New York Public Schools Switching to Electric Buses
New York’s public schools are paving a clean, healthy path to the future by switching to cleaner, greener forms of transportation. As of this year’s budget, all new school buses purchased by the state will be zero emission by 2027, and by 2035, all school bus vehicles will be electric. It is a significant step forward and a bellwether that shows the winds of change are blowing stronger than ever before.
The Impact of the Changes
2.3 million students travel to and from New York schools every day of the school year. With nearly 50,000 buses in service, that’s a hefty fuel bill and considerable air pollution. With the passage of recent legislation, Gov. Kathy Hochul has signaled a change in a new direction: a cleaner, brighter, smog-free future for New York students.
The new law requires the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to facilitate a transition to 100% electric buses by 2035. This ambitious step will likely spread to other state agencies in the coming years. Most importantly, it means that now is the time for school districts to plan for the future. While the change may be a decade away, preparing and developing the infrastructure required to support bus fleets throughout the state will take time.
Government Incentives for Solar
Joint Utilities of New York has initiated a pilot program to make it easier for school districts to transition to 100% electric fleets—the current program funds up to 90% of the utility-side infrastructure required to support electric buses. And, while school districts have until 2035 to make the transition, applications for the Medium-and-Heavy Duty EV Make-Ready Pilot must be submitted by December 31, 2025.
Thus, while there is ample time to make the legislated transition, there is limited time to take advantage of the pilot program, significantly offsets the required investment. At Solar Liberty, our team can help you navigate the application process. It will help you determine the best EV charging stations and solar solutions for your current and estimated future needs.
Electric Charging Stations for School Districts
Depending on the charger and the vehicle’s make, charging an electric bus takes between two to eight hours. That is a lot of power, and with electricity prices continuing to rise, school districts need to deploy energy-efficient EV charging stations to keep their bus fleet rolling down the road.
At Solar Liberty, our team can install Level 2 and Level 3 EV charging stations to provide all the power you need to keep your buses fully charged. We can install EV chargers within garages or parking lots. Moreover, we can maintain and repair your EV charging stations to provide the safe, efficient, and reliable charge your drivers depend on throughout the year.
Moreover, we can connect your charging station to a solar energy system that will reduce your reliance on the power grid and help lower your utility bills. We can install solar systems on the roofs of schools within the district, on top of the bus barn, over parking lots, or within unused areas of the property.
Choose Solar Liberty
At Solar Liberty, we are committed to helping our clients enjoy safer, cleaner, more reliable energy solutions. Over the past 20 years, we have proudly served clients throughout the region, including K-12 educational institutions, universities, and many government agencies. Our expertise and experience ensure your system will deliver maximum performance and reliable electricity for your needs.
Contact Solar Liberty at 866-807-3639 for more information about EV charging stations and to schedule an appointment to meet with our team to discuss the solutions we can deliver for your needs.
