Another school district gets electric bus as West Virginia Sen. Capito tours plant

SOUTH CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) — West Virginia’s policies on energy continue to evolve as the world looks for cleaner, greener power sources. That was visible on Thursday at one of the premier electric school bus manufacturers in the nation.

On the grounds of the GreenPower Motor Company in South Charleston, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) got to hand the keys over to the Wyoming County Superintendent of Schools.

The school district purchased its first battery-powered electric school bus, known as The Beast. The bus is called that because it can carry 90 students.

While West Virginia is still a fossil fuel state, it is embracing green power as part of its, “all of the above” energy strategy.

“But for a school system, say like a Wyoming County, they can save $100,000 a year on diesel fuel, that’s a major savings. So, what does that go to? Another reading instructor, maybe some capital improvements to the schools,” said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, (R) West Virginia.

Senator Capito toured the plant and said GreenPower is helping rebuild West Virginia’s manufacturing base. She even got to drive “The Beast” school bus and said that it was very smooth and manageable driving, and quite impressive given the big size of the vehicle.

Right now, GreenPower employs 80 people, but is hoping to increase that to 200 in the near future.

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