The Socorro Independent School District will be the first district in Region 19 to transition to electric school buses from diesel-powered models when students start the 2024-25 school year, contributing to creating a cleaner and healthier environment for the El Paso region.
The new school buses, which will roll out on August 5, the first day of school, were unveiled at the district’s ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 19.
“We are excited to start the year with these new buses that will make a giant difference in our neighborhoods, improving the air quality, and giving our students a unique transportation experience,” said SISD Interim Superintendent James P. Vasquez at the ceremony.
Joining the celebration were Congresswoman Veronica Escobar, El Paso Electric President and CEO Kelly Tomblin, SISD Board President Michael A. Najera, Transportation Director Dexter Harman, and representatives from GA Architecture, Keystone Contractors and Engineers, and A-Z Bus Sales. GA and Keystone were responsible for designing and constructing the charging infrastructure. The district acquired the new buses through A-Z Bus Sales.
Socorro ISD was one of only 13 Texas school districts, and the only one in Region 19, to receive U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Clean School Bus Funding in October 2022. The district received $9.875 million to build charging infrastructure and replace 25 school buses with new electric models.
Congresswoman Escobar was a key proponent in SISD’s application for the EPA funding.
“I am so proud that our community took advantage of those available funds and that we are here to celebrate all of these buses,” Escobar said. “I have no doubt that the bus drivers and the kids who are going to ride on these buses will breathe easier. I have no doubt because it's scientifically proven that this will help us address the climate crisis.”
The buses will serve some 1,500 students in various areas of the district. The modern vehicles will help with zero emissions in heavily congested areas. By switching from diesel gas to electric power, the district anticipates financial savings with an estimated 60% reduction in fuel and operational costs per bus.
“A major benefit is going to be the zero emissions from the buses,” Harman said. “A lot of times we have buses sitting idle in a parking lot, and you'll come across those fumes, and I think that alone is one of the biggest components here, the selling factors on these buses, benefit for our students.”
Harman attributed the success of the EPA grant to a collaborative team effort, involving various SISD departments, government agencies, private industries, and community partners like El Paso Electric. El Paso Electric played an integral role in supporting the district's inclusion of electric buses into the fleet and the installation of the charging stations.
During her remarks, Tomblin emphasized that the buses would save 1.3 million pounds of carbon.
“And that's a big thing because we committed to action,” Tomlin said. “We had a vision. We had the leadership, and we had the resilience to get it.”
At the end of the event, attendees hopped on a bus for a ride around the District Service Center. The new buses will transport students to and from school and on field trips.
Nevaeh Hernandez, a rising senior and cheerleader at Montwood High School, said she was looking forward to riding one of the new electric buses to the Student Activities Complex for football games. Hernandez said she liked the fact that the new buses were better for the environment.
“I think we're very blessed and fortunate to have this opportunity because I know a lot of people don't,” Hernandez said about the electric buses. “I think we could use this as an advantage to ourselves to not only help our community and to help our district, but to also branch out and maybe expand this for other districts.”
Socorro ISD electric school buses ribbon cutting event photos