Fossil fuel school buses are the largest form of mass transportation in US. This 480 000 vechicle fleet is the largest emission source of greenhouse gases of all in the transportation sector. Transitioning to zero emission buses across the country is an important and significant contribution to our climate goals.

PAUSD uses 30 fossil fuel school buses. Only 2 electric buses are ordered through a grant and coming Q1 2022 (official data June 10, 2020). More buses are needed and will be purchased. 

This petition, is part of a broader initiative by Paly ECO Club, an ambitious club at Palo Alto Senior High School with passionate students working on a range of sustainability issues in our community. 

Join us in our demand to PAUSD and City of Palo Alto to develop a vision and a clear roadmap to transition from fossil fuel buses to zero emission buses, and make sure that the new vechicle acquisitions are electric. 

Our city has adopted an ambitious goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2030, despite a population increase of 23.6% for the period. Current reduction is at 38% and we have a long way to go.

Priorities outlined in the PA City 2020 Sustainability And Climate Action Plan are Energy, Mobility, Electric Vehicles, Water, Climate Adaptation and Sea Level Rise, Natural Environment, and Zero Waste. A lot of focus has been on private vehicles, where California leads in the nation and Palo Alto has the highest adoption rate of private electric vehicles in the country. Other transportation sources are not mentioned in the plan, while alternatives exist and city should use its influence to drive change. 

 Our state is making large investments in supporting the transition. Grants and funding programs are available California aims to meet Zero Emission targets and to decrease school children’s exposure to both cancer-causing and smog-forming pollution from school buses which is a real threat according to research from California Air Resources Board.

A national leader in adoption rate of private electrical vehicles, we are lagging in other transportation areas. Sacramento has the largest zero emission school bus fleet in the nation.   Neighbouring Marin County and Santa Clara,  are making siginificant progress, making use of state grants and incentives, while we still don't have a developed transition plan. Across California, there are significant investments. Other districts, as Maryland, have even bolder plans: adding 326 buses over four years, and replacing the entire 1,422 bus fleet, makes it the single largest purchase of electric school buses in the US. 

There are several US manufacturers and it is with pride we can invest in American jobs.

Sign this petition today to urge PAUSD and City of Palo Alto to work for a timely transition to zero emission school buses!