BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - New York State lawmakers and environmental activists are looking to have all school buses in the state go from gas-powered to electric by 2035.
In a news conference held Friday at First Student Bus Company, elected officials, environmental activists, and health groups pushed for federal funding to ensure the electric vehicle infrastructure is in place in the federal government's Build Back Better Act.
"We know that approximately 2.3 million school children take school buses to get to school and we have more than 50,000 school buses in New York State out of a total of 500,000 nationally," Julie Tighe, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters, said. "We are calling for Congress to include electric school bus funding as part of Build Back Better and the bi-partisan infrastructure deal includes about $2.5 billion for electric school buses, which is about 10% of what President Biden called for."
State Senator Tim Kennedy introduced a related bill in March which allows school districts to be reimbursed for the purchase or lease of an electric school bus. The bill, which is co-sponsored by democrats and republicans in the senate, is currently in committee. Kennedy said buses are causing an "enormous health problem" for the community and that removing diesel-powered bus will improve the carbon footprint. https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2021/S5268
The push for electric vehicle comes out of concerns for climate change and the health of individual children. The health concerns stem from bus fumes impacting children with asthma and other respiratory issues.
New York City in April passed a bill in April to convert to electric school buses by 2035 with the goal of having 100% of city vehicles electric by 2040.
Congressman Brian Higgins pledged his support to an increase in federal funding, arguing the United States is lagging behind China.
"Every day, 667 of these buses travel around Buffalo for about five to six hours a day," Buffalo Schools Superintendent Kriner Cash said. "...There's another kind of safety: That's the health and wellness safety of our citizens, particularly our children, and the respiratory safety of our children, which are disproportionately affected by asthma. I see it for myself first hand every day. 27,000 students who take public transportation and we have a disproportionate number of our children of color, especially, who have asthma and other respiratory diseases and ailments...People are passing out, especially during this time."
