The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) currently administers the Clean School Bus Program to help school districts nationwide acquire new electric school buses (ESBs). With the future of the EPA's Clean School Bus Program uncertain, a state-level program in Pennsylvania is crucial to ensure that all school districts can transition to electric school buses. Without a reliable funding source, Pennsylvania risks falling behind in electric school bus deployment, missing out on job opportunities and long-term cost-savings. Establishing a state program is essential to fill this potential gap and support school districts in covering the additional investments associated with ESBs, such as charging stations and infrastructure upgrades. School districts already face significant financial and administrative hurdles in transitioning their fleets, making dedicated state support even more critical.

The upfront costs of charging infrastructure and bus replacement costs make it difficult for school districts to afford the switch, one that could save them in the long run and allow schools to invest back into their classrooms. ESBs not only have much lower costs of ownership and operation compared to diesel buses, offering opportunities to save money on fuel and maintenance costs over the life of the vehicle, but protect their occupants from the harmful air pollutants that come with diesel exhaust.
 
To address this issue, I will be introducing legislation to ensure that Pennsylvania school districts are well-positioned to make a transition to ESBs. This legislation will establish a dedicated grant program, administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, to support school districts in transitioning from internal combustion engine school buses to electric school buses. The program will provide both technical assistance and financial grants to help offset the costs of vehicle conversion, depot and facility upgrades, charging infrastructure, staff training, and grant writing expenses.
 
Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation to aid school districts in making the transition to ESBs.