U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich estimates he spent thousands of hours in his youth at the back of a school bus — usually with the windows down and diesel fumes wafting in.
“Knowing what we know today, we realize what a huge public health issue it is to be breathing diesel exhaust on a regular basis,” Heinrich said. “And it’s certainly not what we want for our kids.”
Tuesday afternoon, Heinrich visited Los Ranchos Elementary School and announced $6.9 million in federal aid to help Albuquerque Public Schools buy 20 new electric school buses and related infrastructure.
The money comes from the federal Clean School Bus Program, which Heinrich helped establish.
APS Superintendent Gabriella Durán Blakey and members of Moms Clean Air Force — an organization dedicated to protecting children from air pollution and climate change — joined Heinrich for the announcement.
Giovanna Rossi of Moms Clean Air Force said electric buses, which don’t produce tailpipe emissions, reduce air pollution, leading to better respiratory health for children and healthier communities — a big deal in a county that consistently receives an “F” grade for ozone pollution from the American Lung Association State of the Air report.
“Electric school buses will save kids from exposure to dirty diesel bus exhaust, a known human carcinogen that can also trigger asthma attacks and interfere with learning,” Rossi said. “We’ve seen a genuine commitment from state and congressional leaders to support and implement policies that align with our mission of protecting children from air pollution.”
Heinrich said the buses have fewer moving parts than diesel models, and the district will save money by switching to them.
Parents will also ‘breathe easier’
Blakey said APS is expecting the delivery of six previously ordered electric buses in November. Combined with the new buses — which should be delivered next year — she said, almost 10% of the district’s bus fleet will be electric.
“These buses represent our commitment to become a more sustainable district that is looking to be as environmentally friendly as possible,” Blakey said, standing next to an electric bus that was running but didn’t produce the rumble and vibration of a diesel bus.
APS serves almost a quarter of the public school students in New Mexico, she said, and transports about 30,000 of them to and from school every day.
“We look forward to a day when all of them are able to ride to school on an electric bus,” Blakey said. “And parents across the district will breathe easier knowing that their kids will have a clean ride to school.”
