
BISMARCK – Schools that were awarded funds to buy electric buses are in a holding pattern, including some in North Dakota.
Spending deals approved by Congress in the Biden era committed more than five billion dollars to help schools with these big-ticket purchases, save on transportation costs, and make bus routes less polluted. But President Donald Trump’s desire to claw back such funds has created uncertainty.
Harvey School Superintendent Robert Lukens says they’ll soon receive a clean bus through the program but there’s no assurances three others will be covered. He says that losing those federal funds makes it difficult for districts and taxpayers to justify that type of cost. Lukens says they face a deadline of whether to pursue the additional buses for their fleet.
The average cost for a zero-emissions bus is 350 thousand dollars. An assistance group reports similar dilemmas around the U-S, with districts being locked out of a funding portal. An E-P-A memo circulated this week has ordered agency money to flow again, but it isn’t clear yet which programs will resume.
Lukens also has a background in agriculture, and he’s seen how technology has brought similar efficiencies to big farm equipment. He suggests it’s unfortunate the Harvey school district might not be able to see the full benefits of non-diesel buses.
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