FOWLER, CA (KMJ) – An electric school bus is unveiled Tuesday in Fowler.
Malaga Elementary School was the site for Fowler Unified to show the District’s first zero-emission electric school bus, funded under Assembly Bill 617 Community Air Protection Program.
AB 617 provides a community-focused action framework to improve air quality and reduce exposure in communities throughout California that are most impacted by air pollution. South Central Fresno was among the first communities selected as an AB 617 community in 2018 by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).
“Fowler Unified prides itself on addressing the needs of the whole child, including health and wellness. Our new electric school bus will benefit our environment and our students,” said Interim Superintendent Lori Gonzalez of Fowler Unified School District.
“Transitioning older school buses into new zero-emission buses is a critical piece in improving the Valley’s air quality and public health,” said Executive Director/Air Pollution Control Officer Samir Sheikh of the Valley Air District. “Protecting the health of our most vulnerable residents – our children – is paramount.”
Spokesperson Heather Heinks from the Valley Air District said the project will help eliminate poor air quality sources and the emissions that contribute to bad air “especially considering they have a direct impact on the health of the children riding those school buses.”
This project is replacing a total of nine old, high-polluting school buses with new, state-of-the-art, zero-emission electric buses and will result in estimated emission reductions of 1.647 tons per year of Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), Reactive Organic Gases (ROG), and Particulate Matter (PM). Over the next ten years the Valley will see 16.47 tons of emissions reduced for all nine buses.
The bus will serve students attending Malaga Elementary School and other Fowler Unified schools.
“These new electric buses can travel up 125 miles on a charge. It’s a full size school bus that seats 78 children, and the recharge takes about 8 hours so they can be used daily,” said Heinks.
The zero-emission buses are rated to travel 100-125 miles and have a seating capacity of 78 passengers. Charge time is six to eight hours for a full charge after full usage and depending on the electric rate negotiated, there is up to an 80% savings in fuel, as well as 50% cost savings in maintenance.
The Valley Air District says this is the first of an entire school bus suite and they are looking for more districts to participate.
“Yes, this is a big program – a lot of funding is available,” said Heinks. “Districts with even an inkling of an interest should give us a call so we can take a look at their fleet and how to help them reduce emissions as well.”
“This is another example of smart investments by California Climate Investments (CCI) and the San Joaquin Valley APCD. It provides the cleanest possible transportation technology– in this case a zero-emission school bus– to protect the health of schoolkids, among the most vulnerable when it comes to air pollution. And it helps clean the air in the neighborhoods this all-electric bus drives through,” said Karen Magliano, Division Chief, Office of Community Air Protection.
California Climate Investments provides annual funding to support the Valley Air District’s Community Air Protection Program projects. CCI is a statewide California Air Resources Board (CARB) initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy and improving public health and the environment – particularly in disadvantaged communities.
The total cost of this project is nearly $3.9 million, with the Valley Air District providing $3.6 million through the Community Air Protection Program under California Climate Investments. Fowler Unified School District contributed the remaining $300,000. School districts interested in upgrading their bus fleets can call 559-230-5800 or visit http://valleyair.org/grants/electric-school-bus.htm to learn more.
Click to listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern:
