KWRL Transportation is implementing a major fleet modernization effort as the long-standing transportation cooperative serving Kalama, Woodland, Ridgefield and La Center school districts purchased 14 new electric school buses slated to hit the road fully by the middle of this month.
The transportation cooperative celebrated the milestone on Tuesday, Jan. 27, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The celebration highlighted the result of a multi-year effort to secure state, federal and local utility grants that make electrification financially attainable for smaller districts, a news release by the Ridgefield School District stated.
In the news release, Shannon Barnett, transportation director for KWRL, explained that the journey toward this purchase began nearly two years ago when bus manufacturers warned districts that diesel buses would soon be unavailable due to California emission standards being adopted in Washington and Oregon.
At first, KWRL hesitated to pursue electric buses due to infrastructure costs and concerns about range limitations for long-distance trips. But increasing grant opportunities — and the looming phase-out of diesel — spurred the cooperative to apply, the release added.
KWRL ultimately secured funding from three major sources: the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Washington State department of Ecology and local public utility districts (PUDs).
“This creative approach to access multiple sources of funding ultimately allowed the cooperative to cover not just the cost of the buses, but also the infrastructure needed to power them, saving our local taxpayers money,” said Dr. Jenny Rodriquez, Ridgefield School District superintendent, in the release.
When Barnett contacted Clark and Cowlitz PUDs to assess feasibility, he received an unexpected offer, the release added.
“They said, ‘We’ve got all of this gas tax money and the governor is encouraging us to use it on infrastructure — could we help you build infrastructure?’” Barnett recalled in the release.
The final package included EPA funding covering half the cost of each electric bus, plus up to $40,000 per vehicle for infrastructure; Department of Ecology funds covered the remainder for 10 buses; and PUD support pushed the infrastructure costs to zero. In total, 10 of the 14 buses are fully grant-funded, while the remaining four cost the cooperative roughly $50,000 each — just a fraction of a standard diesel purchase price, the release stated.
“Normally we’re looking at about $250,000 to $280,000 for a diesel bus and $400,000 for an electric bus,” Barnett said in the release.
Barnett told The Reflector in an emailed statement that because the buses were funded through grants and rebates, KWRL avoided drawing on local Transportation Vehicle Fund dollars, allowing more local funding to stay with member districts and in classrooms.
“Operationally, the buses reduce fuel costs by more than $100,000 and lower ongoing
maintenance by eliminating diesel emissions systems, which are a major source of downtime,” Barnett stated. “Replacing the oldest buses in the fleet also improves overall safety, reliability, and fleet age across the cooperative.”
Barnett also stated that the electric bus fleet is currently just one tool in the toolbox as the transportation cooperative currently does not have a goal to fully replace the diesel fleet with electric alternatives.
For Barnett, the purchase economics made sense as maintenance costs are lower, and the project allowed KWRL to add charging infrastructure using grant and utility support rather than local dollars.
“Those factors removed the biggest barriers that typically limit electric bus adoption,” Barnett stated. “Without grants, rebates and strong utility partnerships, this project would not have made financial sense.”
Barnett added that KWRL evaluated propane and gasoline options, but electric buses offered
stronger operational and financial advantages for the routes they are assigned to.
Beyond reduced fuel and maintenance costs, the electric transition will produce substantial savings for the four partner districts over the next decade, the release added. That’s because school buses in Washington are depreciated and reimbursed by the state over 13 years; even if the buses were purchased in this fashion.
“The state pays us back for every purchase … even though EPA and Ecology purchased them,” Barnett explained in the release. “We’re getting payments on something that we didn’t spend money on.”
KWRL’s Transportation Vehicle Fund is set to grow significantly without requiring annual contributions from local districts. Historically, the four KWRL districts have contributed approximately $300,000-$350,000 per year from local dollars to sustain the transportation cooperative. Those contributions will now be on hold, the release stated.
“KWRL operates as a transportation cooperative to create efficiencies by working collaboratively
rather than independently, and this project reflects that mission,” Barnett stated to The Reflector. It was made possible through strong partnerships with Clark Public Utilities, Cowlitz County PUD, the Washington Department of Ecology, the EPA, Highland Electric Fleets, Schetky and Thomas Built Buses, Barnett added.
“Equally important was the leadership of the four KWRL superintendents, who carefully
evaluated the opportunity and supported a right-sized approach,” Barnett stated. “The project focused on replacing aging buses where it made sense, while keeping vehicles that still had useful life. That measured, practical decision-making is how the cooperative approaches every major investment.”
