Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Electric School Bus topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
East Central Energy credits grants and co‑op support after Ogilvie schools pilot electric buses
Summary
East Central Energy told the Ogilvie Public Schools board it helped shepherd the district’s successful EPA Clean School Bus grant applications and provided matching grants and rebates; staff said two Blue Bird electric buses are performing well in winter testing and are saving fuel costs on district routes.
Matt Heggerston, business accounts representative for East Central Energy, told the Ogilvie Public School District board the cooperative helped the district secure EPA Clean School Bus funding and worked with Great River Energy and community partners to reduce local costs. Heggerston said Ogilvie applied for a grant in 2024, was among the few Minnesota districts awarded a bus, and later received a second awarded bus that is now in service.
Heggerston said East Central Energy and Great River Energy contributed $10,000 each toward the first bus and a $3,000 rebate for the charger; other local stakeholders also donated funds to help bridge the district’s out‑of‑pocket costs. "We did a $10,000 grant and a $3,000 rebate for the charger," Heggerston said, describing the co‑op support that reduced the district’s up‑front expense.
District drivers and staff who have used the Blue Bird electric buses described the vehicles as quiet, quick to accelerate and reliable in cold weather. A district driver said a single charge covered a normal day’s route and reported that, by Heggerston’s rough analysis, fuel‑only costs were about $0.19 per mile for the electric bus versus $0.29 for propane and $0.49 for diesel. Heggerston cautioned the figure was a fuel‑only estimate and did not exhaustively account for long‑term maintenance differences.
The presentation emphasized regional experience and outreach: East Central Energy highlighted scholarships, Operation Round Up grants that have supported the district (including scoreboard and first‑aid materials), job‑shadowing and a youth tour to Washington, D.C. Heggerston invited the district to showcase its experience at a State Fair booth on Aug. 29 to share cost and performance data with other districts.
Board members asked practical questions about battery longevity, hill performance and winter reliability. Heggerston said the co‑op’s goal was to demonstrate the technology in a small, cold‑climate district and to provide information so other districts can judge whether electric buses fit their needs. He added the co‑op was not promoting a vehicle brand but sharing operational results and grant opportunities.
The presentation concluded with board members praising Mark and Becky for grant work and noting the buses are already being used for summer programs because they are among the district’s least expensive vehicles to operate on light loads.
The board took no formal vote on district bus procurement during the presentation; the item was informational and aimed to support ongoing operational planning and public outreach.
