WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Maryland Department of the Environment announced it has allocated nearly $2.5 million from its Volkswagen settlement fund for electric school bus pilot projects in Frederick, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties. 

“We applaud Maryland for putting the health of children first and beginning this transition to a clean ride for kids,” said Chispa National Director Fernando Cazares. “Diesel school buses not only pollute our air and harm children’s lungs, but they also contribute to the greenhouse gas emissions worsening the effects of climate change. This is the latest demonstration that zero-emission electric school buses are the best, cleanest bet for our children and our environment. We look forward to working with school districts across the country as they invest in the futures of our nation’s children.”

Chispa, an organizing program of the League of Conservation Voters, launched its Clean Buses for Healthy Niños campaign in 2015 to push state governments to use Volkswagen settlement funds to purchase zero-emission electric school buses. One of its state partners, Chispa Maryland, was instrumental in securing Maryland’s funding for clean school buses. 

“Chispa Maryland celebrates this critical milestone in cleaning up our school fleets. We will continue working with Governor Hogan, MDE, and local school districts to phase out dirty diesel school buses in Maryland to protect the health of children and advance our Clean Buses for Healthy Niños campaign,” said Ramón Palencia-Calvo, Deputy Executive Director of the Maryland League of Conservation Voters (Maryland LCV) and Director of Chispa Maryland, a community organizing program of Maryland LCV. 

Chispa Maryland’s full statement on the announcement can be found here. 

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