STEELTON, Pa. — Students in Swatara Township will soon be going to school on an electric school bus.
On Thursday, Dauphin County lawmakers and business leaders took a ride on Steelton Highspire’s brand-new electric school buses. The district is the first in Pennsylvania to have an all-electric school bus fleet.
“You have to be a good steward of the economy and the community, and going green is a part of that," said Dr. Mick Iskric, the Steelton Highspire superintendent.
The district purchased six new buses using a $2.7M grant from the EPA Clean School Bus Program. It is estimated that one of these electric buses can reduce carbon emissions by 54,000 pounds each year.
The electric bus fleet will be powered by Steelton Highspire’s 1.7-megawatt solar farm—helping the district cut down on its electricity costs. This, also, makes Steelton Highspire the only school district in the U.S. to have an all-electric bus fleet powered by 100% renewable energy.
“One of the things we want to show the kids is that we are thinking about the next you," said Dr. Iskric. "It’s not just in the moment, we’re thinking a couple of steps ahead.”
"This is the most efficient and most environmentally conscience way to transport students across the school district," said Kevin Matthews, the head of electrification with First Student.
First Student is the designer of the electric bus fleet for Steelton Highspire School District. Kevin Matthews said the buses and charging stations were designed to keep the vehicles running in any condition.
“We’ve never missed a day of safely and reliably transporting students because of cold or hot weather," said Matthews. "It’s all about designing the infrastructure and selecting the right bus to meet the needs of the community.”
The new fleet hopes to give students a better ride while improving Harrisburg’s air quality.
“We’re going to do things that will benefit our community, students, and district," said Dr. Iskric.