OBSERVER file photo by Braden Carmen Guests at a recent event at Pine Valley Elementary School looked under the hood of an electric school bus from the Gates Chili Central School District.
Republicans in both chambers of the state Legislature are pushing for more state funding to transition to electric school buses.
In early December, Sen. George Borrello, R-Sunset Bay, wrote a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul asking her to rescind the electric bus mandate for public schools or commit to fully funding the conversion. The electric bus mandates were adopted in the 2022-23 state budget to help the state meet the emissions reduction goals of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). The requirements are that new school buses purchased be zero-emission by 2027 and that all school buses in service be zero-emission by 2035.
“School officials in my district are all sounding the alarm about the state's unfunded electric bus mandate and the crushing financial costs it will bring to districts. With the first deadline set at just three years, school officials are deeply concerned about their ability to fund the electric buses and infrastructure upgrades that will be needed. » said Senator Borrello.
Last week, 29 Assembly Republicans signed legislation (A.8447) sponsored by Rep. Phil Palmesano, R-Corning, that would delay statewide implementation of the zero school bus mandate issue until 2045 or until all state agencies convert their fleets and sets. references other than the State Department of Education and others
state agencies must come together to fully implement their mandate. Although the bill could be considered early in the state legislative session, it is unlikely to make it out of committee.
Republicans want to give the state education commissioner the ability, in consultation with the state's independent system operator, utilities and the state Department of Civil Service, to rescind the mandate if it is determined that zero-emission school buses are not feasible for a particular application. . Palmesano's bill would also require all components and parts used or supplied in zero-emission school buses or related infrastructure to be manufactured in whole or in substantial part in the United States; and directs the State Education Commissioner to conduct a cost-benefit analysis for each school district that considers the costs necessary to comply with the zero-emission school bus mandate and to provide an expansion to such schools if necessary.
Palmesano's bill would also amend the Public Authorities Act to direct NYSERDA to consult with the Bureau of Fire Prevention and Control to develop appropriate fire suppression and fire safety procedures based on lithium and hydrogen that NYSERDA must pass on to school districts as part of the zero-emission school bus mandate assistance requirements.
“The zero-emission school bus mandate that was implemented in the adopted budget for fiscal year 2022-23 imposed an onerous mandate on school districts that must be adopted on an aggressive timetable” Palmesano wrote in his legislative justification. “It remains to be determined whether the mandate is achievable under the established terms.
calendar, especially for upstate and rural school districts that face very different constraints than their upstate peers. Additionally, school districts should not have to deal with the complexities, or face the significant expense, of converting their bus fleet until all state agencies have completely transitioned from their medium and heavy vehicles towards zero-emission vehicles.
The transition to electric buses has been a topic at many local school board meetings, with Frewsburg Central School considering creating a transportation reserve fund to begin putting money aside to purchase a fleet of electric buses and associated infrastructure for the new buses. Pine Valley Central and Lake Shore Schools ordered their first electric buses over the summer, while the Jamestown Public Schools district plans to install a charging station outside Strider Field for buses visiting schools and is in talks with the city's public utilities board to upgrade the district's bus garage to handle an all-electric fleet. The district is also seeking grants from NYSERDA to study conversion to electric buses.
“This legislation attempts to address these issues by instituting common-sense reforms to the mandate that will provide school districts with the flexibility and guidance they need to adapt to these new requirements.” » Palmesano wrote.