Did you know?
Washington’s new legislation, effective June 6, 2024, mandates that all newly purchased school buses must be zero-emission by 2035, with a grant program established to support school districts in making this crucial transition to cleaner, healthier transportation for students and communities.
This transition is driven by the need to protect children’s health, as exposure to diesel exhaust from traditional school buses has been linked to respiratory problems, asthma, and other serious health issues, particularly in children.
By adopting zero-emission school buses, the state aims to reduce harmful air pollutants, improve air quality around schools, and provide a safer environment for students, bus drivers, and the community, especially in overburdened areas already facing poor air quality and elevated health risks.
Key Provisions:
Zero Emission Mandate:
Starting September 1, 2035, all newly purchased school buses must be zero-emission, emitting no exhaust gases other than water vapor. This includes both battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell technologies.
Zero Emission School Bus Grant Program:
Purpose: To fund the replacement of fossil-fuel-powered school buses with zero-emission alternatives.
Eligible Uses:
Purchase of zero-emission buses.
Planning, design, and construction of charging or fueling infrastructure.
Scrapping of old diesel buses.
Training for drivers, mechanics, and facility staff.
Priority Recipients:
School districts using buses manufactured before 2007.
Schools serving overburdened communities, including communities of color, rural areas, and low-income populations.
Coordination with Utilities:
Encourages coordination between schools and electric utilities for necessary service upgrades and to explore vehicle-to-grid (V2G) integration to support the electric grid when buses are not in use.
Read more about HB 1368 - 2023-24
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