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Insights > Danville Schools adds electric bus to district fleet
Danville Schools adds electric bus to district fleet
01/04/2024
Danville Public Schools’ newest school bus is the first of its kind in the state. The district has received an electric mini-bus as part of the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program.
The Danville School District applied to the 2022 rebate program and was awarded $1,095,000 for the purchase of three fully electric school buses and associated charging equipment. Their electric mini-bus arrived in the fall of 2023, giving Danville the first electric school bus in Arkansas.
The remaining two 72-passenger electric school buses should arrive in Danville sometime in January. The school district will also receive a rebate through Entergy Arkansas’ eTech offering. Entergy’s eTech program promotes the adoption of electric-powered alternative to many applications that traditionally require fossil fuels. The program provides customer support by dedicated field representatives and financial incentives to Entergy customers who purchase select electric equipment.
Electric-powered technologies offer several key benefits to users including reduced maintenance, lower fuel consumption, less noise and a cleaner, healthier environment and workplace.
“It is very exciting for our district to be the first in the state to receive an electric bus,” said Danville Superintendent of Schools Kim Foster. “We were one of four schools in Arkansas to receive the grant, and being the first was great. “
Other Arkansas school districts receiving funding through the EPA’s program are Alpena, Blytheville and Wonderview. All four districts are Entergy Arkansas customers. The rebate program will be available for subsequent yearly federal funding opportunities until 2026.
“Electric buses appear to be the way of the future for transportation. The Danville School District felt it was important to apply for the electric school buses simply because it was a way to get three new buses without much cost to the district, said Foster. “The new addition of the mini-bus has allowed us to have a route on the West side of town with narrow streets where a large bus could not travel. “
