Galesburg Goes Green with Electric School Bus Fleet

By: Forgottonia Times™ Report

More than 1,000 students in Galesburg Community Unit School District #205 are now riding to and from school on electric buses, a first for the district. With funding from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean School Bus Program, 23 electric school buses were deployed in partnership with First Student, the district’s transportation provider. The new buses are cleaner, quieter, and safer for the students and the entire Galesburg community, overall improving air quality and reducing noise.

The transition to electric school buses aligns with growing efforts nationwide to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Each bus replaces its diesel counterpart, preventing the release of 54,000 pounds of greenhouse gases annually—the equivalent of 3.75 pounds of carbon dioxide per mile.

The new fleet was showcased during a special event on November 14 at Lombard Middle School. Students, parents, and community members had the opportunity to board the buses and experience firsthand their smoother, quieter rides. Bus drivers have also praised the change, noting that the quieter engines make it easier to hear students, enhancing safety and communication.

Students, too, have embraced the new buses; according to Amy Pickrel of CUSD #205,  “Students are enjoying a quiet and smoother ride due to reduced vibration and noise. They don’t have to raise their voices to hear each other.”

First Student, the largest operator of electric school buses in North America, has committed to transitioning 30,000 diesel buses to electric by 2035. In Galesburg, the collaboration between the district and First Student was essential to securing EPA funding, which also covered the installation of charging infrastructure.

Looking ahead, the district plans to continue pursuing funding opportunities to expand its sustainable transportation initiatives. “The district and First Student will continue to work together to identify additional funding opportunities to help keep the wheels on the bus moving forward.,” said Pickrel. “ We look forward to learning more about the environmental benefits as we continue to utilize electric buses.”