{"id":1653,"date":"2022-09-08T13:27:47","date_gmt":"2022-09-08T19:27:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.pirg-test.com\/colorado\/foundation\/?post_type=resource&p=1653"},"modified":"2022-10-03T10:33:55","modified_gmt":"2022-10-03T16:33:55","slug":"2022-state-of-electric-school-buses-in-colorado","status":"publish","type":"resource","link":"https:\/\/dev.pirg-test.com\/colorado\/foundation\/resources\/2022-state-of-electric-school-buses-in-colorado\/","title":{"rendered":"2022 State of Electric School Buses in Colorado"},"featured_media":43613,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":false,"_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":""},"campaign_tax":[135],"display_option":[],"issue_tax":[],"resource_type":[64],"region_tax":[],"state":[8],"topic_tax":[112,108,109,118],"class_list":["post-1653","resource","type-resource","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":{"details":{"helper_taxonomies":{"topics":[112,108,109,118],"collection":false,"press_type":false,"person_type":false,"resource_type":64,"event_type":false,"campaigns":135,"department":false,"level":false,"states":[8],"act_option":false,"display_option":false,"primary":{"topic":108}},"subtitle":"Colorado is a leader in the nationwide transition to cleaner and healthier electric-powered school buses","excerpt":"Our new report finds Colorado ranks second in the country for total public funding for transitioning to electric school buses and eleventh for the number of committed electric school buses. To build on its leadership and take advantage of additional funding opportunities, we offer recommendations to Colorado lawmakers, school districts, and utilities going forward. \r\n\r\n","featured_image":43613,"caption_override":"","updated_on":"20220908","sidebar_action":[1301],"related_event":"","hide_hero_image":false,"location":"internal","external_link":{"publication_name":"","url":""},"file":null,"sidebar_action_query_string":""},"helper_people_group":{"title":"Authors","entities":[{"type":"dynamic","dynamic_person":{"site":79,"people":"114"},"information":{"name":"","image":null,"role":"","biography":"","contact":{"twitter":"","facebook":"","email":"","phone":""}}}]},"helper_downloads":{"title":"Report: 2022 State of Electric School Buses in Colorado","files":[{"file":100000000043645,"title":"2022 State of Electric School Buses in Colorado"},{"file":"","title":""}]},"page_layout":[{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":"","component_wysiwyg":{"content":"

Colorado: A leader in public funding for electric school buses<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nThe yellow school bus is an icon of American culture, shepherding thousands of children in Colorado to and from school, field trips, and sports competitions.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nUnfortunately, for decades fossil fuel school buses have exposed kids to toxic emissions both inside when they ride and outside as they wait to board.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nFollowing the passage and signing of <\/span>SB22-193<\/span><\/a> in June 2022, Colorado became the<\/span> leading state in awarded funds per capita<\/span><\/a> to transition these buses from the current fossil fuel buses to cleaner, electric school buses.<\/span> While California has since approved a massive $1.5 billion in electric school bus funding as part of the FY23 budget, Colorado remains second nationally in both overall awarded funds and per capita funding.\u00a0<\/span>","":null}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":"","component_wysiwyg":{"content":"Funding for electric school bus per capita by state (May 9, 2022)<\/b><\/a>","":null}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":"","component_wysiwyg":{"content":"According to data provided by the <\/span>Atlas EV Hub<\/span><\/a> on electric school bus spending as of May 2022,<\/span> Colorado has allocated a total of nearly $75 million to the electric bus transition, including about <\/span>$10 million<\/span><\/a> the state had received in previous years from the <\/span>Volkswagen scandal settlement<\/span><\/a>.<\/span> The state is second nationally in total electric school bus funding, behind California but ahead of large states like Florida, New York and New Jersey.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nTop 10 states for total awarded electric school bus funding (May 9, 2022)<\/b><\/a>","":null}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":"","component_wysiwyg":{"content":"

Electric school buses reduce pollution and save money<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nElectric school buses protect kids\u2019 health by avoiding exposure to toxic diesel emissions. Diesel exhaust is classified as a <\/span>likely carcinogen<\/span><\/a> by the EPA<\/span> and contains a mixture of very fine particles of carbon and toxic gasses including Benzene, which is classified as a <\/span>known carcinogen<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\r\n\r\nInhalation of diesel exhaust has been <\/span>linked to numerous health problems<\/span><\/a>, including lung cancer, asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory illnesses.<\/span> According to <\/span>a study<\/span><\/a> from Yale University, \u201cthere is no known safe level of exposure to diesel exhaust for children, especially those with respiratory illness.\u201d <\/span>\r\n\r\nStudies show that levels of diesel emissions inside school buses can be up to <\/span>4 times higher<\/span><\/a> than outside the bus, translating into a significant increase of risk to the children inside.<\/span>\r\n\r\nIn addition, the transportation sector is the <\/span>leading source<\/span><\/a> of greenhouse gas emissions in Colorado.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nBy eliminating internal combustion engines and tailpipes, electric school buses do not emit harmful air pollution and produce much less carbon emissions - even if the electricity used to power it is generated in part from fossil fuels. Based on <\/span>Colorado\u2019s current energy grid mixture<\/span><\/a> an electric vehicle produces about 50% less carbon pollution than a traditional gas-powered alternative.<\/span>\r\n\r\nReplacing all of America\u2019s school buses with electric buses could avoid an average of <\/span>5.3 million tons<\/span><\/a> of greenhouse gas emissions each year.<\/span> Given Colorado\u2019s school bus fleet of 6,838 total school buses<\/span> (of which less than 1% are currently electric),<\/span> that equates to approximately 72,483 tons of ghg emissions annually.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nElectric school buses can also save districts money over the long term through lower maintenance and fueling costs. An analysis of the fuel costs for the electric school bus in Kremmling, CO found it was <\/span>three times cheaper<\/span><\/a> to fuel than the diesel version.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nThe cost savings for school districts are set to grow. Large battery size and long idle periods make electric school buses ideal candidates for vehicle-to-grid (\u201cVTG\u201d) technology, where buses can use their batteries to store low cost energy and sell it back to the grid during periods of high demand.<\/span>\u00a0 Electric school buses can also be used for vehicle-to-building (\u201cV2B\u201d) applications, which allows the buses to provide backup power to buildings and critical facilities like hospitals and shelters during emergencies.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nThis type of energy storage can make the grid and our communities more resilient by enabling the grid to better absorb shocks and thereby prevent or manage disruptions - which in turn can mitigate the scale, length and impact of power outages on communities. This is especially important in our rural and mountainous regions that see more extreme weather.<\/span>\r\n\r\nBoulder Valley School District (BVSD) has six committed electric school buses. Landon Hilliard, the Safe Rides Coordinator for BVSD, oversees the purchase and implementation of school buses for the district. When asked why they were an early adopter of an electric school bus he said:\u00a0<\/span>","":null}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_quote","_acfe_flexible_toggle":"","component_quote":{"quote":"\u201cThere\u2019s a real call to action for us to electrify our fleets and try to reduce the footprint of the transportation sector that\u2019s harming people, harming the globe, and if you think about tailpipe emissions at a local level about the students riding the bus, there are fumes and toxins that aren\u2019t the best for human health.\u201d","image":"","attribution":{"name":"Landon Hilliard","role":"Safe Routes Coordinator, Boulder Valley School District"}}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":"","component_wysiwyg":{"content":"Local communities are enjoying the benefits of new electric school buses in both expected and unexpected ways.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s a great conversation starter,\u201d said West Grand School District Director of Transportation Bethany Aurin, noting that she receives calls from other curious districts in Colorado and across the country.\u00a0 It's being incorporated into the high school curriculum and has also \u201cbeen a great source of pride for our students and our community.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\n \r\n

Money from EPA's Clean School Bus Program and Colorado's state legislation provide unprecedented resources for school districts<\/b><\/h3>\r\nIn May of 2022, the EPA launched a <\/span>Clean School Bus Program<\/span><\/a>, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, that provides $5 billion in funding over five years (2022-2026) to replace existing school buses with zero or low-emission models.<\/span> The program will provide rebates to school districts, nonprofit school transportation associations and tribal organizations to replace older, diesel buses with newer electric or low-emission models.<\/span>\r\n\r\nThe application process for the first round of funding closed on August 19, 2022. Applicants will be selected and posted by the EPA in October 2022, which <\/span>will prioritize<\/span><\/a> high-need or disproportionately impacted school districts, rural districts, and Tribal school districts.<\/span> Four additional rounds of funding will be allocated annually through 2026, and school districts can continue to find the latest information about the award process including links to apply on the <\/span>EPA Clean School Bus Program website<\/span><\/a>: <\/span>https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/cleanschoolbus\/school-bus-rebates-clean-school-bus-program<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\r\n\r\nIn addition, the federal government passed the <\/span>Inflation Reduction Act<\/span><\/a> in August, which includes $1 billion<\/span> for electric heavy duty vehicles<\/span> including electric school buses.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nOn top of federal funds, Colorado\u2019s General Assembly and Governor Jared Polis worked together to <\/span>invest $65 million to incentivize school districts to purchase new electric school buses<\/span><\/a> rather than traditional diesel models. The program will offer rebates to cover the cost differential between diesel and electric models alongside associated <\/span>\r\n\r\n ","":null}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":"","component_wysiwyg":{"content":"

Colorado ranks 11th nationally with 36 committed<\/a> electric school buses<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nAn electric school bus is considered committed once a school district or fleet operator has been awarded funding or has a formal agreement to purchase it from a dealer or manufacturer. As of June 2022, Colorado ranks eleventh nationwide with 36 committed electric school buses.<\/span> The state is well positioned to capitalize on both federal and state funds to increase that number in the coming years.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nCommitted electric school buses per state (June 2022)<\/b><\/a>\r\n\r\nWithin Colorado, school districts in Aurora and Steamboat Springs lead the state with 7 buses each, followed closely by Boulder and Aspen both with 6.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nCommitted electric school buses in Colorado (June 2022)<\/b><\/a>","":null}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_large_image","_acfe_flexible_toggle":"","component_large_image":{"width":"narrow","image":"","caption_override":""}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":"","component_wysiwyg":{"content":"

2022 Electric School Bus Funding Timeline<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n