Gov. Kathy Hochul has unveiled The New York State Electric School Bus Roadmap and The Electric School Bus Guidebook, two endeavors designed to New York P-12 schools transition their bus fleets to zero-emission vehicles.
The New York State Electric School Bus Roadmap outlines costs, challenges and proposed recommendations that New York State and key partners ”“ including utilities, manufacturers, and operators ”“ can implement. It also covers vehicle choice, procurement, and fleet planning options that will accelerate zero-emission school bus adoption.
The Electric School Bus Guidebook provides information and resources for school districts and bus operators to help them become more familiar with key terms and processes for transitioning to zero-emission school bus fleets. The first three guides focus on the benefits of zero-emission buses, the procurement process, and charging stations to inform discussions with school boards and the public. More guides will be added to the main guidebook as new information becomes available
The governor”™s announcement supports the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goal to reduce the state”™s greenhouse gas emissions 85% by 2050 while ensuring all new school buses sold in the state are zero-emission by 2027 and all school buses on the road be zero-emission by 2035.
“As New York State continues to lead the way in the fight against climate change, we must address the ways that fossil-fuel powered transportation directly affects our families and communities with emissions from school buses at the top of that list,” Hochul said. “Providing the tools for school districts to swap out diesel and gas school buses with zero-emission bus fleets will help students and their communities across the state breathe cleaner air and enjoy a healthier way of life.”
