Piedmont Environmental Alliance’s Post

In May, the EPA announced nearly $900 million in rebates for 3,400 clean school buses across 530 school districts. ' Excitingly, 92% of these buses will be electric... but why? 🌱 Why Electric School Buses? · Health Benefits: Zero tailpipe emissions mean cleaner air and healthier kids. · Climate Impact: Electric buses emit fewer GHGs, aligning with cleaner grid goals. · Safety: Quieter operation improves driver attentiveness and overall safety. · Cost Savings: Lower fueling and maintenance costs make them a smart long-term investment. · Equity: Provides electric mobility access to all children, regardless of their home environment. Read more on how utility companies can help support school districts in this transition: https://lnkd.in/eE2gdnvr

Did you know that each school day, more than 20 million children in the United States ride in nearly half a million diesel-burning school buses, breathing in toxic exhaust that harms their health and cognitive development? 🔋 Take a look at the NEW Policy Playbook from Alliance for Transportation Electrification (ATE) and WRI Electric School Bus Initiative WRI as it's a game-changer for state lawmakers, regulators, agencies, utilities, and advocates to equitably electrify their state’s school bus fleet. https://lnkd.in/gpJpy5mV Zūm #electrification #students #equity #sustainability

“Increased standards on emissions in transportation have made it extremely difficult for diesel to comply, and interest in alternatives to diesel has been on nearly every school district’s agenda.” Emissions reductions, cost savings, and operational efficiency make propane a practical option for districts interested in implementing alternative-fuel school buses in their fleets. Read the School Bus Fleet article to learn about the advantages of the low-emission fuel-type from Blue Bird's Alternative Fuel Manager, @steve-whaley: https://hubs.ly/Q02R0WkY0

CREATING A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE: The White House unveiled nearly $900 million in awards to 530 school districts to replace thousands of aging, gas-fueled school buses with new, mainly electric models. The EPA's clean school bus program is part of a broader push by Biden to upgrade public school infrastructure and reduce pollution from old buses. It also delivers on Biden's pledges to cut greenhouse gas emissions, funnel federal climate investments to underserved communities and create demand for American-made electric vehicles. "This announcement is not just about clean school buses. It's about the bigger picture. We are improving air quality for our children, reducing greenhouse gas pollution and expanding our nation's leadership in developing the clean vehicles of the future," EPA Administrator Michael Regan said. "With increasing demand for electric school buses, we'll see the development of new good-paying manufacturing jobs and investment in local businesses." Read more here: https://bit.ly/4bZguB2 #DemocratsDeliver

🚌 A recent report from the World Resources Institute highlights that the transition to emissions-free school buses skyrocketed in 2023 across the nation, rising from 598 to 1,285 in June. 🌱 This surge in #electric school buses, part of the federal Clean School Bus Program, aims to promote cleaner air by reducing #airpollution and greenhouse gas #emissions that will ultimately benefit students and the environment. 📍So far, California leads the charge with over 2,000 committed ESBs, followed by Maryland and New Jersey. Can’t wait to see how the trend continues to grow over time! 

Are you a state lawmaker, regulator, agency, utility or advocate looking to bring the benefits of a #CleanRide4Kids to your students? A new state policy playbook, developed by the Alliance for Electric School Buses in collaboration with the WRI Electric School Bus Initiative, can help 👇

Every child deserves a safe, clean, and healthy ride to school. When a child rides a propane-fueled school bus to school, they arrive healthier, safer, and better prepared to learn. Propane is a low-carbon, near-zero alternative energy source. Propane powered school buses produce up to 96% less toxic emissions than diesel buses. And because propane produces 43% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than grid-generated electricity, it even has a lower carbon intensity than electric buses. All without sacrificing range, reliability, or performance. With lower cost of ownership, lower acquisition costs, and lower infrastructure costs, propane school buses also help school districts meet operational needs while remaining on budget. Who can do that? Propane can do that! Go to propane.com to learn more. #cleanschoolbus

This white paper from Highland Electric Fleets delves into the performance of electric school buses in cold weather conditions, addressing common concerns and misconceptions. By examining case studies from Vermont and Michigan, the paper highlights the reliability and efficiency of electric school buses, even in extreme temperatures. Learn more 🚌⚡️➡️ https://ow.ly/ne1Y50U4G4J #schoolbuses #electricvehicles #electricbuses #electricfleets #decarbonization

There's no doubt that cutting down on carbon emissions produced by school buses transporting students to and from school would lead to cleaner air. However, as San Pasqual Valley USD Superintendent Katrina Johnson León explains, the push to convert to all-electric fleets is unrealistic for rural districts that face extreme geographic isolation, unforgiving climates and a lack of infrastructure. Learn more about the challenges faced by rural and frontier schools in light of a new unfunded state mandate that, commencing Jan. 1, 2035, all newly purchased or contracted school buses to be zero-emission vehicles (frontier LEAs would also be authorized to apply for annual extensions beginning in 2040 and ending in 2045): https://lnkd.in/g5f3nwgb

Over 12,000 school buses are committed to electrification at this time, reports CleanTechnica. Empowered by major funding from the EPA, many districts are eager to make the switch to electric buses– and the numbers speak for themselves. Explore the impact of recent funding on school bus electrification across the U.S., and what you need to know about this sweeping change: https://lnkd.in/eXQvquuf