WORCESTER—The contrast could not have been more striking, as an electric-powered school bus packed with students from Worcester Technical High School and Lincoln Street Elementary School pulled silently into the Worcester Public Schools’ bus yard on Northeast Cutoff to loud whoops and hollers from those waiting for its arrival.
“That is super quiet,” someone said.
Federal, state, and local officials gathered for the Monday afternoon event in celebration of the Worcester Public Schools being awarded a $5.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection toward the purchase of 15 electric school buses.
Mayor Joseph M. Petty served as emcee for the proceedings, which featured remarks from Petty, City Manager Eric Batista, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Edward Markey, Congressman James P. McGovern, Rep. David LeBoeuf, Massachusetts DEP Commissioner Bonnie Heiple, Superintendent Dr. Rachel Monárrez, Worcester Tech senior Ella Mason and U.S. EPA New England Administrator Dr. David Cash.
The atmosphere was understandably festive. “This is Worcester and this is what we do!” the mayor said in acknowledging the effort that went into obtaining the funding.
“We hope this fleet of buses will not be the last,” he said.
Petty offered thanks not only to federal and state officials but to Mike Freeman, Brian Allen and members of the Worcester School Committee for their support. Freeman is assistant transportation director for the Worcester Public Schools. Allen is CFO of the district.
All of those who spoke emphasized the importance of introducing electric school buses as a way to reduce toxic emissions and keep students safe. Both Petty and the superintendent noted that the vehicles are the next big step forward after the transition to in-house transportation.
Operating its own bus system has made “a huge difference,” the superintendent said.
“We control our own destiny.”
Monárrez said the electric school buses will come online for the 2026 school year, complete with charging stations.
A graduate of the Worcester Public Schools himself, Batista thanked the EPA for the grant and welcomed the chance the district has to “reduce our carbon footprint. I have an electric vehicle and I love it!” he said.
Warren was an original sponsor of a new Green Deal resolution on Capitol Hill. She was commended by Markey for pushing electrification. “Sen. Warren has insisted that the future is all-electric, no brakes” to moving this initiative forward, he said.
Electric school buses in Worcester are “a magic bus for the 21st century,” Markey said. “Fifteen of them is just a down payment and they are made by UAW employees! One electric bus is the equivalent of 2.5 diesel buses. We have to get diesel buses off the road. The climate crisis has gotten worse but the solutions have gotten more affordable.”
“This is a huge deal,” McGovern said. “It’s not just great for the city, it is part of a climate initiative across the country. We have an EPA that is doing its job. You students are giving me hope,” he said to the scholars, who were sitting in rows facing him after having exited the bus. “I am proud to be the wind at your back.”
“We are grateful for this incredible partnership,” David Cash said. “We are investing in America!”
Rod Lee is a career journalist, a veteran of the media scene in Central Massachusetts and the author of seven books including the recently published “Gil Cristopher,” a novel about the difficulties associated with aging. He can be contacted at rodlee1963@gmail.com
