Contact: Noah Barnes, Electrification Coalition
noah@electrification.org, (202) 461-2371
HARRISBURG—Today, the Electrification Coalition and Advanced Energy United testified before the Pennsylvania House Energy Committee to support House Bill 1539, establishing the Electric School Bus Grant Program. This dedicated fund would provide competitive grants to school districts and contracted transportation providers. The program supports:
- the purchase of electric school buses or conversion of existing buses to electric,
- charging infrastructure and electrical upgrades,
- training for staff and workforce development, and
- administrative and planning costs.
“House Bill 1539 is not just about new buses—it’s about long-term cost savings for school districts, supporting Pennsylvania workers, ensuring accountability, and making sure our state remains competitive,” said Electrification Coalition Policy Manager Celia Kosinski in her testimony. “It positions Pennsylvania as a leader in adopting cost-effective, forward-looking transportation for school districts.”
“Electric school buses are an easy win for Pennsylvania’s economy and communities,” said Advanced Energy United Principal Chris D’Agostino. “They cut fuel and maintenance costs, spare kids from bus exhaust, and can even store electricity, sending power to communities when they need it and earning money in the process.”
Rep. Mandy Steele highlighted the benefits of electric school buses’ ability to send power back to buildings or the grid during emergencies.
“I’m from Pittsburgh, where we have big storms, but because of topography, we lose power all the time,” said Rep. Steele. “Our school districts in Pittsburgh are lining up for these kinds of programs because they can keep their schools open. Our kids were out of school for five days! They would’ve been able to power those schools, keep their kids in schools, and set up in the parking lot to allow the people to come and plug into the school bus to power their devices, including medical devices. This is absolutely something we need to be prioritizing.”
Steelton-Highspire School District Interim Superintendent Willie Slade highlighted that his district is saving $20,000 per year in fuel costs by switching to electric school buses. Those funds can now be invested back into classrooms.
Electric school buses deliver many benefits to schools and students:
- Economic efficiency: Electric school buses deliver significant savings over their lifetime due to lower fuel and maintenance costs. This program reduces the barrier of higher upfront purchase prices, allowing school districts to reinvest savings directly into classrooms and students.
- Regional competitiveness: Pennsylvania must lead in the electric school bus transition to ensure it does not fall behind neighboring states that are already advancing clean school transportation.
- Workforce development: Training components prepare Pennsylvania’s workforce mechanics, electricians, and drivers for the transition to electric transportation, creating long-term career pathways and strengthening the state’s energy economy.
- Emergency preparedness and resilience: Electric school buses can serve as mobile energy assets during emergencies, providing backup power to schools, shelters, and critical facilities. By investing in electric school buses, Pennsylvania strengthens its resilience against grid disruptions and natural disasters while improving community safety.
The Electrification Coalition thanks Rep. David Madsen for sponsoring the bill and Chair Elizabeth Fiedler for prioritizing it. We encourage the House Energy Committee to pass the bill out of committee.
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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