LEVITTOWN, N.Y. — Local leaders on Long Island are pushing again towards a state plan that will require electric school buses.
The state’s 2022-23 funds set a mandate that calls for all new buses to be zero-emission by means of 2027, and all of the fleet to be zero-emission by means of 2035.
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From the Levittown Schools bus backyard on Sunday, senators mentioned the plan raises severe monetary and protection considerations, together with the upper price of the electric buses.
“Encouraging the governor, encouraging the state Legislature to pump the brakes on this electric bus mandate until the technology catches up and until we have an actual plan to be able to implement this,” state Sen. Steve Rhoads mentioned.
In a remark, a spokesperson for Gov. Kathy Hochul mentioned, partially, “Old school buses are putting children’s health at risk, spewing toxic fumes and pollutants in the air that have negative health impacts.”
The spokesperson added that the state is the usage of $500 million from the Environmental Bond Act.