Frederick County awarded money to purchase electric school buses
Some students in Frederick County could soon have an eco-friendly ride to school.
On Thursday, the Maryland Department of the Environment approved nearly $2.5 million for electric and alternative fuel school buses as part of a settlement in the Volkswagen emission case.
Of those funds, Frederick County Public Schools will receive $755,315 to purchase two electric school buses and a charging station as well as $555,000 for 22 propane-powered school buses. Montgomery, Howard and Prince George’s counties will also receive funding.
“It’s new technology that we want to be a part of and this is a great opportunity for us to pilot two new buses with some of the other counties ... and see the long-term benefits of electric school buses,” said Fred Punturiero, director of transportation for FCPS.
“Defeat-devices” were installed in numerous Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche vehicles from 2009 to 2015. These devices allowed cars to meet emission standards while being tested, but in reality those vehicles emitted levels of nitrogen oxides that were 40 times the federal standard, according to MDE.
About 16,000 of those vehicles were sold in Maryland, thus leading to a case and settlement between Volkswagen and MDE.
The electric school bus pilot program was included in spending options for the received settlement money...
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