Oregon is set to introduce over 200 federally-funded electric school buses, enhancing sustainable student transportation, as announced with new funding arriving early next year.
The Environmental Protection Agency has allocated over $6.5 million to Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality. This funding will replace 26 diesel buses with electric buses, install more electric vehicle chargers, and train mechanics in Beaverton and Reynolds districts on electric buses and infrastructure, per an EPA release.
Diesel buses emit pollutants triggering asthma, heart disease, and climate change, according to the EPA. DEQ data highlights transportation as Oregon’s largest greenhouse gas contributor, making emission reduction vital.
Senator Ron Wyden emphasized the impact: “Reducing emissions via school buses is crucial for tackling climate issues in Oregon and nationally.”
The $6.5 million from the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program, part of the Inflation Reduction Act 2022, will be available in early 2025 for use over three years.
Since 2022, the EPA has granted Oregon over $64 million for 23 districts to acquire about 200 electric buses. The Beaverton School District pioneered with Oregon’s first electric bus and leads with the largest electric bus fleet. Per district data, electric buses cost a third of diesel buses’ operating expenses and are cheaper than propane buses.
For more details, visit the Oregon Capital Chronicle. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
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