AUGUSTA - The Maine House voted Tuesday to advance legislation sponsored by Rep. Gerry Runte, D-York, that would direct Efficiency Maine to study the feasibility of a vehicle-to-grid electric school bus pilot project at the Wells-Ogunquit Community School District.
"The primary value of studying this pilot project is to demonstrate how vehicles might be used as storage devices to benefit the electrical grid, and it would be a wonderful learning opportunity for students," said Runte. "If you discharged this bus at peak hours, you would reduce demand occurring in the system. If you added up enough of these storage devices, reducing these peaks would save money for all consumers."
In an amended version of LD 519, Efficiency Maine would undertake a two-phase evaluation of the potential project. The first phase would include an initial recommendation consisting of a detailed cost and benefit analysis. The second phase would provide information on a pilot design, budget and other requirements for the project to the Legislature's Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has already provided a grant to the Wells-Ogunquit Community School District for the purchase of 11 electric school buses.
The bill faces further votes in the House and Senate.
Runte, a member of the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee, is serving his first term in the Maine House and represents Ogunquit, Wells and York.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Runte], c. 305-965-2744