The Zero-Emission School Bus Replacement Incentive Program provides monetary incentives to help school districts replace those existing diesel-powered buses.

The Ripon Unified School District is vying for the sustainable grant, said Director of Maintenance & Operations Andy Strickland at last Monday’s monthly session.

If they do acquire the electric bus, Ripon Unified will be the first school district in the South County to have one.
The state is mandating that school buses that are placed into service after 2035 be zero emission which eliminates fossil fuel powered buses.

Existing buses after that point that are diesel or gas powered will be phased out when they reach the point they need to be replaced.

“We received a letter (from the San Joaquin Air Pollution Control District, on Aug. 21) stating we have now been selected for potential funding,” he added.

RUSD started the process on March 2019 for the fully electric school bus.

On November 2019, Strickland noted that the district received communications from the San Joaquin Air Board having received the completed package.

“We are super, super excited,” said Strickland on the latest news.

In recent weeks, RUSD received an email asking for updated information.

If all goes accordingly, Strickland pointed out that RUSD would receive the grant for $400,000, with the cost of the electric bus estimated at $475,000.

“Some of the expenditures would come from our part,” he said.

Superintendent Ziggy Robeson was especially thrilled with the update.

“I was elated,” she said. “This is a pet project of mine.”