CARSON CITY, Nev. — Legislation that would expand a state electric vehicle incentive program to include schools, allowing them to receive electric bus funding, has passed the Assembly and Senate.

As SBF previously reported, Senate Bill 299 would change provisions in existing law related to the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Demonstration Program to allow school districts to participate. The change would make districts eligible for program funds that would cover 75% of the cost to install electric vehicle charging infrastructure or buy electric vehicles for the purpose of transporting students. Additionally, the bill would allow a public utility to partner with a school district to purchase an energy storage system.

The state legislature passed the bill last week, and it is now headed to Gov. Steve Sisolak’s desk for signature.

The reimbursement for electric buses and the attendant charging infrastructure makes adding them to fleets a much more viable option, Diana Hollander, Nevada’s state director of pupil transportation, told School Bus Fleet.

“The prior cost of the vehicle and infrastructure was a barrier to purchasing electric school buses,” Hollander said.

Schools also offer the opportunity to sell electricity back to the grid when not in use, she added.  

“I support the program and am happy to see that school districts may now have the ability to purchase electric school buses without affecting already tight budgets,” Hollander, who is also a  past president of the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, said.