Washington school districts get 40 new electric buses

School districts across Washington will be getting new zero-emission electric school buses next year, due to a grant from the Department of Ecology.

Forty buses will be distributed to 22 districts across the state in one of the largest investments in zero-emission school buses in the country, according to a press release from the department.

“This is a great investment in a healthier future for students and their communities," Gov. Jay Inslee said.

The buses are paid for with funding from Washington’s Volkswagen diesel emission settlement, which stems from the discovery that the carmaker installed software that allowed engines to emit more than the legal limit for nitrous oxides.

“Children face the greatest risks from diesel pollution, and giving them cleaner transportation to school is a priority,” said Laura Watson, the director for the Department of Ecology. “These buses are an important first step toward helping every student in Washington start and end their days with an emission-free ride.”

Read more about Washington’s Volkswagen settlement here.

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