ATU 714 Members to Begin Electric Bus Pilot Project in Southern Maine

Members of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 714 in Southern Maine will soon be reducing carbon emissions and supporting union jobs with the upcoming deployment of four union-made electric-powered buses. As the Portland Press Herald reports, on May 17th Greater Portland Metro and Biddeford, Saco, Old Orchard Beach (BSOOB) Transit will officially begin operation of the first fixed-route, all electric, zero emission buses in Maine. 

Portland transit driver Mike Frager, the Vice President of ATU 714, said he hasn’t had a chance to drive the new buses, but is hopeful this new pilot project will be successful. A lot will depend on how the buses hold up during harsh Maine winters.

“They’re going to do a lot of trials to test them out on different runs to see how much power it uses, how it’s affected by weather conditions and how much the climate controls are used to get an idea for how much charge they’re going to draw and how long they can leave on the road without killing the battery,” said Frager. I think if both buses can stay out twelve to sixteen hours, they’ll kick some butt because then you just need some solar panels set up to offset the cost of electricity. Right now with the high cost of diesel and natural gas, I think there's some potential to save some money."

Greater Portland Transit current fleet of 44 buses run on either compressed natural gas or diesel fuel. BSOOB Transit’s fleet of busses and trolleys run on diesel. The funding for the project comes from a mix of federal and state money, including Maine’s share of $21 million settlement with Volkswagen after the company settled allegations that it cheated on emissions testing.

The buses are made by USW Local 675 at the California-based company Proterra, which also produces electric school buses, delivery trucks, coach buses, and shuttles. According to its website, the company has sold over 1,300 buses to more than 135 transit agencies across 43 U.S. states and Canadian provinces. 

According to the LA Times, Steelworkers members seeking to organize the factory convinced the company that it understood the need to move to a carbon neutral economy and was “serious about helping their oil industry members survive the transition.” The same day, the company voluntarily recognized the union and pledged to sign a “community benefits agreement,” committing the company to working with local nonprofits to hire and train workers from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“As our country seeks to transfer more of our economy to carbon free alternatives, I think it’s important that we use American-made products and make sure the people doing this work earn decent wages and benefits,” said Mike Higgins, a former mill worker and staff rep for USW in Maine. “There needs to be a balance between fossil fuels and carbon free energy, but, we also do need to work to reduce our carbon footprint. The country is moving in this direction and it’s important that our union is a part of the solution.”