Board approves participation in PG&E fleet electrification program; trustees express mixed votes

The Atascadero Unified School District Board of Trustees voted to participate in Pacific Gas & Electric’s fleet electrification program and authorized district administration to enter the related contract.

Assistant Director of Transportation James Duran presented the district’s fleet condition and the grant proposal. “The quick 24 buses, currently 15 large buses, 9 small. 14 of those are 25 years or older. 8 of them are 10 years or older. We only have 2 buses that are less than 10 years old,” Duran told trustees, describing a fleet he said is “taxing on our budget as well as the ability to transport our kids.”

What the program would cover: Duran said approved grants and incentives currently under the proposal would cover seven electric vehicles and a portion of the yard charging infrastructure. The packet and staff comments cited an estimated $3,000,630 for seven vehicles and $451,212 toward infrastructure in the grant applications; Duran noted those numbers were estimates subject to final bids and that rebates from PG&E could offset remaining costs.

Board debate and operational details: trustees asked about range, maintenance, training, and the district’s plan for a mixed fleet. Duran said the district expects to maintain a mix of diesel and electric vehicles for longer‑range routes, and that electric bus ranges have improved from about 70 miles to near 200 miles on some models. He noted special‑education vehicle needs and said the preferred plan would be four large buses and three special‑needs buses, with air conditioning as an added benefit on electric models. Duran also outlined non‑electrification pressures on the transportation budget: new regulatory requirements under SB 88 (driver DOT physicals, more frequent inspections) and a higher frequency of smoke tests that led to roughly $30,000 in repairs in the most recent period.

Vote: The board approved the participation and contract authorization by roll call, with recorded dissent. Trustee Conley voted no and Trustee Arnold voted no; Trustees Pierce, Ellis White, President McGrew Kane and Trustee Taylor voted yes. The motion carried.

Why it matters: trustees and staff framed the program as an opportunity to replace very old buses, reduce fuel spending over time and access state and federal incentives. Duran said diesel fuel costs for the district last year were roughly $80,000 and that electrification could reduce operating fuel costs, though upfront infrastructure and software costs remain.

Next steps: staff will move forward with submitting or finalizing grant documentation, develop bid packages, and return with firm contract numbers and an implementation schedule that accounts for vehicle delivery timelines and PG&E infrastructure installation.