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Preston board authorizes planning with CT Green Bank to prepare for electric school buses
Summary
The Preston Board of Education unanimously authorized Transportation Coordinator Brendan Merrill to contract with CT Green Bank to plan for alternative fuels and electrification of the district’s bus fleet ahead of state timelines requiring alternative fuels by 2035 and full electrification by 2040.
The Preston Board of Education unanimously authorized Transportation Coordinator Brendan Merrill to sign an agreement with CT Green Bank to begin planning for alternative fuels and an eventual electric school bus fleet.
At a Sept. 8 meeting, Merrill told the board that state policy will require alternative-fuel buses (propane) by 2035 and fully electric buses by 2040. He said the district’s bus garage ranks “third best in the state” for readiness to support electric vehicles and recommended contracting with CT Green Bank to develop a multi-year plan to prepare the fleet and site infrastructure. “We will be responsible for the RFPs and Eversource will run the power,” Merrill said during his presentation.
The board voted to authorize the contract planning motion, moved by Mike Hinton and seconded by Nicole Serra; the motion carried unanimously. Board members discussed trading in or auctioning diesel buses as part of the transition strategy and reconvening the transportation subcommittee to guide implementation.
Why it matters: Connecticut school-district timelines for bus fuel and technology create capital and operational planning needs for districts. The board’s decision begins a multi-year planning process that will affect future procurement, budgeting and maintenance for Preston’s transportation program.
Details and next steps: The motion authorizes Merrill and the BOE to sign a planning contract with CT Green Bank; the district will lead procurement work (RFPs) for vehicles and site upgrades while the utility (Eversource) handles power infrastructure. The board agreed to reactivate a transportation subcommittee to monitor implementation and to consider disposition options for existing diesel vehicles. The board also discussed continued outreach to families about service and timelines.
The board took the action as part of the Superintendent’s update; no vote counts against the motion were recorded because the roll call was unanimous. The board did not set procurement amounts or an implementation timeline at the Sept. 8 meeting; those will be developed during the CT Green Bank planning process.
