by Push for Electric School Buses Hits a Roadblock in Rochester-Area Districts — Wyoming Among States Watching Transition Closely
As electric vehicles become increasingly common on roads across the country—including in states like Wyoming—school districts nationwide are exploring ways to integrate electric buses into their fleets. However, that transition isn’t without setbacks.
In the Rochester, New York region, voters in three school districts—Hilton, Spencerport, and Churchville-Chili—rejected propositions on Tuesday aimed at purchasing electric school buses.
In Hilton, the vote highlighted a stark contrast: a proposal to buy 11 traditional diesel buses passed easily, 757 to 312. But a separate proposition to purchase just one electric bus was narrowly defeated, 557 to 513.
While the Gates-Chili Central School District made history as the first in upstate New York to fully electrify its school bus fleet, other districts are finding the path to electrification more complicated, citing budget concerns and infrastructure challenges.
These local votes come as more states, including Wyoming, monitor and weigh the financial and logistical implications of switching to electric transportation in public schools.
Adding to the pressure, three Rochester-area school districts also failed to pass their annual budgets during Tuesday’s elections, raising broader questions about funding priorities and community support for green initiatives.
