Twenty-seven Michigan school districts will receive 97 school buses powered by electricity and three fueled by propane. The cost, nearly $24 million, will come from the federal Clean School Bus Program.

Buses powered by electricity often cost three times more than diesel buses, but they emit fewer tailpipe emissions over the long run.

The transportation sector accounts for almost 28% of Michigan’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Michigan aims to be 100% carbon neutral by 2050.

The school system in Grand Rapids will receive $5.18 million for 15 buses. Trenton will receive $2 million for 10 buses, Allen Park will get $1.04 million for five buses and Comstock will get $1.04 million for three buses.

Propane buses are significantly cheaper than EV buses. The Dearborn Academy is spending $1.04 million for three EV buses, but Gwinn Area Community Schools will spend only $35,000 for a propane-fueled bus.

Electric and propane buses could carry fewer maintenance expenses, such as oil changes and transmission repairs.

But EV school buses lose about 33% of their range during severely cold weather.

Rep. Pat Outman, R-Six Lakes, told CapCon the Tri-County Area Schools in his district doesn’t want EV school buses, which wouldn’t have the range needed for the rural district that spans Montcalm, Kent and Ionia counties.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer wants 2 million EVs on Michigan roads by 2030, but there are currently 46,792. The MI Healthy Climate plan says the state must build 100,000 EV chargers in 2030 but there are only 1,533 stations with 3,577 charging ports.

“I never think these electric vehicles will be what we want them to be,” Outman told CapCon in a phone interview. “From supply chain to just practicality, I don’t see them becoming as mainstream as they want them to be.”

Outman said Whitmer and the Biden administration are “trying to dictate the market through policy” but many consumers don’t want to drive EVs in his rural district.

Phil Roos, director of the Michigan Department for Environmental, Great Lakes, and Energy, said Michigan had 17 EV school buses before Congress passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021. It should have close to 200 buses once the 97 new vehicles are delivered.

“I applaud the Biden administration and our hardworking congressional delegation for investing in electric school buses, improving air quality, allowing schools to invest in the classroom, and helping us meet the goals of the MI Healthy Climate Plan,” Roos said in a statement.

The state is 1.9 million vehicles short of its 2030 EV goal.

“These Bipartisan Infrastructure Law dollars will help 27 school districts purchase new electric and clean school buses, providing a safer and cleaner ride to school for students while reducing costs for schools, allowing them to put dollars back into the classroom,” Michigan Chief Infrastructure Officer Zachary Kolodin said in a statement. “By investing in clean school buses, we’re not only upgrading our transportation systems; we’re improving air quality by reducing diesel fumes, safeguarding the health of students and communities across the state.”

Michigan has nearly 17,000 buses that transport more than 800,000 students each school year.

A ballot initiative to allow local control over large wind and solar projects will not obtain enough signatures to qualify for the 2024 ballot.

Citizens for Local Choice missed its target to collect at least 356,958 valid signatures before May 29.

The petition drive started after Michigan Democrats, who hold a political trifecta, enacted bills in 2023 giving the state control over large-scale wind and solar projects. The law gives the Michigan Public Service Commission, a body of three members appointed by the governor, power to certify solar energy facilities and energy storage facilities between 50 and 100 megawatts.

Citizens for Local Choice said in a statement that the “ballot campaign has engaged thousands of volunteers across the state and has issued tens of thousands of petitions for signatures in an effort to restore local control of large-scale wind and solar operations.”

“The campaign is strong and robust and while we have not reached the required signature threshold to make the 2024 ballot, we will continue our ambitious effort to leverage our legal 180-day window and work to secure a placement on the 2026 ballot.”

The MPSC’s authority supersedes local zoning regulations under the 2023 law, meaning the state can advance a renewable energy project even if the local government opposes it.

The Michigan Farm Bureau applauded the coalition’s goal.

“Michigan Farm Bureau continues to support restoring local decision-making for large-scale wind and solar operations,” Matt Kapp, Michigan Farm Bureau government relations specialist, said in a statement. “Renewable projects have a major impact on rural communities, and our members believe that local leaders who live in those areas are better suited to make those decisions than unelected government officials.”

Michigan aims to meet all its energy needs with renewable energy by 2050. As of 2022, 12% of Michigan’s electricity generation flowed from renewable sources, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The state plans to increase its use of wind and solar energy, whose installations consume a significant amount of land and will likely be located in rural Michigan.

Michiganders can start petitions to change laws or amend the state constitution. They must gain enough valid signatures to place a question on the ballot or have a majority of lawmakers advance the idea through bills.

The Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council approved the 2023 law. “[T]hese critical siting reforms will help avoid higher energy costs for the average Michigan household while creating jobs and making our economy more competitive,” it posted on social media.

But Neil Sheridan, executive director of the Michigan Township Association, said local authorities and residents should have the final say in whether to allow large-scale renewable energy projects.

“The Citizens for Local Choice ballot initiative aligns with MTA’s long-standing, firmly held belief in the essential need and value of local authority, and in residents and local officials having the final say in issues that impact their community and quality of life,” Sheridan said in a statement. “The Association supports local siting authority over utility-scale renewable energy facilities by Michigan’s local governments. MTA remains committed to fending off any effort that seeks to strip away local control from our communities.”