New York’s green energy mandate is forcing children to endure freezing school bus rides as electric buses turn off heaters to preserve battery life during brutal winter weather.
Story Highlights
- Parents report children arriving home cold after electric school buses shut off heat to save battery power
- Lake Shore Central School District operates 23 electric buses under state mandate requiring all purchases be electric by 2027
- One breakdown left students waiting 35 minutes in freezing temperatures as low as 23°F
- Statewide resistance grows as districts reject electric bus propositions due to $263,000 premium costs per vehicle
Parents Sound Alarm Over Dangerous Cold Conditions
Multiple parents in Lake Shore Central School District contacted local media after their children repeatedly arrived home shivering from electric school bus rides. Scott Ziobro explained the fundamental problem: electric bus heaters draw power from the same battery used for propulsion, forcing drivers to choose between heat and completing routes. Lynn Urbino expressed horror when her grandson confirmed the heat was turned off during a 23°F day to preserve battery life.
Chris Lampman reported an even more alarming incident where an electric bus broke down completely, delaying arrival by over 30 minutes and leaving his child waiting outside in freezing conditions for 35 minutes. These failures highlight the dangerous gap between Albany’s environmental aspirations and the harsh reality of western New York winters, where children’s safety takes a backseat to green energy mandates.
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State Mandate Forces Costly Transition Despite Safety Concerns
New York State requires all new school bus purchases to be electric by 2027, with the entire fleet mandated zero-emission by July 1, 2035. The Lake Shore district currently operates 23 electric buses alongside traditional gasoline and diesel models. Superintendent Phil Johnson acknowledged parent complaints but insisted routes are planned to maintain sufficient battery for heating, though real-world performance contradicts these assurances.
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority maintains that electric buses can operate heaters in cold weather despite reduced range. However, this bureaucratic confidence rings hollow when children are literally left out in the cold. The mandate exemplifies government overreach, prioritizing environmental virtue signaling over basic child welfare and parental concerns about safety.
New York Parents Warn Electric School Buses Are Leaving Their Kids Out in the Cold
https://t.co/abdwR4jgy6— Townhall Updates (@TownhallUpdates) December 24, 2025
Financial Burden Compounds Operational Failures
Electric school buses cost approximately $263,000 more per unit than traditional fuel-powered alternatives, with statewide replacement costs estimated at $9 billion by 2035. While grants cover up to 60% of purchase costs, many districts face budget strain from remaining expenses and required infrastructure upgrades. The financial pressure forces districts into compliance regardless of practical performance issues or community opposition.
Spring 2025 school budget votes revealed widespread resistance, with most districts rejecting electric bus propositions. Bethlehem Central halted expansion plans citing federal funding uncertainty, while Scotia-Glenville completely rejected electric vehicle infrastructure. These rejections signal growing taxpayer frustration with costly mandates that compromise student safety for questionable environmental benefits, demonstrating how Albany’s top-down control ignores local priorities and common-sense concerns.
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New York parents say kids freeze on mandated electric school buses during brutal winter weather
Push for electric school buses seems to be losing power
