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Newly signed law mandates new school buses be electric starting in 2035, building on California’s clean transportation leadership  

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA –  Today, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 579 (AB 579) into law, speeding up the transition to zero-emission school buses. The law sets a statewide goal requiring all new school buses purchased or leased after 2035 to be zero-emission and extends transportation services and leasing contracts for zero emission school buses to ease the transition. 

By moving up the timeline for clean school buses, California can bring the benefits of clean air and cost savings to children and schools faster.This action is the latest significant effort to fast-track clean school transportation.

A bill to establish a statewide goal for zero-emission school buses will soon head to the Governor’s desk  

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – Today, the California Senate passed AB 579 to accelerate the adoption of electric school buses and bring the benefits of clean air and cost-savings to communities statewide. The bill, sponsored by Advanced Energy United and CALSTART, represents the latest significant action from the California Legislature to accelerate the transition to clean and safe school transportation. The bill will soon head to Governor Newsom’s desk for signing.  

Brought forward by Assemblymember Phil Ting (District 19), AB 579sets a statewide deadline requiring all new school buses purchased or leased after 2035 to be zero-emission. The bill extends the lease terms for contracted zero-emission school buses to maximize longer-term savings for schools. Expanding electric school bus adoption over the next decade will substantially reduce maintenance and fuel costs by thousands of dollars annually, freeing up funding to put back into the classroom. 

Legislation to make it easier for school districts to evaluate electric school bus options moves to the Governor’s desk with overwhelming bipartisan support.

PHOENIX, June 24, 2022 — National business group Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) commended the Arizona legislature’s passage of SB 1246, which will improve the ability of Arizona schools to access cost-saving transportation services. The bill, proposed by Senator Paul Boyer (R-Glendale) and sponsored by AEE, was passed unopposed by the Senate late last night and approved by the House with bipartisan support and is poised to make it easier for school districts to evaluate electric vehicle school buses and charging options.

Legislation to speed up the transition to electric school buses now moves to the state Senate

SACRAMENTO, June 1, 2022 – California's Clean and Healthy School Bus Act (AB 2731) was approved 57-0 by California’s State Assembly last week, a major step toward speeding up the transition to zero-emission school buses that save schools money and don’t harm young lungs. 

Proposed by Assemblymember Phil Ting (District 19) and sponsored by AEE, AB 2731 is designed to help school districts access the long-term economic benefits of switching to zero-emission school buses by allowing for longer vehicle lease terms, as well as setting a 2035 statewide Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) school bus sales goal. California currently caps lease terms for contracted school buses at five years. Extending the lease terms to 15 years would substantially improve the economics of transitioning to electric school buses for school districts.