West Aurora D129 Launches Chicago Area's Largest Electric School Bus Fleet: District

AURORA, IL — West Aurora School District 129 launched Monday what officials say is the largest electric school bus fleet in the Chicagoland area.

District 129 partnered with Highland Electric Fleets and bus manufacturer Blue Bird to add 27 new all-electric buses and 28 EV chargers. The buses will reduce emissions and provide a quieter, more comfortable experience for students, drivers and the community, according to a news release.

The electric buses now make up one-third of District 129's fleet, according to a report from ABC7 News.

"This milestone builds on the district's record of innovation, efficiency, and sustainability across school operations," the district wrote in a memo.

Funding included almost $5 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Clean School Bus Program. ComEd also contributed a $930,000 rebate for the vehicles and charging infrastructure support, making District 129 one of the largest recipients of ComEd's Beneficial Electrification Plan, the utility company said.

The district went all in on electric buses when it realized the incentives made them less expensive than their gas counterparts, ABC7 News reported.

"ComEd is proud to fund electrification projects like West Aurora School District 129’s and hundreds of others across the region, as our customers and communities take steps toward a lower carbon future," ComEd CEO and President Gil Quiniones said in a statement. "EV rebates are helping reduce the upfront costs while also bringing us closer to achieving the state’s energy and climate goals.”