Lake Shore Central School District

ANGOLA, NY — Lake Shore Central School District officially cut the ribbon today on 20 brand-new electric school buses, a milestone made possible through a $7.9 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), championed by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This marks one of the largest single-district electric bus deployments in New York State.

“This project represents years of planning, collaboration, and commitment to innovation,” said Superintendent Daniel Pacos. “We’ve replaced nearly half of our fleet with zero-emission buses — at virtually no cost to local taxpayers. These new buses will provide a quieter, healthier, and more efficient ride for our students while reducing emissions in our community.”

Lake Shore began its clean energy journey well before New York State’s mandate to electrify school bus fleets. What started as a conversation among transportation leaders about piloting a hybrid bus evolved into a region-leading initiative involving local, state, and federal partners.

“From early grant applications to infrastructure design, the process was a true team effort,” Pacos said. “National Grid committed early on to bringing power to our bus lot. Cummins brought the technical coordination expertise needed to align bus delivery, charger installation, and software integration. Our Transportation Department, architectural and construction teams, and local contractors all played a role in getting us to this day.”

The $7.9 million grant, secured through the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new Clean School Bus Program, was bolstered by additional funding sources, including more than $2 million from New York State School Bus Incentive Program (NYSBIP) administered by the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA), in addition to federal tax credits and incentives from National Grid. Lake Shore CSD completed the $10.5–11 million project with an estimated less than $50,000 in local district spending.

“We stacked every available funding stream,” Pacos explained. “And by trading in 23 diesel buses, we could obtain these 20 electric buses at no cost to the local taxpayers.”

The New York School Bus Incentive Program, announced by Governor Hochul in 2023, is funded by the historic $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act (Bond Act) and supports for the purchase of electric buses, charging infrastructure or fleet electrification planning as public schools transition to zero-emission technologies that improve air quality and reduce pollution in communities.

The first domino stacked was the EPA grant announced in January 2024 by Sen. Schumer. On hand to see the results, some 17 months later, was Matt Wrobel, representative to U.S. Sen. Schumer. 

“Senator Schumer has championed the Clean Bus Program since its creation … and he is proud to have secured nearly $8 million in federal funding to help Lake Shore electrify their transportation systems and both provide a safe, modern ride for our kids and protect the community's health,” Wrobel said.

Wrobel was one of several dozen representatives on hand to celebrate the ribbon-cutting on the grounds of the newly constructed bus parking lot, which features a sloped design for proper drainage and an intentional layout that allows buses to exit safely in the morning, one by one.

To meet the tight timeline required by the EPA grant and ensure the charging infrastructure would be in place before the buses arrived, Lake Shore worked closely with the New York State Education Department’s Office of Facilities Planning. With support from state legislative partners and officials, including representatives from Governor Hochul’s Western New York team, the site plan approval process was expedited, allowing critical construction on the parking lot and conduit installation to begin ahead of schedule. This fast-tracking effort proved pivotal to the project’s success.

“Lake Shore Eagles have soared… to a community that has established best practice, making real the Governor’s initiative in support of electric buses and a cleaner, brighter future for our students,” said Bonnie Lockwood, Regional Director of WNY representing NYS Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office. “You did it the right way, and you did it for the right reasons.”

Technology and the charging stations that pair with an e-bus are unique, so much so that the district leaned on one of the nation’s largest manufacturers of cutting-edge engine technology — Cummins.

Additionally, Lake Shore partnered closely with National Grid and NYSERDA to meet the project’s power needs. While a major utility transmission line upgrade was not required, substantial work still had to be done to deliver the necessary power infrastructure to support 22 full-size and one mini e-bus charging stations. National Grid provided technical planning and utility coordination from the project’s earliest phases. NYSERDA contributed crucial funding and programmatic support to ensure Lake Shore could build a reliable and scalable clean energy system.

“It's always gratifying to see the completion of such an innovative, impressive project at Lake Shore Central School District, which is at the forefront of the electric school bus transition in Western New York,” said National Grid Regional Director Ken Kujawa. “The work that was performed to bring the district’s project to life included National Grid conducting a no-cost assessment to begin the planning process. We also provided the district with incentives through our EV Medium and Heavy-Duty Pilot Program. We’re proud to have played a role in helping to make Lake Shore’s vision a reality.”

“NYSERDA is proud to support Lake Shore Central School District as it expands its fleet of all-electric school buses,” added New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Doreen M. Harris. “With the deployment of these clean, safe and quiet buses, the district is demonstrating how this zero-emission technology can help to create a strong legacy of health for students in Western New York while charting a path for other communities to follow.”

A Model for the Region

Lake Shore’s success in implementing electronic buses into its fleet has attracted attention from other school districts. Phillip Burgoyne-Allen, Senior Project Manager with NYSERDA, emphasized the broader importance during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“Lake Shore is one of the school districts in New York leading the way on deploying electric buses … and providing a model for other school districts to follow. These buses are part of Superintendent Pacos’ strong legacy and will benefit the health of Lake Shore students for years to come.”

The benefits are already being felt: drivers report a smoother, quieter ride, discipline issues on buses have decreased, and the district anticipates saving up to $15,000 annually per bus in fuel and maintenance. The initiative also sparked a new student program in fleet maintenance, with 16 students enrolled in a hands-on safety and service course co-taught by a district mechanic and technology instructor. Lake Shore recently hosted West Seneca officials to showcase the infrastructure and the technology.

“This initiative checks every box — fiscal responsibility, student safety, environmental stewardship, and career readiness,” said Pacos. “It’s the right thing to do, and I couldn’t be prouder of the team that brought it to life.”

Lake Shore’s new electric buses are already in service, with a fleet that now includes 22 full-sized electric school buses, one electric minibus, multiple Level 2 and Level 3 charging stations, and ample infrastructure to support future growth.