This was written by Emily Pickett, Moms Clean Air Force Florida Organizer:
In Florida, where I live, half a million children every day rely on 18,000 buses to get to school. This is just a small portion of the 480,000 mostly diesel-fueled school buses in the US, which together make up the largest public transportation fleet in the country. These gas-guzzlers spew massive amounts of tailpipe pollution into the air, contributing to health problems, from asthma to cancer. Diesel pollution also exacerbates climate change, triggering extreme weather and ultimately threatening all of our futures. It doesn’t have to be this way.
One solution is zero-tailpipe-emissions electric school buses, which are now on the horizon for communities across the nation. To facilitate this transition to cleaner school transportation, federal funding opportunities are available, just waiting to be tapped into by proactive school districts.
Why are these buses a good idea? For starters, electric school buses offer a lifeline in the fight against pollution and climate change. They provide a cleaner, quieter, and healthier mode of transportation for our children while allowing school districts to save on fuel and maintenance costs.
While school districts across the country are starting to embrace electric buses, there’s a long way to go before all 26 million bus riders hop on board. Moms Clean Air Force is committed to educating school districts and communities about the advantages of adopting electric buses and helping access the available funding. Here are three ways you can join our efforts where you live:
- Learn About Available Funding: The EPA Clean School Bus site offers the most up-to-date information and resources for stakeholders interested in implementing electric school buses. Share this information with school leaders, board members, and your community to spread the word about available funding.
- Mobilize Engaged Parents: Your local PTA is a powerful starting point. A group of parents united around a common goal can have significant sway with local decision makers. Share the reasons to make the switch with our fact sheet: Reasons to Roll With Electric School Buses.
- Share Your Story: Perhaps your child struggles with asthma worsened by bus fumes or frequently experiences headaches after a bus ride. Your personal story is a vital tool for change. Attend a school board meeting and share why electric school buses matter to you. Join Moms Clean Air Force in giving public comments on strengthening pollution standards. Your story can be the catalyst for a cleaner and healthier future. Here are examples of testimonies our Moms have given in support of clean cars, trucks, and buses.
Our children deserve to travel to school in buses that don’t jeopardize their health or their futures. They deserve to have a healthy future and to see their parents working toward one. Now is the time for our school districts to seize every available funding opportunity and work toward a sustainable future that promises clean, healthy air for our kids.