Want a cheaper, cleaner power grid? Electrify NJ school buses; Opinion Special to the USA TODAY Networkq
Pam Frank Special to the USA TODAY Network
Updated Aug. 11, 2026, 5:38 a.m. ET
A recent op-ed in these pages argued that propane is a better choice for school busfuel than electric vehicles (“As NJ spends big on electric buses, there’s a better choice,” July 13). The arguments put forward are emblematic of an approach that leads us down the path of policy failure, undermines the goal of creating healthier communities and draws focus from bold approaches to tackling energy affordability issues.
The authors of the op-ed, one of whom sells propane buses, contend that the price tag of electric school buses (ESBs) are too expensive to scale. It is true that today, the sticker price of an ESB is around three times that of a diesel bus. But the authors miss a crucial point. Allow me to time travel: Back in 2004, we were paying $8 per watt for residential solar. Guess where that cost is now? Under $2 per watt.
New Jersey, smartly, jump-started the solar market by providing rebates to help defray high upfront costs. This is a well-proven way to increase adoption of innovative technology and build efficient markets. It is not wasteful or misguided. It is strategic and a powerful way to overcome barriers and incentivize adoption.
I had the good fortune to be deeply involved in advocating for two pieces of key legislation. The Solar Act of 2010 became law because legislators had confidence to scale the market. They understood the evolution from upfront rebates and evolved to performance-based incentives paid over time. Performance-based incentives allowed for long-term financing of solar, massively expanded adoption and brought costs down.
Today we have over 5.5 gigawatts of solar installed and we will be installing much more over the coming decade. Better still, solar will become more valuable when paired with storage (where costs have declined). The batteries in an ESB, parked under a solar canopy become a power plant making solar available when the sun is not shining.
The Electric Vehicle(EV) Law, enacted in 2020, set up a market for EVs and intentionally and strategically included incentives to jump start the market. And just like solar, we are traveling down the road of market evolution with this class of assets.
EVs offers less pollution, more stable pricing
Importantly, EVs will do more than just take us from point A to point B; these vehicles will help improve our electric grid and provide power. This will lower costs for all electric customers and the cost of charging electric vehicles. Additionally, recent law allows school districts to enter long term contracts for ESBs just like they have done for solar energy. Included in such contracts is the energy to charge them at a locked-in price, providing long-term cost certainly for districts. This is not the case for volatile fossil fuels, such as propane.
Propane doesn’t just have a price volatility problem, it pollutes like all fossil fuels do.While propane buses emit less nitrogen oxide and sulfur oxide than diesel-burning buses, they release particulate matter and higher levels of volatile organic compounds and carbon monoxide. These pollutants contribute to health issues such as asthma, reduced lung function and damage to the liver and kidneys.
Further, a propane bus is not a tool in a growing toolbox to tackle rising energy prices. ESBs are that tool. This is why investments in ESBs and electric vehicles are strategic: An ESB, when not in use, can absorb and store energy when it is at its cheapest to produce and discharge energy when demand is highest and it is most expensive.
Imagine a summer heatwave when most school buses aren’t in use and energy costs are at their highest. Understand it is these extreme events that drive up costs for the entire electric system. It is precisely during such events that an electric school bus is able to help reduce overall electric demand by feeding energy back to the grid.The ESB is acting like a peaking power plant (some of the most expensive energy generation to run), saving money for everyone who purchases electricity.
The news gets even better. From a maintenance and safety perspective, ESBs also have 97% fewer moving parts than a diesel bus. Fewer moving parts mean ESBs require less maintenance – typical maintenance savings with an electric bus are 30-50%. Never mind the fact that ESBs offer a smoother, quieter ride, which is particularly beneficial for students with sound sensitivities. Drivers report enjoyingESBs as they offer greater torque giving school bus drivers the ability to accelerate more safely.
Investing in ESBs is a forward-thinking decision that promises lasting fiscal savings, enhanced grid stability and a stronger American manufacturing sector. Nearly 95%of school buses sold here are made in the U.S. Most importantly, it’s an investment in the health and future of New Jersey’s children. Betting big on electric school buses is not unrealistic or wasteful. It is deeply strategic. And it is not our first rodeo.
Pam Frank is CEO of Charge EVC-NJ and a co-founder of Sustainable Jersey.