RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Some Virginia school districts are taking money to buy new electric buses, but the transition away from fossil fuels is still in the early stages.
US Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner announced in a press release this week that $30 million from the infrastructure bill passed by Congress last year will fund 81 zero-emission buses in 12 divisions. at school in Virginia.
Virginia Department of Education spokesman Charles Pyle said the state currently has 226 electric school buses in service or on order. That’s about 1.4% of the state’s 16,000 school buses, according to Pyle.
Bobby Monacella, a leading advocate for Mothers Out Front, has been pushing for change in Virginia and other states for years.
“Making this change seems like a no-brainer because it’s also a health issue for our children. Those black fumes coming out of the back of the bus can cause asthma. Some of those things are cancer cause,” said Monacella.
Monacella said clean buses have a bigger price tag up front but the investment will save schools money on maintenance and fuel in the long run. It also helps the environment by reducing carbon emissions.
“My kids are scared about climate change. It’s sad to see how scared they are about it, and I’m scared for their future. So that’s what really motivates me,” said Monacella.
Monacella said the federal funding is a good start but the Virginia General Assembly can do more to ease the transition.
It’s been a bumpy road so far.
A law passed in 2021 created a state grant fund to help localities cover the cost of electric school buses but lawmakers never put money into the pot.
Former Delegate Mark Keam, who sponsored the bill, said he introduced a more ambitious proposal in 2020 but it was shot down.
“The budget came out a little too high and so my colleagues said it’s a great idea but I don’t think we can afford it,” Keam said. “Unfortunately we can’t directly fund the state but the goal and purpose behind it is the state to stand behind this idea.”
Keam said creating the grant fund will better position the state to take advantage of other possible funding streams in the future. He said non-profits and the private sector could contribute, in addition to the federal government.
In 2019, Dominion Energy laid out a plan to, with state approval, expand a pilot program to bring 1,000 electric school buses online by 2025. and 100% by 2030.”
Legislation that would have given the Dominion the green light to oversee the expansion failed in the General Assembly. This would have allowed the utility to recoup the costs of the program by raising energy bills.
“If you’re going to open up school buses to electrification with private funding, no one company, let alone a monopoly utility, should have the first crack at that,” Keam said.
In an email Friday, a Dominion spokesperson said they have helped 15 localities put 50 electric buses on the road so far. Dominion says it is expanding to add 73 more electric buses by partnering with school districts that receive Clean School Bus Program rebates using Volkswagen Settlement funds.
“We continue our support by providing fast charging solutions to help school districts receive funding from the EPA Clean School Bus Program by providing utility coordination, including upgrades to grid, construction, and charger installation. Dominion Energy will also cover charger maintenance for 15 years and 50% of the cost of the battery warranty,” the email added.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s office did not respond to a request for comment Friday.
In the past, Youngkin has been critical of a law that would effectively end new sales of gas vehicles in Virginia by 2035. It’s unclear whether Youngkin will support expanding state funding for electric buses.
The following school districts have received federal funding for new electric buses, according to Senator Kaine’s office.
- $7,900,000 for Carroll County Public Schools to purchase 20 buses.
- $1,185,000 for Charlotte County Public Schools for the purchase of three buses.
- $790,000 for Floyd County Public Schools to purchase two buses.
- $1,185,000 for Franklin City Public Schools for the purchase of three buses.
- $790,000 for Galax City Public Schools for the purchase of two buses.
- $1,185,000 for Goochland County Public Schools for the purchase of three buses.
- $1,580,000 for Grayson County Public Schools for the purchase of four buses.
- $790,000 for Lee County Public Schools to purchase two buses.
- $9,875,000 for Lynchburg City Public Schools for the purchase of 25 buses.
- $790,000 for Nelson County Public Schools for the purchase of two buses.
- $3,950,000 for Powhatan County Public Schools for the purchase of 10 buses.
- $1,975,000 for Wise County Public Schools for the purchase of five buses
