SW New Mexico News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, Rep. Gabe Vasquez announced the introduction of the Community Facilities Program for Rural Clean School Bus Infrastructure Act to expand clean school bus charging infrastructure, like electric chargers and compressed natural gas (CNG) tanks. The bill allows clean charging technology to be purchased with grant or loan dollars from the US Department of Agriculture’s Community Facilities Direct Loans and Grant Program. This legislation supports rural communities' participation in the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean School Bus Program by helping them build the necessary framework needed to power the clean buses received from the EPA. 

“Our more rural and isolated communities often lack the infrastructure needed to support clean school buses,” said Vasquez. “Pollution levels inside of standard school buses are often much higher than on the outside, posing a health risk to our kids. This bill will allow school districts in those areas and across New Mexico to take full advantage of a program that supports both the health of our students and the environment by providing them the assistance they need to ensure these buses can be powered when they are delivered.”

American school buses travel more than 4 billion miles each year, providing the safest transportation to and from school for more than 25 million American children every day. Most school buses on the road emit pollutants, which can contribute to poor air quality and negatively impact human health, especially for children. Electric school buses provide many benefits for students, drivers and members of the community including zero tailpipe pollution, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and reduced maintenance and fuel costs. 

“The Rural Clean School Bus Infrastructure Act is an opportunity to invest in a healthier future with electric school buses and help children breathe easier,” said Harold Wimmer, National President and CEO of the American Lung Association. “The transportation sector is a leading source of greenhouse gasses. School bus electrification is an important part of making the air healthier for everyone, especially children.”

"Electric school buses dramatically reduce the air pollution that our children breathe, reduce operating costs for school districts, and reduce our nation's dependence on oil, making them a win-win for schools and families," saidKatherine Stainken, Vice President of Policy of the Electrification Coalition. “This bill will bring vital charging infrastructure to rural communities without incurring new costs for schools or the federal government. We strongly encourage this common-sense expansion of the Farm Bill. ”

“Schools across rural America are moving to incorporate electric school buses into their fleets as they shift away from diesel buses and the emissions that are harming kids’ health and learning,” said Sue Gander, Director of World Resources Institute’s Electric School Bus Initiative. “We applaud this proposal by Representative Vasquez to open up the benefits of a cleaner and healthier ride to school to students in rural communities while saving those communities money on operating their school bus fleets.”

Vasquez is proud to introduce this legislation to support health and access to education for New Mexico’s kids.  

Background: 

Last year, the EPA’s Clean School Bus Programreceived over 2,000 applications with 12,000 total clean school buses requested. Las Cruces Public Schools received funding for 5 electric school buses through this program. Grants-Cibola School District and Loving School District are on the program waitlist for 6 electric buses and 1 propane bus, respectively. These buses emit far fewer harmful emissions than traditional school buses, which can be 12 times as high inside school buses compared to on the outside. The program provides battery-electric, compressed natural gas (CNG), and propane power school buses, but only some funding for electric charging infrastructure and none for CNG or propane. Rural schools that do not have the same resources as more urban schools need assistance to provide the components necessary to charge these buses. Several other federal and state initiatives centered on clean school buses would also benefit from this legislation to expand rural access to these resources.  

Original source can be found here.