On Friday, a bill enabling Idaho school districts to access federal funding to purchase low or zero emission school buses unanimously passed the Senate.
Senate Bill 1319, sponsored by Sen. David Nelson (D-Moscow), fixes a flaw in state code that was a barrier for some of Idaho’s bigger school districts and charter schools to apply for funds from the Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, which appropriated $5 billion to help purchase low or zero emission school buses.
Nelson said Idaho schools will be able to buy practical, electric school buses and utilize the state’s inexpensive and clean electric power from renewable sources, helping save money over the life of the buses.
“Our schools will save money in the long run and our students will be less exposed to dirty diesel emissions with these new buses,” he said.