AUGUSTA - Rep. Gerry Runte, D-York, presented LD 519, A Resolve to Conduct a Vehicle-to-grid Pilot Project Using Electric School Buses, at a public hearing before the Legislature's Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee on Tuesday.
The resolve would direct Efficiency Maine to design and operate a two-year vehicle-to-grid pilot project at the Wells-Ogunquit Community School District. In the project, an electric school bus would serve as an electricity storage device to relieve grid congestion at peak hours and act as a source of backup power during outages while also still functioning as a transportation vehicle. 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.
"This pilot project will identify all the elements necessary to implement broader vehicle-to-grid initiatives and stationary storage in general," said Runte. "It will help Maine get a sense of the costs and benefits and identify critical challenges to achieving this one component of our future electricity delivery system."
The resolve was supported by numerous organizations, including the Natural Resources Council of Maine, Student Transportation of America and ReVision Energy. The Wells-Ogunquit Community School District also testified in support.
"Ultimately, this program can serve the Wells-Ogunquit Community School District, as well as our community by helping us model effective stewardship of the environment for our students and future leaders of the next generations," said Superintendent James Daly.
The resolve faces further action in the coming weeks in committee, which will make a recommendation on the bill before sending it to the full Legislature for consideration.
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