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Board hears community concerns about cost, grid readiness and safety; superintendent urges cautious, phased approach
Summary
Residents and board members raised concerns about heavier buses, pavement strength, grid capacity and affordability; consultants recommended pilots of one to three chargers on existing service and the superintendent emphasized a measured rollout.
Public commenters and board members pressed the consultants on safety, pavement strength, grid readiness and costs for districts that might not be able to afford full fleet electrification.
Audience members noted electric buses can weigh roughly 5,000 pounds more and asked whether parking lots and bus loops would need higher-strength asphalt. One attendee asked whether the broader state grid could support widespread electrification; consultants said NYSERDA is collecting regional load studies and noted that some rural districts are already reporting brownouts and distribution constraints. A resident worried about ancillary cost drivers such as tariffs and increased electricity demand from other sectors.
Superintendent remarks captured the board’s posture toward the transition. "So we're gonna be slow, and we're gonna be purposeful," the superintendent said, urging use of available two-year waivers and recommending a pilot ("phase 0.1") of 1–3 chargers on existing service so the district can test capacity without immediate major utility upgrades.
