Electric School Buses Arrive in Oregon

The transportation industry is one of the primary contributors to air pollution.  Cars, trucks, and buses all emit carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere.  According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 29% of greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation, and of those sources, 57% come from cars, trucks, and SUVs.  One way many people try to help reduce air pollution is by taking public transportation rather than driving their own vehicles for their daily commutes.  School districts in Oregon are beginning to introduce electric school buses to improve the quality of life for its students and surrounding communities.

Why use electric school buses?

Electric buses provide riders, drivers, and the surrounding community with many benefits.

1. Cleaner air.  Electric buses have no harmful emissions, so the air along bus routes is cleaner.  Riders and drivers of buses aren’t breathing in air filled with CO2 and other chemicals from burning diesel fuel, and those people who work or live along bus routes enjoy less pollution.  Speaking of less pollution, electric buses operate much more quietly so there is less sound pollution, too.
2. Efficient operations.  It costs less to operate and maintain an electric bus.  Electricity costs less to procure than diesel fuel, which means direct financial savings to organizations that use them.  Without a conventional combustion engine, electric buses have no oil to change or other similar systems to maintain.  
3. Convenient “refueling.”  It’s easy to “refuel” an electric vehicle.  Charging stations are easy to install at the bus storage lot and buses can be recharged overnight using power from the local power grid.  Innovative organizations are taking it one step further by installing solar panels to generate electricity to power buses–a power source that is both renewable and free.

First School Districts Introduce Electric School Buses in 2021

Last year, the Beaverton and Reynolds school districts near Portland introduced the state’s first electric school buses for their students.  The buses are anticipated to save the districts thousands of dollars each year in maintenance costs as well as help to keep the air clean.  Another benefit is that the buses operate almost silently, providing a comfortable ride and no disruption to the residents.

Oregon Districts to Receive Federal Funding for Electric School Buses

The Biden Administration just announced $1 billion in federal funding to be distributed to school districts across the country to increase the number of electric school buses on the roads.  Two school districts in Oregon will receive a total of $5.5 million to purchase fourteen electric buses.

• Banks School District in Washington County will receive funds to purchase eleven buses.
• Prospect School District near Crater lake will receive funds to purchase three buses.

White House Infrastructure Coordinator, Mitch Landrieu, provided the following statement to local KOIN 6 News about the federal program:

“If you think about it, it’s going to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It’s going to improve air quality around the schools and for the kids. It’s going to incentivize manufacturers and create good paying jobs and it’s just going to protect our kids’ health.”  

Learn more about innovative clean air and water initiatives in Oregon.

The Rogue Valley Clean Cities Coalition’s mission is to enhance the livability of the Rogue Valley.  We promote and educate on alternate fuels, seek to decrease dependency on petroleum, and promote clean air and water in the Rogue Valley via alternate fuels.  Contact us today for more information!