Embedded Files
As part of Portland Public School’s climate change response policy (CCRP), PPS has pledged to be carbon-neutral by 2040. This means that the amount of carbon produced as a result of energy consumption in Portland schools will be offset by green energy. In an exciting step toward this ambitious goal, representatives from PPS, Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, and GreenPower announced the first two electric school buses to be rolled out in our district.
Since the CCRP states that half of the district's carbon emissions by 2030, ten years ahead of the carbon-neutral goal, movement away from propane buses is beyond essential to reaching any and all of the goals we have. In the words of PPS Superintendent Guadalupe Guerrero, “Our school system is steadfast in our commitment to ensure we respond to the climate, with the support and collaboration of key partners, we are now taking concrete steps towards making us a more sustainable organization by starting to electrify our school bus fleet.” According to PGE, about 40% of Oregon’s total GHG emissions come from the transportation sector. Which just furthers the importance of the buses to the community.
The first two PPS electric school buses are built by the GreenPower motor company, who manufacture purpose built electric vehicles for commercial use. The models unveiled in April are part of the first 200 Nano Battery Electric Automotive School Transportation (Nano BEAST) vehicles delivered in North America. “We are proud to deliver the first Nano BEASTs to Portland Public Schools, making them the first district in Oregon to receive a purpose-built Type A all-electric school bus,” said Michael Perez, Vice President of School Bus, Contracts and grants at GreenPower. A major concern with electric vehicles of all kinds has been their range, but the Nano BEAST can travel 150 miles on a single charge, approximately 2/3 the range of the current PPS propane vehicles. The 118 KWH battery allows the new electric school buses to travel most routes currently operated by propane vehicles. Maintenance of the new Nano BEAST buses is also less costly, without a traditional engine the buses are less prone to mechanical failure and breakdown. In short, “The Nano BEASTs will provide the students at PPS a better, cleaner and safer transportation future, and we’re ecstatic to play a role in helping them fulfill their climate change policy and commitment to be zero-emission by 2040.”
PPS plans on rolling out these buses where they are needed most; The I5 corridor has higher levels of air pollution then elsewhere in Portland, an especially important issue given the serious nature of the effect of air pollution on learning and children.
By Bobby Hamblin
Photography By: Ellie Weiner
Roosevelt High School
Published April 19 , 2023
Report abuse