New electric buses to help Bibb students’ health and the environment, leaders say
The Bibb County School District celebrated a milestone in sustainable transportation Thursday, unveiling 15 new electric school buses, 10 new propane-powered buses and 15 electric charging stations.
The addition is part of a broader clean transportation push already underway in Bibb County, where propane-powered vehicles now make up 71% of the school district’s bus fleet.
The 15 new electric buses, which are a first for BCSD, were funded through a nearly $6 million grant secured via the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus program. Thursday’s unveiling brings the district’s number of propane-powered buses to 151, Anthony V. Jackson, BCSD’s executive director of transportation told The Telegraph in an email Friday.
The ceremony was held at the district’s transportation facility. School board members, state and federal legislative representatives, public health advocates, and industry partners were all in attendance.
“Today marks an important milestone for our school system,” said Katika Lovett, deputy superintendent and emcee for the ceremony. “This investment represents our commitment to student health, operational excellence and future readiness.”
Benefits for health and wallets
A central theme of the event was the health impact of diesel exhaust on students.
Dr. Keisha Callins, a physician and healthcare champion with the organization Mothers and Others for Clean Air, cited research showing that children riding diesel school buses can be exposed to up to 15 times more air pollutants than the general population, and that the exhaust contains more than 40 cancer-causing chemicals, including arsenic, benzene and formaldehyde.
“Children breathe about 50% more air per pound of body weight than adults,” Callins said, “and their developing lungs and smaller airways allow fine particles to penetrate deeper, which can exacerbate asthma and compromise the function of their developing lungs.”
She also highlighted the risks to school bus drivers, noting that research links diesel exhaust to chronic lung and heart disease, stroke and dementia.
“Being a leader is not about being in charge,” Callins said. “It is about taking care of those in your charge.”
The clean fleet shift has been as good for the budget as it has been for air quality, district officials said.
“We’ve realized fuel cost savings of 27 cents per mile and maintenance cost savings of 23 cents per mile compared to traditional diesel buses,” Jackson said. “Those are real dollars that can be redirected to support student learning and district priorities.”
Jackson said the district is now optimistic those benefits will carry over.
“These results give us confidence,” Jackson said. “They show that investing in alternative fuel technology is not only the right thing to do environmentally, but it’s also the smart thing to do operationally.”
Buses with local roots
The 15 new electric buses are Blue Bird Vision Electric models, manufactured by Blue Bird Corporation — a company headquartered in Macon and building buses in nearby Fort Valley since 1927.
“This isn’t just about 15 new buses,” said Albert Burleigh, Blue Bird’s vice president of alternative fuels. “It’s about taking a huge step forward.”
Blue Bird now has more than 2,500 electric school buses on the road nationally, collectively cutting more than 26,000 metric tons of carbon emissions annually and logging more than 5 million miles.
Highland Electric Fleets is supporting the charging infrastructure and day-to-day fleet management for the district.
Electric buses run about four times quieter than diesel, according to Evelyn Krasnow, vice president of marketing for Highland Electric Fleets, which is a particular benefit for students with sound sensitivities or special needs.
A pathway for students
Lovett closed the ceremony by announcing that the electric fleet also will serve as a learning platform for students.
The district is launching an electric vehicle pathway through its Career, Technical and Agricultural Education program, giving students hands-on opportunities to work on and learn about electric vehicle technology as part of career preparation.
“This is something that’s even bigger than just the buses that we are putting out now,” Lovett said. “This is an opportunity for our students to get involved, an opportunity for innovation, and an opportunity to really hone in on the Bibb County mission — preparing our students to lead, to learn, to innovate, and to serve.”
