LANSING (WWJ) - Seven Michigan school districts will receive electric buses under a program designed to boost clean air and alternative energy.

One of the buses for demonstration rides Thursday at the rollout event at 11:30 a.m. on the East Lawn of the Capitol Building in Lansing.

The vehicles, 17 in total, are being distributed under a state Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy program -- paid for in part with funds from Volkswagen in a settlement for installing emission control defeat devices on many of its diesel vehicles,

The buses will operate in Roseville, Ann Arbor, Kalamazoo, Oxford, Gaylord, Zeeland and Three Rivers. They will replace diesel vehicles currently in use in those districts.

According to the EGLE, contaminants from diesel exhaust include more than 40 substances listed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as either hazardous air pollutants or criteria pollutants, which have known adverse health impacts on people.

With electric school buses, children’s exposure to harmful diesel exhaust fumes and particles drops to zero, the EGLE said. In addition, no fumes from buses idling near opening and closing doors are drawn inside the school building, where children spend most of their day. Diesel emissions from older buses are not only immediately harmful to Michigan’s children, but also impact climate and contribute to long term damage to the environment.

The Michigan Association for Pupil Transportation developed the project. Learn more at this link.