News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Putnam County Schools awarded a $790,000 grant for the purchase of two electric buses.
Transportation Supervisor Ron Chaffin said the grant will also cover the charging stations. He said the new buses provide an opportunity to learn how the infrastructure works should they want to replace the whole fleet in the future. Chaffin said another advantage is their ability to create new bus routes.
“With adding these two new routes, it’s going to eliminate some population off of more crowded buses,” Chaffin said. “As far as emissions, it’s also going to improve the environment and our quality of air.”
Chaffin said the grant was made possible through the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean School Bus program. He said it invested $1 billion in school districts through a rebate program. Chaffin said out of 11 school districts in the state, Putnam County was the only one in Middle Tennessee.
Chaffin said he hopes to receive the bus by late spring or early summer of this year. He said he plans on putting the bus to use by next school year.
“We are extremely honored and excited to receive two new electric buses through the grant funds,” Chaffin said. “Eleven school districts in Tennessee were awarded. We were the only school district in Middle Tennessee to receive electric buses.”
