OLYMPIA, Wash.-Legislation that would transition the state’s 12,000 diesel-powered bus fleet to zero-emission alternatives recently passed through the Washington Senate.
HB 1368 cleared the Senate along a partisan 29-20 vote and would strengthen a pre-existing grant program that funds the purchase of zero-emission school buses, according to the Environmental Priorities Coalition.
If it becomes law, the legislation will provide increased funding via the Climate Commitment Act for the purchase of buses and charging infrastructure to make this transition successful.
The transition to non-diesel buses will dictate when all buses must be zero-emission based on when zero-emission buses are the cost-effective choice and their upfront cost plus fuel and maintenance is less than diesel options, according to the EPC.
HB 1368 will now be considered in the State House before possibly being sent to Governor Inslee to be signed into law.
