One environmental topic in Florida that often gets swept under the rug is our children’s health. Much focus has been placed on our 11-year deadline to change course and reduce our carbon emissions. But what future generations so desperately need are real action steps today. When the clock runs out, and we have reached our deadline, will we be able to say we did everything we could? What tangible action steps will we be able to show as proof of our efforts? And, will our legacy make our children proud?
Now, for the first time ever, school districts across the state are poised to take action to improve the health and air quality for their most vulnerable students. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is making $5 million available for an initial phase to help school districts replace old diesel school buses with electric school buses. This is the first of many bus projects funded by the Department using Volkswagen Settlement funding. Electric school buses offer a real, tangible solution. Electric school buses can:
- Reduce air pollution and the health threats posed by diesel school buses;
- Eliminate diesel exhaust emissions and particulate pollution; and
- Offer school districts financial benefits over the lifetime of the bus such as reduced maintenance costs and fuel costs.
Everyone can help bring clean, electric buses to their community. To learn how you can take action for your kids join Florida Conservation Voters Education Fund and experts December 3, 2019 from 1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. EST for a webinar on how you can “Electrify your County’s School Bus Fleet.” Webinar participants will learn how school districts in Maryland successfully partnered with Clean Buses for Healthy Niños to launch pilot electric school bus programs in their state.
Attend the webinar to learn how to bring clean, electric school buses to your school. Share this blog and webinar information with your community’s teachers, members of your school’s Parent Teach Organization, and your school board members.
To learn how you can take action click here to register for our webinar.