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Consumer health advocates urge governor to sign bill package; NY protests for Jewish democracy heighten as Netanyahu meets UN today; Multiple Utah cities set to use ranked-choice voting in next election.

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The Pentagon wants to help service members denied benefits under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," advocates back a new federal office of gun violence prevention, and a top GOP member assures the Ukrainian president more help is coming.

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An Indigenous project in South Dakota seeks to protect tribal data sovereignty, advocates in North Carolina are pushing back against attacks on public schools, and Arkansas wants the hungriest to have access to more fruits and veggies.

NY Receives Federal Funding for Electric School Buses

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Thursday, October 27, 2022   

School districts across New York will be receiving almost $70 million in federal funding for electric school buses, via a grant awarded through the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Bus rebate competition. It is part of a $1 billion investment from the bipartisan infrastructure law.

New York state has made commitments to having all electric school buses by 2035. One challenge with climate-change initiatives is the initial investment in the new technology.

William Reinhardt, Albany County legislator and former project manager at the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, said this isn't new territory, especially as solar paved the way.

"We're already seeing this with batteries, and we've already seen it over the last ten years with solar," Reinhardt pointed out. "The cost per watt of an installed solar has gone way down, way down. And it's much more economical than most people realize now, 'cause their mind is still back ten years ago when it was really expensive."

Electric buses are not entirely new to the state. Currently, electric buses have been implemented in mass transit systems, since they cover greater mileage than a school bus. The EPA grants will help school districts purchase more than 2,400 electric school buses to speed the transition to zero-emissions vehicles.

While many are embracing the push to electric buses, there have been parents concerned about electric fires occurring on the new buses. Reinhardt likened it to feeling safer with the devil you know than the devil you don't, although he understands their concerns. He added education is needed to ensure people and children riding the new buses fully understand the need.

"The kids are our future, and we need to surround them with examples of what the future needs to be," Reinhardt asserted. "That means electric buses, not the dirty buses, it means renewable energy at your schools, and in curriculums, so they're learning about this future that we all have to embrace."

Parents' fears have some basis in reality. Earlier this year, an electric bus in Connecticut caught fire while parked at a bus depot. Although experts consider it a rare occurrence, CT Transit took its remaining electric bus fleet out of service until a cause of the fire is determined. The National Transportation Safety Board's investigation is still ongoing.


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