Muchos alumnos de Pensilvania ahora van a la escuela en autobuses eléctricos. Unos $900 millones de dólares del Programa Clean School Bus de la Agencia de Protección Ambiental financian autobuses menos contaminantes en más de 500 distritos escolares de todo el país.

El distrito de Steelton-Highspire recibió fondos para comprar seis autobuses eléctricos, con cargadores e infraestructura de carga para cada autobús.

Jenna Condran, directora del consejo escolar del distrito, dice que los niños le dicen que los autobuses eléctricos son "más silenciosos y tranquilos". Condran los ve como una inversión financiera que afecta al distrito escolar, la comunidad y los contribuyentes.

"Contratar conductores de autobús, reparar los autobuses y tener autobuses nuevos y actualizados a la larga significaría pagar impuestos," dice Condran. "Esos impuestos repercuten en los padres. Así que poder hacer algo como esto con energía solar ayuda en parte, porque hay muchos subsidios. Así que no solo es una ventaja para la escuela, sino que a largo plazo también podría ser una ventaja para los contribuyentes."

Pensilvania cuenta actualmente con más de 250 autobuses escolares eléctricos, pero Steelton-Highspire es el único distrito escolar del estado que tiene el 100% de su flota de autobuses electrificada. Y todo el distrito funciona con energía solar al 100%.

Brittany Barrett, de World Resources Institute, supervisa la Iniciativa de Clean School Bus. Según ella, los autobuses más antiguos han funcionado de forma desproporcionada en distritos con más alumnos de color, en zonas rurales y de bajos ingresos.

Añade que oportunidades como el Programa de Clean School Bus, los reembolsos y subsidios pueden ayudar a los distritos en la transición a alternativas más limpias.

"Esta es una gran oportunidad para analizar de manera integral como se proporciona el transporte," asegura Barret. "Con el programa Clean School Bus, hay disponibles $20,000 dólares adicionales por vehículo si se compra un autobús equipado con elevador para sillas de ruedas. Por lo tanto, queremos un acceso igualitario para todos los estudiantes."

Kevin Matthews trabaja para First Student, una empresa de transporte escolar que dice que electrificará 30,000 autobuses para 2035. Según él, eso significaría reducir más de 1.6 millones de libras de gases de efecto invernadero.

"Por cada autobús escolar diesel que retiramos y reemplazamos por uno eléctrico, se reducen 54,000 libras de gases de efecto invernadero al año," dice Matthews por lo que se trata de un cambio muy significativo y una mejora para el medio ambiente."

Matthews añade que también han observado una reducción de los costos operativos de entre el 20 y el 30% en comparación con los autobuses que funcionan con combustibles fósiles. Esto se debe principalmente al menor consumo de combustible, pero también a la reducción de las necesidades de mantenimiento.



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The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority is leading efforts to modernize and expand the state's passenger rail system, with significant projects underway to separate passenger and freight rail services.

DJ Stadtler, executive director of the authority, is touting what he hopes to be a game-changing effort to separate passenger and freight services and build state-owned rail infrastructure. He thinks current plans will lead to better on-time performance and increased reliability for both freight and passenger trains.

"We're purchasing a lot of the rail between Washington and really North Carolina, so we have dedicated passenger track, so only passenger trains will go on our track that we own," Stadtler explained. "The freight track traffic will stay on the freight lanes."

Virginia's rail modernization comes as part of a broader national effort. The Biden-Harris administration recently announced more than $1 billion in funding for passenger rail improvements and the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority is applying for more grants under the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program, with applications due in December.

The rail authority's ambitious plans aim to make passenger rail a more attractive option for Virginians, with incremental improvements leading to a more comprehensive rail system by 2030. By 2027, Stadtler pointed out Virginians will also see the introduction of Amtrak's Airo equipment, modern train sets designed for improved energy efficiency and a better passenger experience.

"The engines are dual mode, so you'll be having the same engine in D.C. that's electric when you get there," Stadtler outlined. "Instead of taking that engine off the conductor, the engineer will just hit a button, the electric pantograph will go down, the diesel engine will light up: boom! And then we'll continue southbound, so it'll be a much smoother trip."

As part of the future vision, the number of daily round trips between Richmond and Washington, D.C. will increase from five to 13, with nearly hourly service by 2030. In August, Virginia officials approved a deal with Norfolk Southern to expand passenger rail services, extending trains from Roanoke to Christiansburg in the New River Valley.

It is National Drive Electric Week and the Arizona Public Interest Research Group Education Fund wants to raise awareness about the benefits electric vehicles can offer.

Diane Brown, executive director of the group, said Arizona has experienced an uptick in EV sales over the last several years. As of September of this year, there are now close to 90,000 EVs registered in Arizona, according to the U-S Department of Energy.

Brown added Arizonans are taking advantage of available tax credits and incentives from government and utilities to make the switch and help improve air quality, thereby protecting public health but also saving them money.

"Arizona can continue to bolster policies that help make the opportunities for drivers to shift gears from gas-fueled built vehicles to driving electric," Brown urged.

Brown acknowledged Arizonans may be apprehensive about an EV. She added some of the biggest worries are driving range and charging infrastructure. To those on the fence, she said car manufacturers continue to improve range and the state is set to receive millions in federal dollars to improve charging infrastructure along interstate highways.

To learn more about tax credits and incentives, Brown encouraged people to visit savingenergytips.org.

Brown added Arizona's clean energy economy, which includes the EV sector, is rapidly expanding. Thousands of jobs are making their way to Arizona thanks to federal legislation, such as the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Brown emphasized everyone across Arizona wins.

"Municipalities, school districts and businesses are reaping financial benefits from transitioning their fleets to electric," Brown added.

Arizona is among the top 10 states with the most EV registrations.

This week, federal officials announced a new round of funding for passenger rail projects. It is part of a larger push to expand and restore service, including an old Amtrak route which once made stops in North Dakota.

The $1 billion in total grants is part of a larger rail funding pool under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority is helping restore a former route connecting Chicago to the Pacific Northwest, which ran until the late 1970s. The reinstated line would bring back service along the route to cities such as Bismarck.

Dave Strohmaier, chairman of the authority, said they were awarded seed money last year and remain hopeful about what lies ahead.

"The addition, the restoration of this passenger rail service would make a big difference to the economies, to the opportunities for transportation options for small and large communities along this route," Strohmaier contended.

There's an Amtrak route still operating across northern North Dakota, but Strohmaier said bringing back stops to the southern half helps communities with tourism, while getting rural residents to medical appointments in larger cities. He noted a small percentage of riders travel the entire multistate route.

The latest funding is for competitive grants. Regional leaders indicate they will bypass this round because it doesn't align with their effort. More funding will be needed once they move past the planning stage.

As for tourism, Strohmaier noted reinstating this service would also coincide with the planned opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in western North Dakota in the coming years. He described it as a match made in heaven.

"What a great way to travel -- in the same manner in which Theodore Roosevelt traveled many, many decades ago to the great state of North Dakota," Strohmaier stressed.

Project leaders added the new project would not disrupt North Dakota's current Amtrak route, the Empire Builder. Strohmaier said if all the stars align, the restored service could be up and running within the next decade. Potential complications include overcoming a shortage of manufactured train cars in the U.S.


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