Support Investments for Electric School Buses that Improve Lung Health

Help us keep the pressure on Albany to invest in a healthier future for our children by asking lawmakers to support and fund Governor Hochul’s bold goal of 100% electric school buses across New York by 2035.

Electric school buses grant multiple benefits including improved public health and clean air for children and surrounding communities, green jobs, and climate change benefits through decarbonization. Diesel school buses are the predominant type of bus sold today and each diesel school bus sold this year may remain in operation for as many as 15 years, locking in a technology that is bad for air quality, public health, and the climate. The equitable deployment of electric school buses throughout New York State is essential to improve public health, advance health equity, and further Governor Hochul’s ambitious efforts to reduce harmful emissions from the transportation sector.

New York stands to benefit from electrifying school buses in several ways:

There are over 50,000 buses, about 10% of the U.S. school bus fleet, operated in New York.
Children that rely on school buses are disproportionately in disadvantaged communities and stand to benefit the most from electrification. Students with disabilities also often have longer school bus rides and, therefore, face more exposure to harmful emissions.
Cleaner air, especially in high-pollution corridors and communities of color.

Please contact your lawmakers in Albany today.

Recipients

Your State Senator or Senators
State Representative Helene E. Weinstein
State Representative Carl E. Heastie
State Representative Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes
Targeted recipients based on your address
Assembly Education Chair Michael Benedetto
Senate Environmental Conservation Chair Todd Kaminsky
Senate Finance Chair Liz Krueger
Senate Education Chair Shelley Mayer
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins

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Message

Support Investments for Electric School Buses that Improve Lung Health

Dear [Decision Maker],

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I'm writing today to ask you to support Governor Hochul's goal of achieving one-hundred percent electrification of school buses by 2035.  As you continue your work on the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 budget you have a timely opportunity to build a healthier New York both now and into the future.

Electric school buses grant multiple benefits including improved public health and clean air for children and surrounding communities, green jobs, and climate change benefits through decarbonization. Diesel school buses are the predominant type of bus sold today, and each diesel school bus sold this year may remain in operation for as many as 15 years, locking in a technology that is bad for air quality, public health, and the climate. The equitable deployment of electric school buses throughout New York State is essential to improve public health, advance health equity, and further advance New York's ambitious efforts to reduce harmful emissions from the transportation sector.

New York stands to benefit from electrifying school buses in several ways:

* There are over 50,000 buses, about 10% of the U.S. school bus fleet, operated in New York.

* Children that rely on school buses are disproportionately in disadvantaged communities and stand to benefit the most from electrification. Students with disabilities also often have longer school bus rides and, therefore, face more exposure to harmful emissions.

* Cleaner air, especially in high-pollution corridors and communities of color.

With zero tailpipe emissions and 70% lower lifecycle GHG emissions, electric school buses are the future of student transport, helping to mitigate climate change while promising cleaner air and healthier communities. To mobilize electric school buses statewide, help ensure that they quickly reach price parity and continue to demonstrate the State's national leadership on environmental protection, New York should establish and fund a comprehensive school bus electrification program which would:

* Provide at least $300 million in funding  through the general fund, the Environmental Bond Act, and other in-state sources  over 5 years to be administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) through up-front grants or vouchers to districts to finance at least the incremental cost of electric school bus purchases and the installation of charging infrastructure.

* Dedicate at least 50% of these funds to buses serving and/or housed in disadvantaged communities.

Thank you and I look forward to working together to make this historic proposal for our students, our schools, our communities, and our climate a reality.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]