TUSCUMBIA, Ala. — Environmental history was made Thursday when Tuscumbia City Schools officials took possession of a brand new, 100% electric school bus - the first school system in Alabama to do so. The new Thomas Built Buses "Saf-T-Liner" C2 Jouley model comes to the district courtesy of the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean School Bus Program.
School officials met with representatives from the bus manufacturer and dealer Transportation South to "cut the ribbon" in front of the new vehicle at Deshler High School.
With funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the (CSB) Program provides $5 billion over five years to replace existing school buses across the country with zero-emission and low-emission models. Under the Program's first funding opportunity, the 2022 CSB Rebates, EPA took applications for zero-emission and low-emission school buses and awarded up to $965 million to fund school bus replacements at nearly 400 schools.
For round one, according to a statement from Transportation South, Tuscumbia's was the very first order submitted to Thomas nationally.
“Tuscumbia City Schools is a trailblazer,” said Bucky Law, president and CEO of Transportation South. “Tuscumbia and other school systems entering into the electric bus business are blazing a path for not only themselves, but for other school districts and operators in Alabama and across the country.”
In contrast to current buses, the C2 Jouley is emissions-free at the tailpipe, noise pollution-free and fossil fuel-free, helping schools to save operating costs.
“We at Tuscumbia City Schools strive for the very best for our students, drivers, faculty and community,” said Tuscumbia City Schools Superintendent Russ Tate. “We are thrilled to be the first school system in Alabama to receive an electric school bus under the Clean School Bus Program and know this will equip us as we drive into the future.”