Red Lake is adding 2 electric school buses to its transportation fleet

RED LAKE — Electrifying a school bus fleet is no easy feat. But after two years of collaboration, Red Lake Public Schools is already halfway through the process.

The district unveiled two electric school buses during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Red Lake Elementary School on Friday, Sept. 27, adding to its fleet of 26 buses and highlighting Red Lake Nation’s focus on renewable energy.

“I am very proud to be here today celebrating the acquisition and implementation of electric school buses for Red Lake Schools,” said Superintendent Tim Lutz. “As one of Red Lake’s larger employers, the district should lead by example and lead in sustainable and renewable energy initiatives.”

The purchase of the buses was made possible through grants from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program, which aims to provide $5 billion by 2026 to replace existing school buses with zero- or low-emission vehicles.

Michelle Becker, a life sciences specialist at the EPA, noted that nearly $3 billion has been allocated for bus replacement.

“School buses in the United States travel more than 4 billion miles each year. They transport over 25 million children every day, and almost all buses run on diesel fuel,” she said. “Red Lake was an early adopter and is a willing partner in this program. We are honored to join the Red Lake Nation in celebrating the deployment of the first tribal buses in Minnesota.”

The district received two grants totaling $790,000, which it used with its electrification partner, Highland Electric Fleets. The company’s CEO, Duncan McIntyre, noted that less than 2% of current school buses in the United States are electric.

“This is an incredible commitment to protecting clean air and the natural resources around us,” he said. “Thank you (Red Lake) for being leaders in your state and giving others the confidence that they can do it too.”

Friday’s unveiling was timely as it took place during Climate Week, September 22-29. The first day of National Electric Drive Week — September 27 — also coincided with Friday’s festivities.

Shannon Kessner, director of tribal and diverse community affairs at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, emphasized the public health and climate impacts of diesel buses and other modes of transportation.

“To slow the rate of climate change and limit the worst impacts on Minnesotans, we must address the fact that the transportation sector is the largest source of carbon emissions in our state,” she said. “Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transport is a difficult challenge and requires all of us to make more sustainable choices in our everyday lives.

“Minnesota has set a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. Continued funding for electric school buses is an important part of that goal.”

Kessner referred to a May 2024 pilot project conducted by the MPCA that funded eight electric buses in various regions of the state. Each district expected to receive the bus reported its monthly mileage, energy consumption, costs and other factors from September 2022 to February 2023.

The survey found that 80% of grantee respondents would recommend electric buses to other districts, depending on their situation. 20% of respondents who would not recommend them cited cost as a limiting factor.

Each electric bus costs around $350,000 compared to its diesel counterpart which costs $150,000 per bus. Despite the higher upfront costs, Lutz noted the lower maintenance costs as well as the educational opportunities the buses would provide.

“As a school district, we should provide our students with opportunities to use cutting-edge technologies such as electric vehicles, solar panels, wind energy and other energy programs that will not only keep our environment clean, but also provide career paths in these fields,” he said . “These clean buses are something our children and our community are entitled to and deserve.”

The district also hopes the buses will last through the winter months – a real test that will determine whether the district transitions to an all-electric fleet.

“I’m not an expert on electric vehicles, but (Lutz) convinced me they will last forever. We’ll see, right?” Tribal Chairman Darrell Seki Sr. said airily.

After cutting the ribbon, participants boarded one of the electric buses and went on a tour of Red Lake. The day ended at Red Lake Elementary School with lunch for everyone to recharge their batteries.

“When you think about the next generation and our children, we want the best for them,” McIntyre said. “(Red Lake) has absolutely the best here for its next generation.”

More information about the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus program can be found at epa.gov/cleanschoolbus.