Buellton Union School District

An 80-passenger electric Blue Bird school bus recently arrived at Buellton Union School District, and students will have the opportunity to experience their first ride aboard the clean energy machine in a matter of weeks, a spokeswoman for the school said.

The effort falls in line with a statewide mandate that requires all school buses be electric by 2035.

The district provides daily transportation for 70-80 students to its two Buellton school campuses that serve TK-8th graders.

In addition to a new battery-powered bus, construction of a charging station is expected, as is the delivery of a second wheelchair-accessible electric bus later this summer, the school reported.

Bus manufacturer, Blue Bird, since its founding in 1927, has designed, engineered and manufactured school busses for campuses across the nation for nearly a century, transitioning to include clean energy vehicles in 1994.

Buellton joins Los Olivos Elementary, who in early February welcomed to campus their own 100% zero-emission school bus fleet — the "Achiever" — that seats 30.

Lisa André covers lifestyle and local news for Santa Ynez Valley News and Lompoc Record, editions of the Santa Maria Times.