Advanced Energy Perspectives

Today, 95% of school buses in the United States are powered by diesel, emitting more than 40 toxic chemicals from their exhausts each day. The 24 million children who ride these school buses are exposed to five to 15 times more air pollutants than those who do not. In order to eliminate these harmful emissions, mitigate their health impacts on school-aged children, and reduce the effect of school transportation on climate change, policymakers should take action to electrify school bus fleets. This transition would be especially beneficial in regions prone to electricity supply disruptions caused by natural disasters, because electric school buses can also provide emergency backup power in the event of a grid failure. The challenge now is how to get it done – fast.

A new trend is emerging as a growing number of governors and state legislatures are taking action to electrify their state-owned motor vehicles. By accelerating their own transition to clean transportation fleets, states are leading by example while saving taxpayer money, lowering maintenance requirements, reducing emissions, and contributing to energy independence.

On April 8, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul agreed to a $220 billion state budget with the New York State Legislature that commits the state to deploying a fully zero-emission school bus fleet by 2035, thus positioning New York to become the first state in the nation to end the use of fossil fuel-powered school buses and provide 100% clean rides for students. Working in concert with partners and other advocates, AEE was deeply involved in building support for electrifying schools in both executive and legislative branches and takes pride in the nation-leading action taken by leaders in the Empire State. Now, the advanced energy industry, including many of AEE’s members, are poised to assist New York’s 950 school districts with a rapid transition to zero-emission school buses.

As Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine drags on, it’s important to realize the role our energy choices are playing in the conflict. Our nation’s addiction to oil is financing violent autocrats, like Vladimir Putin, giving them the resources to wage wars abroad and oppress citizens at home. Congress and the White House have reacted by sanctioning Russia’s economy and banning fossil fuel imports from Russia to eliminate America as one of their customers, but it does not put Putin out of business. The best way for America to bankrupt Putin and other petro-dictators is by slashing oil demand here and around the world.

If transportation electrification is a puzzle, Governor Sisolak just put another critical piece in place. Last Thursday, he announced that Nevada would be joining a multi-state memorandum of understanding (MOU) that commits the Silver State to collaborating with 16 other states, the District of Columbia, and the Province of Quebec, to accelerate the market for zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. The goal of the MOU is to ensure that 30% of all in-state sales of trucks, buses, and vans are zero-emission by 2030, and 100% by 2050. Now representing nearly 40% of the U.S. population, the consortium of states will be a powerful market mover in a space that’s already got plenty of momentum behind it.