New Mexico Advocates Push for Electric School Buses Amid Legislative Discussion
According to KRQE, advocates from the NMVC Action Fund and Healthy Climate New Mexico are pushing for a transition from traditional diesel school buses to electric models during a presentation to the legislative Transportation Infrastructure Revenue Subcommittee.
Charles Goodmacher, policy advisor for Healthy Climate New Mexico, argued that adopting electric buses would be a ‘win, win, win.’ He highlighted benefits such as reducing students’ exposure to harmful diesel emissions, providing a quieter environment for drivers, and cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions. However, the cost of making this switch is a significant consideration.
Goodmacher pointed out that while an electric school bus costs approximately $420,000 compared to around $120,000 for a diesel bus, the long-term savings could be substantial. Districts could save up to $100,000 on fuel and maintenance. Additionally, electric buses could potentially generate income by selling stored energy back to the grid during peak demand periods.
New Mexico’s Governor has issued an executive order to transition the state vehicle fleet to 100% electric by 2035. Goodmacher proposed extending this mandate to school district buses, though he acknowledged that funding remains a major challenge.
Lawmakers raised questions about the electric buses’ range, their performance in extreme weather conditions, and the need for driver training. Advocates are urging legislative changes to secure federal funding for electric buses before it is exhausted. So far, at least six New Mexico school districts, including Albuquerque Public Schools, have received EPA funding to replace old buses with cleaner alternatives.
The EPA has allocated approximately $3 billion to support the replacement of 8,500 school buses across over 1,000 schools nationwide.
