ANGOLA, New York — Some major federal funding will go toward helping a Western New York school district convert to a mostly electric fleet for its school buses.
2 On Your Side spoke with some superintendents about the plan which is also tied to a state climate change mandate.
It is a relatively silent propulsion future for the Lakeshore Central District which applied for and has received a $7.9 Million dollar federal grant to buy another 20 electric large school buses and install the charging stations to re-charge them all at the bus garage. It is one of 67 districts across the country to get this money from Washington and the bi -partisan infrastructure act.
Lakeshore district officials say it is so far so good with their initial testing of two electric buses without diesel fumes even in colder winter weather. Lakeshore Superintendent Daniel Pacos says "We estimate it cost about a third to operate an electric bus compared to a traditional diesel powered bus. Taking 20 diesel powered buses out of our community with all those diesel particulates that wind up in the air every day is going to be huge."
However some other school leaders still question the state's climate change requirement that no diesel or gasoline buses can be sold in New York as of 2027 and that all of the state's 45,000 school buses must be zero emissions like electric by 2035.
Grand Island Schools Superintendent Bria Graham points out "Zero emissions school buses would be a benefit to our environment but with that said we also have to realize the tremendous impact this initiative is going to have across New York state." Graham says that and that comes down to cost.
"For Grand Island , to ask our taxpayers to cover, to pay for a bus that's gonna be over 400 - thousand dollars. It's gonna be a tremendous burden on our taxpayers. So there's so many pieces to this that I would hope our state legislators examine carefully and look to provide more flexibility."
The state is providing $500 million dollars in a grant program for bus fleet conversions but the 700 districts must also upgrade their bus garages to add charging stations with extra service from National Grid or NYSEG factored in. Superintendent Pacos adds "There is an upcharge but the health benefits for the community - especially our school children and these buses are so quiet."
Last month some state lawmakers wrote to Governor Hochul asking her to hold off or even repeal the school bus conversion mandate citing those taxpayer costs.
A spokesperson for the Governor's office responded "Old school buses are putting children's health at risk, spewing toxic fumes and pollutants into the air that are proven to have negative health impacts. After New York voters approved an Environmental Bond Act that allocated $500 million for zero-emission school buses, Governor Hochul is working with communities across New York to allocate these funds and ensure they are fully utilized."
2 On Your Side also checked on the First Student company which provides bus transportation for many students in the City of Buffalo School District. First Student said in a previous statement that they intend to switch all its buses to electric by 2035.
