Electric School Buses Take the State by Storm

Over the past few years, North Carolina school districts have been flooded with federal and state grants and rebates designed for one big purchase: electric school buses (ESBs). North Carolina ranks 14th in the nation for total electric school buses. These buses aren’t just some fancy new tech that schools are getting access to, they are key to creating a safer, healthier, and cleaner world for the next generation.

Many school buses burn diesel fuel, which emits harmful pollutants through black or white smog you see coming from the tailpipe of a bus. Breathing in this pollution, which many kids do every day on their way to school, is linked to asthma and other health issues as well as cognitive development problems. The use of these fuels also contributes to the warming of our atmosphere and climate. 

ESBs are an update for schools that will prioritize children’s safety and encourage an innovator’s mindset. Marshall Cherry is the president and CEO of Roanoke Cooperative, a group dedicated to bringing ESBs to schools in Bertie County. He stated that, “this initiative is not just about advancing technology; it’s about educating our students and community on the importance of renewable energy and sustainability.” 

Cleaner school buses are a tangible way to understand that the resources we rely on have an impact on the environment, and certain options keep our air fresh and our atmosphere cool. With zero tailpipe emissions, ESBs cut down on pollutants that infect the air we all breathe while reducing the use of diesel fuels mined from precious and beautiful lands and seascapes.

ESBs are a critical learning tool for children. It’s a technology they can get a hands-on feel for that will continue to positively impact their lives as they grow. Matthew Palmer, the Supervisor of Transportation for Durham Public Schools, stated that this technology is “a slingshot. [It] really launches us into the modern 21st century.”

A future built around clean transportation, infrastructure, and energy doesn’t just spring out from nowhere, it is cultivated from a background of sustainable practices and innovative examples. The recent push for ESBs across the country has encouraged school districts to change for the health of students and the environment, leading the way to a cleaner, greener future.