Booker Urges New Jersey School Districts to Seize $500 Million Opportunity for Cleaner, Electric School Buses

Statement

"There are many benefits to transitioning from diesel to an electric fleet, including lower maintenance costs, fuel costs, and emissions that impact our communities. Approximately 25 million children in the U.S. rely on school buses to get to and from school. Most of our nation's school bus fleets--nearly 95% of buses--still operate on diesel fuel, emitting harmful air pollutants that impact the learning, development, and health of our children--causing asthma and other respiratory diseases, heart disease, and cancer, and lowering children's academic achievement via English and math scores.

Lower-income and communities of color are disproportionately exposed to the risk of diesel buses, and the emissions impact these communities both directly through lower air quality, and also contribute to the climate crisis that also disproportionately affects those same lower-income and communities of color

In addition to the public health and climate benefits of electrifying our school bus fleets, there are economic and grid stability benefits as well. Electric school buses not only offer cost-effective lifespans compared to diesel alternatives, putting money back in school districts' pockets that can then be reinvested in our children's education; but they can also function as mobile battery storage units for schools, contributing to grid stability amid the increasing integration of renewable energy sources.

Our office would be glad to be a resource for you as you consider this funding opportunity. We are committed to helping school districts offer a clean ride to and from school for students, and to bringing federal funding into New Jersey."

Source