Skip to Content
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Log In
Buses

Coalition Rallies to Urge LAUSD to Electrify School Bus Fleet

Ashley Michel Flores, of L.A. Alliance for a New Economy, speaking at today’s rally for electric school buses. Photo by Joe Linton/Streetsblog

This afternoon, the L.A. County Electric Truck and Bus Coalition held a rally urging the L.A. United School District to electrify its fleet of school buses.

LAUSD Boardmember Nick Melvoin kicked off the rally calling on his agency invest in electric buses for kids' lungs, good union jobs, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and more.

LAUSD Boardmember Nick Melvoin
LAUSD Boardmember Nick Melvoin speaking at electric school bus rally.
LAUSD Boardmember Nick Melvoin

Yasmine Agelidis, environmental attorney at Earthjustice, noted that LAUSD has only purchased 71 electric school buses for a 1,300+ vehicle fleet. "At the rate that we're going" stated Agelidis, "it will take 55 years to get us a clean bus fleet." The coalition is urging the LAUSD to adopt a resolution committing the district to full electrification by 2035.

Agelidis referenced a UC Berkeley study that found students were breathing in high levels of tailpipe pollution inside Southern California diesel school buses.

Joe Sullivan, Director of Energy Solutions for the International Brotherhood of Electric Workers (IBEW) and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), spoke of the unprecedented grant funding available under the Biden federal infrastructure bill. Sullivan and others stressed the need for electrification to include high road careers, both in manufacturing buses and in installing electric bus charging infrastructure.

At the end of the rally, assembled supporters walked across the street to give pro-electrification testimony during general public comment at the LAUSD board meeting.

To access an Earthjustice alert for supporting LAUSD bus electrification, readers can text "electric" to 43428.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog Los Angeles

Koreatown Community Rallies To Reclaim Our Streets From ICE Terror

"This is an attack on Los Angeles. This is an attack on California. On all of us."

July 11, 2025

Give Input on Metro Sepulveda Rail Plan to connect Valley and Westside

Metro is still deciding between some low-performing monorail alternatives and some high-performing heavy rail alternatives. What do you want to see?

July 10, 2025

Whittier Councilmember Fernando Dutra Is New Metro Board Chair

Board Chair Dutra: "[Metro is] not just a train and a bus company. We also manage projects on the freeways... Our projects along the 5, the 605, 91, and 105 Freeway are very very important... I'll be focusing on making sure we keep our freeways moving freely."

July 9, 2025
See all posts