Contact: Noah Barnes, Electrification Coalition
noah@electrification.org, (202) 461-2371
Lansing, Mich.—Last night, the Michigan state legislature passed a K-12 state education budget that includes $125 million for school districts to modernize their bus fleets by transitioning to clean school buses, the vast majority of which are expected to be electric.
This announcement follows the groundwork laid in May by the Electrification Coalition (EC) and World Resources Institute (WRI), who convened Michigan lawmakers, agency officials, and representatives from school districts, electric utilities, corporations, and equity-focused groups to discuss the importance of deploying electric school buses at scale in Michigan. At the event, Governor Whitmer offered her clear support for a significant state investment in this important transition.
In response to the announcement, EC Director of Campaigns Aaron Viles released the following statement:
“With the passage of the K-12 state budget, Michigan lawmakers have sent a clear message that they are invested in our state’s educational future. We’re grateful for their leadership in creating a $125 million program to support the transition from dirty diesel to clean electric school buses. This is a big win for the state: Michigan’s kids will get a clean ride to school and school districts will free up fuel costs to invest in teachers, programs, and materials for better educational outcomes. In doing so, Michigan will also play a significant role in reducing the U.S.’s use of fossil fuels and increasing our national security. Thanks to the governor’s leadership and every lawmaker who worked hard to make this happen.”
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About the Electrification Coalition: The Electrification Coalition is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that promotes policies and actions to facilitate the widespread adoption of plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) on a mass scale to overcome the economic, public health and national security challenges that stem from America’s dependence on oil. electrificationcoalition.org