California Energy Commission Awards Nearly $70M to Replace Diesel School Buses with Electric School Buses Throughout State

The California Energy Commission approved nearly $70 million in funding to replace more than 200 old diesel school buses with all-electric buses that will reduce school children’s exposure to harmful emissions and help the state reach its climate and air quality goals.

School buses are by far the safest way for kids to get to school.  But diesel-powered buses are not safe for kids’ developing lungs, which are particularly vulnerable to harmful air pollution.  Making the transition to electric school buses that don’t emit pollution provides children and their communities with cleaner air and numerous public health benefits.

—Energy Commissioner Patty Monahan

The Energy Commission’s School Bus Replacement Program is providing more than $94 million to public school districts, county offices of education, and joint power authorities to help transition from diesel school buses to zero- or low-emissions vehicles.  Together with the newly approved funding, the Energy Commission has awarded $89.8 million of the program’s funds to schools in 26 California counties.

The electric buses approved today will eliminate nearly 57,000 pounds of nitrogen oxides and nearly 550 pounds of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions annually.

Diesel buses emit harmful pollutants, including fine particles that can lodge deep in the lungs and enter the bloodstream.  Because children’s lungs are still developing, and due to their faster breathing rate and other factors, children are more susceptible to the adverse health effects linked to air pollution including lung damage and asthma attacks.  Scientists have found that these fine particles can cause asthma in healthy children.

Read more at California Energy Commission Awards Nearly $70M to Replace Diesel School Buses with Electric School Buses Throughout State