Deirdre Cummings
Consumer Program Director, MASSPIRG Education Fund
617-747-4319
[email protected]
NEW ANALYSIS: 434 cleaner electric school buses committed to Massachusetts
Media Contacts
BOSTON– 434 clean electric school buses are committed, on their way or operating in Massachusetts, according to a new analysis released Thursday by MASSPIRG Education Fund and Environment Massachusetts Research & Policy Center. Massachusetts ranks 7th in the nation for the total number of electric school buses, and is 10th nationally for combined federal and state investments in electric bus fleets. With nearly a half million school buses shuttling kids back and forth across the United States this fall, electric school buses have zero tailpipe emissions and therefore offer a cleaner, healthier alternative to traditional diesel buses.
“Too many kids breathe harmful pollution every day just to get to and from school. Electric school buses eliminate this threat to their health,” said Deirdre Cummings, Consumer Program Director, MASSPIRG Education Fund. “We applaud the school districts that have taken advantage of billions of state and federal dollars to invest in electric buses, and hope that more school officials will do the same.”
Whether they transport kids to school, field trips or sporting events, most school buses burn diesel fuel. This exposes children and drivers to harmful pollutants that are linked to asthma and other health issues, as well as cognitive development problems. The emissions from diesel buses also contribute to global warming.
“Electric buses are better for our kids’ health and better for our environment,” said Johanna Neumann, Acting Director, Environment Massachusetts. “Replacing hundreds of fossil-fuel powered buses with cleaner electric ones that can run on renewable energy is a milestone on the road to a healthier and greener future.”
According to the World Resources Institute, the United States now has 12,000 electric school buses either in operation or coming soon, in more than 1,500 school districts. Driving the conversion to electric school buses are historic federal and state funding.
MASSPIRG Education Fund encourages school districts to aggressively pursue electric vehicle funding to accelerate their conversion to a 100% electric school bus fleet. The groups also call on states, local governments and utilities to increase funding and reduce barriers to these cleaner electric school buses.
“It’s never been easier to convert to fully electric bus fleets,” said Cummings. “Student safety is always a priority, whether they’re on the bus or in the school itself. Ensuring that our kids can breathe clean, unpolluted air is another step we need to take so we can keep them safe, healthy and ready to learn.”
More information on grants for electric school buses can be found at Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and EPA’s Clean School Bus Program.