West Virginia School Districts Go Green

A new electric school bus manufactured in South Charleston, W.Va., to serve West Virginia students. Photo courtesy of Kanawha County Schools

The wheels of progress turned as four West Virginia school districts welcomed new all-electric school buses in December 2023. Cabell, Clay, Kanawha, and Monongalia counties are leading the way in sustainable transportation. Produced at the Green-Power Motors facility in South Charleston, these buses mark a significant step towards Reducing Emissions and promoting a cleaner environment.

Leading the Charge

“This is the wave of the future,” states Kanawha County Schools Superintendent Tom Williams. “We need to hop on board, quite literally, and keep moving forward.” Kanawha County Schools proudly takes the lead in this initiative, embracing the transition towards greener transportation.

Former Kanawha County students who were part of the GreenPower team that constructed their bus are a source of pride for Williams. With GreenPower’s expanding opportunities, the school district looks forward to more graduates contributing to their efforts.

tax credits and Incentives

School districts and tax-exempt organizations that purchase electric school buses from GreenPower are eligible for Commercial Clean Vehicle Credit tax credits of up to $40,000 under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. Additionally, West Virginia counties will receive $18 million through the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Clean School Bus Program to support the purchase of electric buses from GreenPower.

Revitalizing Manufacturing

In Huntington, West Virginia, the former ACF Industry’s machine shop, now dormant for a decade, is undergoing a remarkable transformation. It will soon be home to the Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center, a facility dedicated to providing equipment, training, and support to empower manufacturers and create employment opportunities in the region.

“We aim to train more students to meet industry demands and offer young people well-paying jobs within our community,” says Mike Friel, the director of communications at the Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center.

With financial support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Economic Development Administration, the Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center plans to expand its welding program, introduce new programs focusing on robotics and aerospace welding, and bolster the local manufacturing sector.

Enhancing Domestic Manufacturing

Through initiatives like the Inflation Reduction Act, manufacturers can access improved tax credits and incentives to boost domestic manufacturing capabilities and promote clean energy production, ushering in a new era of sustainable manufacturing practices.