biden. It provides $5 billion over fiscal years 2022 through 2026 to fund the replacement of zero- and low-emission school buses. Under the CSBP grant and rebates, the EPA stated almost $3 billion was awarded to fund approximately 8,700 school buses, approximately 95 percent of which are zero-emission.

The EPA announced on Thursday the opening of the 2024 CSBP rebate application period, which the agency anticipates awarding up to $965 million, with the potential to modify the number based on the application pool and “other factors,” EPA stated.

The application will remain open until Jan. 9, 2025, at 4 p.m. EST.

Additionally, EPA now doubles the maximum allowed number of school buses funded per application from 25 to 50. Eligible applicants can apply to receive funds for electric, propane and/or compressed natural gas buses. Plus, the funds can go toward the purchase and installation of charging infrastructure, workforce training, consulting costs for bus deployments and bus warranty costs.

The EPA added that it will also provide additional funding per bus for ADA-compliant buses and for applicants not located in one of the lower 48 contiguous states to cover shipping.

Available Funding Per School Bus: 

 

Electric School Buses
Priority:
Up to $325K + charging for Type D
$245K + charging for Type A & Type C

Non-priority:
$170K + charging for Type D
$115K + charging for Type A & Type C

 

Propane
Priority:
Up to $35K for Type D

Up to $30K for Type A & Type C

Non-priority:
Up to $25K for Type D

Up to $20K for Type A & C

 

CNG
Priority:
Up to $45K for Type D

Up to $30K for Type A & Type C

Non-priority:
Up to $30K for Type D
Up to $20K for Type A &C

Source: EPA

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Related: Inspector General Report Cites Inefficiencies in EPA Clean School Bus Program
Related: EPA Takes Technology-Neutral Approach in Finalizing Phase 3 GHG Rule
Related: EPA Funds 2,675 More Electric School Buses Across 36 States
Related: Low-income Areas Need Electric School Buses the Most, WRI Analysis Indicates
Related: Second Installment of Zero Emission School Bus Funding Available in N.Y

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Applicants will also be required to submit one or more of the following supplemental forms: school district approval certification (for third-party applicants such as eligible contractors and nonprofit school transportation associations), school board awareness certification, and/or utility partner template (for those applying for EV buses).

All forms must be signed by an authorized representative prior to submitting the application, the EPA stated.

EPA said it anticipates notifying applicants of their section status in May 2025. Read more about the 2024 rebate program.

The post Fourth Funding Opportunity for EPA Clean School Bus Program Opens appeared first on School Transportation News.

PHOENIX, Ariz. – GreenPower Motor Company Inc. (NASDAQ: GP) (TSXV: GPV) (“GreenPower”), a leading manufacturer and distributor of purpose-built, all-electric, zero-emission medium and heavy-duty vehicles serving the cargo and delivery market, shuttle and transit space and school bus sector, today announced it has received a series of orders for six GreenPower all-electric, purpose-built, zero-emission school buses from its Arizona dealer RWC Group. The school buses, funded under the EPA Clean School Bus Program, are for three different school districts in Arizona, and RWC Group is currently working on additional orders of GreenPower all-electric school buses funded by the Program.

“The GreenPower Type D BEAST and Type A Nano BEAST all-electric school buses are perfectly designed to meet the needs of school districts in Arizona,” said Tom Hartman, General Manager Bus for RWC Group. “The BEAST that was deployed earlier this year at the Phoenix Elementary School District No. 1 has performed as expected without any issues, getting kids to and from school in a safe, cleaner and sustainable fashion.”

Under the orders placed by RWC, Osborn School District #8 in Phoenix will receive three Type D BEAST school buses, Joseph City School District will receive one Type D BEAST and one Type A Nano BEAST, and Roosevelt School District No. 66 in Phoenix will receive one Type D BEAST. All six buses are funded from grants awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Clean School Bus Program. The Clean School Bus Program was funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and has $5 billion in funding over five years to replace existing school buses with zero-emission and clean school buses.

“It is exciting to see more GreenPower all-electric school buses being purchased for Arizona schools,” said GreenPower President and father Brendan Riley, who lives in the Phoenix area. “GreenPower’s all-electric, purpose-built, zero-emission school buses have established the new standard of performance, safety and sustainability in the school bus market. At GreenPower we understand the importance of providing safe transportation for school children to and from school and for extra circular activities and are pleased to manufacture school buses that provide for that ride in a clean, healthy environment.”

GreenPower’s BEAST is a purpose-built, 40-foot Type D , zero-emission school bus with seating for up to 90 passengers. Designed from the ground up as an all-electric vehicle, the BEAST is a unified structure that features a seamlessly integrated aluminum body made from extruded aluminum manufactured by Constellium on a high strength steel Truss (bus) chassis. Its complete flat floor design allows for tracking with no obstacles, and the high floors keep students out of the crash zone. With a range of up to 150 miles, the BEAST has the largest pass-through storage of any school bus on the market. The dual port charging is standard, with Level 2 rates up to 19.2 kW and DC Fast Charging rates up to 85 kW, with wireless charging also available as an option.

The School Transportation News award-winning Nano BEAST has a standard 118 kwh battery pack and a range of up to 140 miles. Configured for up to 24 passengers, it features a seamlessly integrated aluminum body made from extruded aluminum manufactured by Constellium. The dual port charging is standard, with Level 2 rates up to 19.2 kW and DC Fast Charging rates up to 60 kW, with wireless charging also available as an option.

About GreenPower Motor Company, Inc.
GreenPower designs, builds and distributes a full suite of high-floor and low-floor all-electric medium and heavy-duty vehicles, including transit buses, school buses, shuttles, cargo vans and a cab and chassis. GreenPower employs a clean-sheet design to manufacture all-electric vehicles that are purpose-built to be battery powered with zero emissions while integrating global suppliers for key components. This OEM platform allows GreenPower to meet the specifications of various operators while providing standard parts for ease of maintenance and accessibility for warranty requirements. GreenPower was founded in Vancouver, Canada with primary operational facilities in southern California. Listed on the Toronto exchange since November 2015, GreenPower completed its U.S. IPO and NASDAQ listing in August 2020. For further information go to www.greenpowermotor.com.

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Many of the exhibitors attending the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo for the past several years have decidedly transitioned to featuring green energy for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. Much of that reason has to do with unprecedented federal funding for electric vehicles and infrastructure.

But amid the growing EV footprint, a 125-year-old company that drew its name from castor oil and transitioned to become a global leader in producing petroleum-based oil and lubricants stood out at the Las Vegas Convention Center in late May for its sustainability game plan.

A month earlier, Castrol introduced MoreCircular, its new brand for the collection of used lubricant and re-refining it to the same quality as newly lubricant for reintroduction into fleets. Castrol is working with environmental services company SafetyKleen Sustainability Solutions, a subsidiary of Clean Harbors, for a “one-stop-shop solution for lubricant supply and collection,” Castrol said in April.

The goal, the company added, is to provide lower-carbon-footprint lubricants that meet the same high performance and quality standards of newly produced lubricants. “Responsible collection” is available from anywhere in the continental U.S.

“We’re open for business,” Andreas Osbar, president and CEO of Castrol Americas, told School Transportation News on the ACT Expo exhibit floor on May 21.

Despite the five-year, $5 billion Environmental Protection Agency Clean School Bus Program pushing the adoption of electric school buses, Osbar said he is well aware that at least 80 percent of the school bus industry continues to operate on diesel or at least traditional engine lubricants. And with MoreCircular, he said fleet managers no longer need to sacrifice quality for a reduced carbon footprint.

“The operating expense for a fleet operator comes from how often do I need to change the oil and what does the oil cost me,” Osbar continued. “What we take pride in over the last two decades, especially in the refuse segment or the construction segment, is that we’ve helped our customers to maximize drain intervals and to also effectively get into preventive maintenance. We can tell a customer something is wrong with the equipment, and we’d recommend taking maintenance or [at] minimum changing the oil. Now we can do that even combined with lower carbon footprint.”

Transforming lubricants has been a big part of Osbar’s job, even before being named to his current post in October 2022. Previously, he was vice president of transformation for Castrol Lubricants, and before that a consultant leading the development and implementation of the negotiation strategy of Europe’s largest utility for a large-scale transformation program. He also served in various roles of lubricant development and sales, including at BP, which aquired Castrol in 2000.

STN sat down with Osbar at ACT Expo to learn more about MoreCircular and what it could mean for fleet operators.

Editor’s note — STN is an official media sponsor of ACT Expo. The following transcript has been edited for clarity.

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Related: State of Sustainable Fleets: Industry Rises to Meet Peak Complexity with Unprecedented Innovation and Investment
Related: Districts, Contractors Discuss School Bus Electrification Journey at ACT EXPO

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STN: Castrol was the only oil-based company at ACT Expo. Why MoreCircular and what does it do?
Osbar: We have a very clear commitment to make the company net-zero carbon and also to help customers as well as countries and regions on their pathway to decarbonization. So, this whole topic of finding ways to reduce hydrocarbon, that’s kind of big. We at Castrol have passed a strategy that’s called Castrol Path 360, which is our commitment to basically halve the carbon intensity of our products until 2030 [and be a net zero brand by 2050, according to BP]. If you then look at the options that you have, most of the carbon footprint that you can reduce is around the materials that you use, in order to produce the lubricant. When I stepped into the role here, we looked at the landscape. What we found was that the re-refining industry, first of all, was in a pretty good place. And also, the collection of waste [in the] industry was pretty well penetrated, there’s a lot more to be done, because only 20 percent of the waste oil is actually getting collected in the U.S. But at least there is 20 percent. In some other markets, in Southeast Asia, China, it is actually less than that. One thing that we then did very early on is enter into conversations with SafetyKleen because the challenge previously obviously was, hey, you have redefined base oil, but the quality of that was deemed inferior. We had to trade off between the lower carbon product and the premium quality. And what we’ve done together with SafetyKleen and through our technology investment is to bring the quality of a product, including re-refined base oil, to the premium quality of that we have as Castrol. And tat’s I think the innovation. We then obviously said for this to become really convenient and meaningful to customers we have to combine both collection as well as the sale of re-refined into one offer. That’s what MoreCircular is all about.

STN: How does this solution fit with emerging predictive, AI-based analytics and actionable maintenance items?
Osbar: Our current offering is a combination of product, in-service and used oil analysis. Effectively, we are overlaying algorithms already to used oil sample data. Through two decades of datasets, various equipments, various types of engines, for various operating conditions, we can tell when something’s not right. And we can even make recommendations with regard to maintenance intervals, what type of equipment might be actually better suited for a certain operating condition. What we’re now exploring to come back to your question is to partner with Intangles, which is a basically a telemetry
provider. We have an exclusive relationship with them. And what we’re now doing is to bring our used oil analysis data together with them to have an integrated offering for fleet managers. And that again, in combination with MoreCircular, I think it is going to be a very powerful value proposition that we’d love to share with more and more fleets throughout the U.S.

STN: Can you talk a little bit more about the relationship with SafetyKleen? What is the company doing for Castrol and MoreCircular? How did you how did that relationship come together?
Osbar: We looked strategically at the market and said, Look, who are the biggest and most widely spread in the sense that give us most coverage? Because one key thing for us was whatever we do, it needs to be nationwide available in the U.S. Whether you are in Oregon or Washington State, down in Florida, you need to be able to provide the same service and the same product quality wherever you are. And if you apply that lens, there aren’t that many players that are available. SafetyKleen right from the get-go has been a great partner. We’ve been talking about a collection partnership, where we would, if a customer is interested in MoreCircular, say, hey, that waste oil that you have it’s going to be picked up by SafetyKleen, and SafetyKleen guarantees that a minimum of 95 percent of that collection is actually being put back into re-refining and being effectively recycled. And the great thing is because of their operation and the great business that [Clean Harbors Founder, Executive Chairman and Chief Technology Officer] Alan McKim, [SafetyKleen President] Brian Weber and that team have built, they can offer the same service level regardless where you are in the states. On the re-refining space, we’ve done quite a lot of work together on the technology front to get a formulation based on their base oil that is high quality but it does behave a little bit different than virgin base oil. But to get that to the same quality level and to the same quality standard than the usual Castrol product, right. And on those two things, we have collaborated. And we’re both excited about the prospect of this because we believe it can potentially be a transformative moment for the lubricants industry in the U.S.

STN: Despite the ramp up to EV, there’s going to be diesel, gasoline or propane operating in school buses for some time.
Osbar: As long as there’s an internal combustion engine, whether it’s in a hybrid application, or regardless of the fuel type, we feel pretty confident that we can offer the right product range with MoreCircular that serves the respective fleets. Obviously in electric vehicles, there’s no motor oil. We also have offerings, but that goes more into our EV fluids, right, because in an electric vehicle you still have lubrication points. They’re fundamentally different. So, we feel pretty good about that. And we know that the future powertrain situation for the commercial vehicle and heavy-duty space including school buses, that’s going to be diverse. I think that’s the best way to describe it. A lot of it will depend on availability and affordability of different commodities. Hydrogen might play a role, depending on the availability and the affordability of a fuel cell. You could also find that hydrogen might be used in an internal combustion engine, that might happen, right. We’ve been working with a few companies in Europe to trial that also. And then you also need a lubricant for that. So, I think we’re in a good place. They’re agnostic of that. I think the important piece is we have a solution available for customers that can save between 20 to 40 percent of Scope 3 CO2 emissions, and we feel that is a significant contribution, if somebody is serious about decarbonization.

STN: Tell us more about EV lubricants.
Osbar: They are different because you have got to think, first of all, in the electric engine itself, there’s obviously nothing. There is no piston, there isn’t anything to be lubricated. But then there is a bearing that you need in an electric motor that needs grease. That’s something that we’re looking into. And then there is still a transmission, right, and that transmission does need to be lubricated. Now, with electrical power, you basically need dielectric (insulating) products that do not interfere with the electricity that is basically around it, right. And that’s why we’ve been investing in it for the last 10 years. And we have a market leading position actually on the fluids side. That’s something that we’re excited about that we continue to work with OEMs. And we also believe that there’s a third lubrication point that’s upcoming, which is around thermal management, which is basically advanced cooling solutions of batteries. That’s also something that we’re actively looking into.

STN: Might EV fluids be available for recapture by MoreCircular?
Osbar: Some of them are filled for life by definition, others will have service intervals. Wherever there are service intervals, our intent is to try to get them into a circular mode. Now, the composition of these fluids is different. And that’s overall going to be the challenge. As the engine technology becomes more advanced, the requirements and lubricants change. Usually, there’s a fuel efficiency and viscosity reduction, which means that the lubricants have to be thinner to reduce friction and make the engine more efficient. And for that you need different and higher quality base stocks and producing them re-refined. That’s a challenge. But again, that’s something that we’re actively looking into together with our partner SafetyKleen to ensure that we stay ahead of the sort of technical frontier.

STN: And ultimately a product like MoreCircular is better than disposing fluids.
Osbar: The worst thing for everybody including the environment, is some stuff getting disposed into the environment. That’s the worst. The second worst thing is if it’s getting burned because that produces hydrocarbons. The best thing is getting recycled. And again, I think we’re giving fleet operators and customers choice because you can have a virgin product that’s same as it always been for the last 20 to 30 years, or you can get into a lower carbon footprint product, which is ours that is the same quality. And that’s just a greater choice. And I think that’s a good thing.

STN: Thank you.

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Related: (STN Podcast E212) On the Horizon: Technology Showcases & Clean Bus Discussions at ACT Expo
Related: Oregon School District, First Student Win Fleet Awards at ACT EXPO
Related: Gallery: ACT EXPO 2024

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The World’s Resource Institute Electric School Bus Initiative published a 68-page on the geographic distribution of school buses, fuel types and their emissions control technology.

WRI said the goal of the analysis released last month is to understand what school districts and populations are exposed to emissions from the oldest, most polluting school buses as well as which socioeconomic characteristics of districts are implementing electric school buses (ESB).

The research found that the most polluting buses in the U.S. — those that are older and lack modern emissions reduction technology — are operated in school districts with higher shares of low-income households and residents of color. But, WRI notes these districts are also at the front of the ESB transition. Rural school districts are also more likely to have older buses, however their fleets are also smaller overall.

WRI identified Oklahoma, Idaho, Oregon, Kansas and South Dakota as the top five states with the greatest number of pre-2010 diesel school buses in operation. The analysis found that 75 percent of all Oklahoma buses are pre-2010 diesel buses, followed by Idaho at 55 percent.

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Related: Second Installment of Zero Emission School Bus Funding Available in N.Y
Related: 2024 Green Bus Fleet Awards Announced at STN EXPO
Related: WRI Releases Comprehensive Electric School Bus Dashboard
Related: Electric School Bus Commitments Nationwide Rise Significantly

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Meanwhile, the report states, “As of Dec. 31, 2022, there were 5,612 committed ESBs across all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.” The figure includes 21 ESBs in five tribal schools and one private school operated by a tribal nation. States with the most committed ESBs are California with 1,852, followed by Maryland at 361 and New York at 310.

Aas of June 2024, the Electric School Bus Initiative website shows ESB adoption has grown to a total commitment of 12,164 buses, two-thirds of which were funded by the EPA Clean School Bus Program. Of those buses, the Electric School Bus Data Dashboard says 4,502 are in operation nationwide with 5,977 awarded ESBs and 1,717 ordered ESBs

Read the full report.

The post Low-income Areas Need Electric School Buses the Most, WRI Analysis Indicates appeared first on School Transportation News.

Another $200 million will soon be headed to school districts that must meet a state mandate to purchase electric school buses starting in 2027.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the second round of $500 million available to school districts and bus contractors on Monday. The first round of $100 million was announced last October. The New York School Bus Incentive Program (NYSBIP) distributes the funds, which are part of the $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Clean Jobs Environmental Bond Act approved by voters two years ago. NYSBIP provides support for the purchase of electric buses, charging infrastructure or fleet electrification planning as public schools transition to zero-emission technologies.

Administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), NYSBIP provides incentives to eligible school districts and bus fleet operators purchasing electric buses. The funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis with funding covering up to 100 percent of the incremental cost of a new or repowered school bus. Also available are vouchers that can help offset the cost of installing Level 2 or DC fast chargers. All New York school districts also qualify for funding for fleet electrification plans.

“Paving the way for zero-emission school buses not only cleans our air, it protects the health and wellbeing of our students,” Gov. Hochul said in a statement. “With increased funding for schools to transition to clean transportation options, we are reducing harmful emissions and pollution, helping to ensure that both students and residents are breathing clean, fresh air and enjoying healthier environments to live, work and do business.”

All new school buses purchased statewide as of Jan. 1, 2027, must be zero emissions. All school district and contractor fleets must also be 100 percent zero emissions by 2035. The NYSBIP defines zero emissions as electric or hydrogen fuel cell school buses, though only the former are currently available.

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Related: $100M Available for New York Zero-Emissions School Buses as Deadline Nears
Related: New York Pushes Forward with Electric School Bus Mandate Despite Opposition
Related: Utility Honors The Mobility House for Charging Innovation in New York City
Related: New York State Amends School Bus Camera Law Following Court Rulings

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Priority districts identified as high-need school districts and disadvantaged communities are available to receive larger funding amounts.

Since NYSBIP’s launch, a press release states that more than 75 school districts, 51 located in disadvantaged communities, have applied for funds to purchase 350 buses. Almost half of the state’s districts are working with NYSERDA to create Fleet Electrification Plans, and to date 250 districts have already started developing plans. More than 100 districts are in the process of applying for fleet planning in coordination with their local BOCES districts, the release adds.

The post Second Installment of Zero Emission School Bus Funding Available in N.Y appeared first on School Transportation News.

This content is brought to you by the Propane Education & Research Council. 

Last month, the Environmental Protection Agency announced awards for round three of its clean school bus rebates. As with previous rounds, most of the funding went to electric school buses. To date, the EPA program has allocated more than $2.8 billion for 8,427 electric school buses and 440 low-emissions propane buses.

While the five-year program justifiably aims to replace the nation’s aging, dirty diesel buses, electric models should not be the default replacement of choice. Research shows that more affordable options can lead to lowering emissions faster.

School buses travel more than 3 billion miles each year, providing transportation to more than 25 million American children every day. The rebates, therefore, have the potential to make a huge impact on air quality and decarbonization by replacing existing school buses powered by diesel. EPA’s Clean School Bus Program allows applicants to request battery-electric, propane or compressed natural gas buses.

Eliminating diesel-powered buses is a vital goal. Diesel fuel has a high carbon intensity, and when burned, emits ground-level air pollution that is unhealthy to breathe. Electric vehicles address some of the problem, but don’t actually solve the climate change issues we face today.

Unfortunately, the U.S. electric grid is not as clean as most people think. While renewable energy is being added at a considerable pace, fossil fuels are still being used to meet peak energy demand. The average carbon intensity of the U.S. electric grid is roughly 137 grams of CO2 equivalent per megajoule (gCO2eq/MJ). In comparison, conventional propane has a carbon intensity of 79 gCO2eq/MJ, and renewable propane made from the cover crop camelina has a carbon intensity of only 20 gCO2eq/MJ.

Leaving conventional diesel behind is a good move, and it can happen today with a combination of clean energy resources.

Rebate applicants and the EPA should also consider cost in their deliberations. At $375,000 each, electric buses with charging infrastructure cost about three times more than a propane-powered bus. The cost-prohibitive nature of electric models means school districts may only be able to convert a small portion of their fleets, especially in disadvantaged communities where budgets are often constrained. By choosing propane-powered buses, districts can replace three times the number of diesels to lower CO2, NOx, SOx and particulate matter.

School districts nationwide are realizing that converting traditional fleets to EV is no simple solution. The environmental benefits are less clear, and the grid is simply not ready to service the load. As journalist H.L. Menken once said, “For every complex problem, there’s a solution that is simple, neat, and wrong.”

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, about 60% of U.S. electricity still comes from fossil fuels. The cleanliness of the grid varies by state, so it’s important to understand how electricity is being produced regionally.

While major investments are being made in renewable energy, the transition is not happening at a fast enough pace to keep up with load growth. Transmission infrastructure delays and permitting requirements are two major challenges that must be overcome to accelerate grid decarbonization. Grid operators have announced concerns about being able to reliably serve demand due to the intermittent nature of renewables and the retirement of older, dirtier power plants.

Eliminating things like diesel fuel because clean, affordable alternatives are available is a responsible step. This is the wide path ahead — using a variety of ever-cleaner technologies to match the daunting energy-intensive challenge. We applaud EPA’s Clean School Bus Program and hope to see the agency’s awards embrace a holistic view.

Visit propane.com to learn why propane school buses are the smart choice for today’s student transportation needs.

The views expressed are those of the content sponsor and do not reflect those of School Transportation News.

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