As Funding Moves Forward, Electric School Buses Ready To Roll In East Brunswick

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ – Environmental activists, school administrators and local and state officials gathered at Memorial Elementary School in East Brunswick to talk about the rollout of the $45 million pilot program that is helping school districts replace diesel-powered buses with energy effect electric buses.

The East Brunswick School District is one of the beneficiaries of the program as it is set to get 11 new electric buses. An exact date for when these vehicles will be operational has not been released yet.

The press conference, held Wednesday, was also in support of funding for the Electric School Bus Program in the NJ FY24 budget.

Superintendent of East Brunswick Public Schools, Victor Valeski, said he was proud that the district remained visionary when it comes to tackling climate change.

“The world has changed. The way we transport students is ahead of us. And East Brunswick Public Schools is prepared to be a partner in that effort,” Valeski said.

The pilot program is funded for three years by grants from the state and from the federal Bi-Partisan Infrastructure Bill. Around 17 buses are currently operational in the state out of the 201 that have been ordered.

“This should be the last generation that has a legacy of being stuck on diesel school buses that emit toxic fumes,” said Doug O’Malley, Director of Environment New Jersey.

Last year, lawmakers signed off on a bill authorizing the NJ Department of Environmental Protection to spend $45 million over three years on electric school buses and charging infrastructure.

Assemblyman Sterley Stanley was one of the prime sponsors of a bill in 2021 that advocated for electric school buses.

“We know for a fact that climate change is happening. We need to fight for the future, the future of our children,” Stanley said.

According to Sen. Patrick Diegnan, the aim of the pilot program was to figure out the kinks before the buses become more common on the roads.

“This program is being put in place so we can get facts on exactly how it’s working; if it’s working efficiently; if there are any challenges... Working together we are going to figure it out once and for all. This is not the future, this has to be the present,” Diegnan said.

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