Electric school buses funded by Ecology grant coming to 2 Thurston school districts
North Thurston and Olympia are among 22 school districts across the state that will get help buying electric school buses through recently announced state Department of Ecology grants.
In total, districts statewide will receive just under $12 million to help buy 40 buses.
The two Thurston County districts are receiving enough to pay for three of the zero-emissions buses each, according to state data. The state awarded North Thurston Public Schools just under $600,000 and Olympia School District just under $1 million.
“It makes my heart so happy to know that our grant application was approved for not one but three electric buses,” Olympia Transportation Director Rhonda Morton said in a prepared statement. “This is one way we can contribute to helping with air quality in Thurston County.”
The money is meant to cover the difference between what it costs to replace an older diesel school bus with an electric bus instead of a new diesel bus, according to Ecology, and also can buy charging equipment.
Diesel exhaust contains nitrogen oxides and other forms of toxic air pollution, said Laura Watson, Ecology’s director, in the department’s news release.
“Children face the greatest risks from diesel pollution, and giving them cleaner transportation to school is a priority,” Watson said. “These buses are an important first step toward helping every student in Washington start and end their days with an emission-free ride.”
It takes about eight hours to fully charge a bus, and a full electric charge can power a school bus for between 80 and 100 miles, according to a press release from Olympia School District.
North Thurston plans to use the new buses on its special education routes, according to Director of Transportation John Suessman and Assistant Director Deanna Maddux. The goal is to try them out with “students who flourish better in a quiet environment,” Maddux told The Olympian in a phone interview.
The district reports it currently has four propane-powered buses, which are thought to be more eco-friendly than diesel, in its fleet of 122 buses. Three of those buses were also purchased with help from another Ecology grant, according to Maddux.
In nearby Mason and Grays Harbor counties, three districts received enough funding to buy one bus each: Elma School District, Lake Quinault School District, and Mary M. Knight School District.
The first buses are expected to arrive later this year, according to Ecology.
“When students are able to return to school, these 40 new, zero-emission buses will help get them there,” Gov. Jay Inslee said in a prepared statement. “This is a great investment in a healthier future for students and their communities.”
The state received $140 million total from Volkswagen to settle legal action against the vehicle manufacturer for violations of the state and federal Clean Air Acts, according to Ecology. The settlements followed a discovery that Volkswagen illegally installed software that allowed diesel vehicles to pass emissions tests while letting engines emit as much as 40 times the legal limit for nitrous oxides during regular driving.
Funds from the settlements are going toward several efforts to reduce air pollution from transportation. In recent years, similar grants have helped transit agencies buy electric buses.
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