GALESBURG, Ill. — Students in Galesburg are now riding electric school buses for the first time after the district received $9 million from the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean School Bus Program.
The district has partnered with the bus company, First Student, to put 23 electric buses on the road.
"All of that support is a collaborative effort to make this all possible," Senior Director of Charging at First Student Kevin McNamara said.
First Student has the most electric buses deployed in North America, with 400-500 buses currently on the roads. The company set a goal of having 30,000 electric school buses in use by 2035.
"These are big sites for us, so this is definitely a big achievement," McNamara said.
Sixth-grade student Lincoln Walters wrote a letter to the president a few years ago, helping the school get the funds for the electric fleet.
"It feels awesome because it helps create a change in this world," he said.
Students and faculty experienced a smoother and quieter ride in the new buses.
"I feel like it is less bumpy than last time," fifth-grade student Dezman Jones said. "I used to jump out of my seat due to the bumps. Now I don’t."
The school said the buses will have a positive environmental impact, claiming one bus can reduce 54,000 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions annually — equivalent to 3.75 pounds of carbon dioxide for every mile driven. The EPA said the calculations only take into account the tailpipe emissions of the bus and not those used to create the battery.
"It’s better for the environment here in Galesburg, but overall, it's a good thing," McNamara said.