CPPS awarded state grant to purchase electric buses

By on Tuesday, July 2nd, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

COLLEGE PLACE – College Place Public Schools has been awarded a grant of over $700,000 from the Washington State Department of Ecology. The grant will be used to transition to zero-emission school buses.

Superintendent Jim Fry said the grant will fund the purchase of necessary charging infrastructure and the replacement of two diesel school buses with new electric buses.

The goal of Ecology’s Clean Diesel Electric School Bus Grant Program is to replace diesel-powered school buses with zero-emission buses, significantly reducing air toxins and greenhouse gas emissions statewide.

Fry said the district will purchase the new buses at some point this year, but that he does not expect the new electric buses to be in service this upcoming school year.