Priorities
1. Electric School Buses
With the help of Drawdown Georgia, Mothers and Others for Clean Air, and the Georgia State Medical Association, GaCCA is excited to work to provide educational programming on the co-benefits of electric school buses to Georgia communities, reducing the negative health effects of air pollution caused by fossil-fuel transit.
Why Electric School Buses?
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Air pollution is associated with premature birth in the very young and in adults is associated with premature death, myocardial infection, and stroke. Decreasing the direct air pollution from diesel buses can benefit the health of children and bus drivers who spend prolonged periods exposed to this unhealthy air.
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Studies have shown the transition to electric school buses decreases air pollution and instantly benefits students academically, improving their lung function.
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Thanks to the 2022 Inflaction Reduction Act, there is now substantial federal funding for electric buses. However, schools need to know why it is critical to apply for federal funding for new buses.
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Diesel buses contribute an outsized amount to Georgia’s carbon emissions. Replacing one diesel school bus with an electric bus is estimated to eliminate 54,000 pounds of carbon dioxide annually.