Tedisco Pushes Back Against Electric Bus Mandate, Seeks NYSERDA Info
ALBANY — As part of his ongoing efforts to rescind and replace the electric school bus mandate established by Gov. Kathy Hochul, State Senator Jim Tedisco (R,C-Ballston Lake) has called upon the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to publicly release information related to the mandate, including:
A list of school districts that have completed a Fleet Electrification Study
Insights into how many of these districts have progressed from planning to actual infrastructure installation
Preliminary data on the costs incurred by districts in developing and implementing these electrification plans, if available
In a letter to NYSERDA, Tedisco wrote “it’s imperative that we gain a clear understanding of the current landscape of electrification planning and implementation across our state.” He also said the requested information would allow the state to “better assess the economic implications [of the mandate] and provide necessary support to our local educational institutions.”
The bus mandate requires school districts across the state to begin transitioning their transportation fleets to zero-emission vehicles in 2027. By 2035, all buses on the road must be zero-emission. Tedisco has criticized these requirements, stating that no provisions have been made for geographical disparities, diverse weather conditions, or unique travel demands.
“We need a reasonable approach, like the legislation I’m sponsoring Senate Bill 8467, to rescind the electric school bus mandate that will cost school districts in New York State billions of dollars, and replace it with a state-funded pilot program that enables school districts to test and evaluate how these electric buses perform,” Tedisco said in a statement. “The goal of having several clean energy options is a good one, but it’s got to be done with full transparency and common sense in a realistic way that’s reasonable and affordable for taxpayers, our local governments, and school districts.”
According to New York State’s Electric School Bus Roadmap report, “the total cost of [zero-emission school bus] ownership is expected to reach parity by 2027 due to advances in battery technology, increased supply chain outputs, as well as lower fuel and maintenance expenses.”
Electric buses can cost as much as $400,000, nearly three-times the cost of a diesel or gasoline bus. An annual report delivered early this year by Saratoga Springs City School District Director of Transportation Jerry Keenan stated that the district’s fleet includes 116 vehicles total (88 large buses, 21 small buses, 5 Chevrolet Suburbans, and 2 attendance officer vehicles).
In March, Assistant Superintendent for Business Robert “Bobby” Yusko said at a Board of Education meeting that “on top of purchasing the vehicles themselves to the tune of $400,000 a piece, there will be significant capital improvement upgrades that will be required as a result of this mandate.” At the time, Yusko said he was hesitant to provide an estimate of the total costs of converting the fleet to zero-emission vehicles because “there’s so much more information we still need to uncover.”