On May 10, 2023, the Electrification Coalition and World Resources Institute hosted a roundtable on the wide-ranging benefits of electric school buses and Michigan’s window of opportunity to accelerate deployment.
The roundtable featured remarks from Governor Gretchen Whitmer and U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell, as well as other government officials, industry experts, advocates, and school districts on the front lines. A full speaker list from the roundtable is below.
Slide decks from the roundtable:
- Atlas Public Policy – Michigan ESB Market and Policy Data
- Frank Acevedo — Clean School Bus Program Overview
- Cathy Cole — MSPC EV & ESB Update
- WRI — Electrifying the U.S. Fleet by 2030
- WRI — TCO for ESBs in Michigan
- Rhombus Energy Solutions/Borg Warner — Tech Overview
Click here to access our video: Deploying Electric School Buses in Zeeland, Michigan
School bus electrification will improve health and academic outcomes for young people, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and expand the green economy. These benefits are especially important for high-pollution corridors, and Black, Hispanic, and low-income households, which are disproportionately exposed to health risks.
Speakers
- Governor Gretchen Whitmer
- U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell
- State Rep. Ranjeev Puri, District 24
- Sue Gander, director, Electric School Bus Initiative
- Janine Ward, program manager, Michigan Office of Future Mobility & Electrification
- Cathy Cole, director of strategic operations division, Michigan Public Service Commission
- Cory Connolly, climate and energy advisor, Michigan DOE
- Amaad Hardy, director of policy and engagement, Greater Grand Rapids NAACP
- Nina Wemberley, project coordinator, Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision
- Kareem Scales, CEO & founder, Scales Consulting, co-chair, C-4
- Leah Brams, market development associate, Highland Electric Fleets
- Dick Johnson, sales manager, Borg Warner
- Mujeeb Ijaz, founder & CEO, Our Next Energy
- Nate Baguio, senior VP of commercial development, The Lion Electric Co.
- Francisco J. Acevedo, mobile source program manager, U.S. EPA, Region 5
- Michelle Levinson, manager of eMobility financial solutions, WRI
- Kindra Weid, RN, BSN, MPH, coalition coordinator, MI Air & Mi Health
- Bethany Tabor, commercial electric vehicles project manager, Electric Transportation Consumer Products
- Stephen C. Seelye, superintendent, Pellston Public Schools
- Kenni Jean Schrader, transportation supervisor, Three Rivers Community Schools
- Milena Marku, manager of EV strategy & programs, CTE Electrification Business Development
- Aaron Viles, director of campaigns, Electrification Coalition