Students in several southwest Washington school districts will soon be riding to class in brand-new electric buses following a regional project celebrating its launch this week in Woodland. The KWRL Transportation Cooperative—which serves Woodland, Kalama, Ridgefield, and La Center school districts—has added 14 electric buses and 16 charging stations to its fleet, marking one of the most substantial clean-fleet transitions yet in Southwest Washington.
The initiative, developed in partnership with Highland Electric Fleets, was supported by federal Clean School Bus Program funding announced in 2024 by U.S. Senator Patty Murray. According to Murray’s office, the program allocated $24 million statewide for school bus electrification across 16 districts. Ten of the local buses were entirely funded by federal grants, while the other four were financed at about $50,000 each.
Highland Electric Fleets says the new buses will reduce diesel emissions, lower operational costs, and transport more than 1,000 students daily. The 16 new charging sites ensure year-round usability across varying routes and conditions. Representatives from the partner districts joined the ribbon-cutting ceremony held earlier this week at a Woodland transportation facility.
The KWRL Cooperative, jointly operated by member districts, coordinates transportation for thousands of students across Cowlitz and north Clark counties. Woodland and Kalama students will be among the first to experience the new buses as routes phase in over the next several weeks.
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