Expert Testimony on Potomac Edison's Electric School Bus Pilot
The recent enactment of the Climate Solutions Now Act (CSNA) in Maryland authorizes investor-owned electric utilities to propose electric school bus (EVSB) pilot programs to the Public Service Commission for approval. Synapse was retained by the Maryland Office of the People's Counsel to provide expert witness services related to Potomac Edison Company's (PE) application for an EVSB pilot program in accordance with the CSNA. While Synapse supports the electrification of school buses, we raised concerns related to the lack of a defined proposal to test vehicle-to-grid applications of the EVSBs; the cost recovery structure; insufficient tracking metrics and evaluation criteria for the pilot; and for a commitment that the pilot award a certain number of EVSBs to routes serving underserved community census tracks to ensure that all communities receive a portion of the pilot benefits.