Photo courtesy Dominion Energy
You may start seeing much quieter, sleeker school buses on Alexandria streets.
Alexandria is part of a Dominion Energy program to put electric school buses on the streets, replacing some diesel buses that transport children now.
Dominion is starting with 50 buses that will be deployed in 16 localities, including Alexandria and Arlington, by the end of this year.
Later phases of the program, if approved by state legislators, include plans to increase the program to 1,000 buses by 2025. The ultimate goal is to replace all diesel school buses in the state with electric buses by 2030.
“The electric school buses will serve as a grid resource by creating additional energy storage technology to support the company's integration of distributed renewables such as solar and wind. The "vehicle-to-grid" technology leverages the bus batteries to store and inject energy onto the grid during periods of high demand when the buses are not needed for transport. The buses also provide environmental and health benefits through reduced emissions and reduce operation and maintenance costs for schools by up to 60 percent,” according to Dominion.
"We are excited to move forward with our commitment to bringing the benefits of electric school buses to the customers and communities we serve," said Dominion Energy Chairman, President and CEO Thomas F. Farrell II in a news release. "This is an innovative, sustainable solution that will help the environment, protect children's health, make the electric grid stronger, and free up money for our schools."
