Eliminates the zero-emission school bus mandate; repealer

• Republican15

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why George Borrello says this is needed

The electric bus mandates were passed in the 2022-23 state budget to help the state meet the lower emissions targets of the Climate Leader- ship and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). The requirements are that new school bus purchases be zero emission by 2027 and all school buses in operation be zero emission by 2035. This legislation will lift the electric school bus mandate to facilitate a thorough study without immediate policy implications. The study will equip policymakers with reliable data to make informed decisions on the viability of electric school buses and will help change current and future policies to better assist in the integration of electric school buses in our various regions in New York State. Such study done by NYSERDA will include an analysis of the feasibility of conversion in rural, suburban, and urban school districts, the costs of supporting the necessary infrastructure for zero-emission school buses, and the costs of upgrading or replacing conventional school buses with zero-emission school buses. It's time that Albany realizes how unrealistic, costly, and unsafe this mandate is. A new, full-size electric bus costs $400,000 - $450,000 - triple the price of a conventional bus which is approximately $145,000. With 45,000 school buses in the state, full conversion by 2035 will cost approxi- mately $20 billion. The cost over and above what school districts already pay for replacement buses is projected at between $8 billion and $15 billion statewide. These totals don't even include the required infrastructure upgrades including installation of charging stations, electrical improvements, bus garage renovations and so on. Without ques- tion, the $100 million in grants the state just made available for elec- tric school bus purchases won't be nearly enough. That amount is enough to fund about 250 buses statewide. With over 800 school districts state- wide, that isn't even one bus per district. Even the additional $400 million to be allocated in future rounds won't make a dent in the cost of conversion. Funding isn't the only problem with this mandate. There are other issues particularly important to rural districts that haven't been adequately considered. Frigid temperatures decrease traveling range due to electric vehicles failing to operate and charge properly in extremely cold weath- er, which could affect school bus routes in the coldest portions of the state specifically, rural regions of the state. School buses are also used for other purposes including trips to athletic events and field trips, which often involve exceeding the roughly 100 mile range a bus can travel on a single charge. This costly transition will continue to weigh heavily on our poor rural school districts and the property taxpayers in those districts. Over- all, the electric bus mandate, like much of New York's climate agenda, is being rushed into place without adequate funding, regional flexibili- ty, or input from stakeholders. Those who stand to lose the most from this unfunded mandate are, once again, New York State taxpayers. In conclusion, this legislation seeks to facilitate a thorough and unbi- ased assessment of electric school bus feasibility, costs of infrastruc- ture, and costs of upgrading or replacing, ensuring that future policies align with the practical considerations of our diverse settings in our state.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.