Majority of West Virginia Voters Say It Is Important to Invest in Zero-Emission School Buses

Today, the American Lung Association released new poll results showing that a majority (60%) of West Virginia voters believe that it is important to invest in zero-emission vehicles, like school buses, that will reduce air pollution around children.

The poll findings are released as Congress considers a major infrastructure package, including a proposal to invest $20 billion to transition one-fifth of the country’s school buses from diesel-powered vehicles to electric, zero-emission buses. 

“West Virginians are unfortunately all too familiar with the negative impacts of air pollution,” said Molly Pisciottano, advocacy director of the American Lung Association in West Virginia. “We care deeply about the air our children are breathing. Air pollution from diesel engines is toxic, and our kids deserve better than to breathe this poisonous air every day on the way to and from school. Zero-emission school buses will make our state a healthier place to live.”

Key findings from the poll, which was administered by Global Strategy Group, include:  

• 60% of West Virginia voters believe that it is important to invest in zero-emission vehicles, like school buses, that will reduce air pollution around children.

• A plurality of West Virginia voters support Congress investing $20 billion or $25 billion to transition to zero-emission school buses.

• 83% of voters in West Virginia believe that reducing air pollution around children is common sense— not a Republican or Democratic issue.
• 55% of West Virginia voters believe that transitioning school bus fleets to zero-emission buses would be an important investment in our children’s future.
• 55% of West Virginia voters would prefer that school buses operating in their own communities be zero-emission instead of diesel.  

“A majority of West Virginia voters also agree that school bus fleets are an important part of America’s transportation infrastructure,” said Andrew Baumann, Senior Vice President at Global Strategy Group.

The analysis memo from Global Strategy Group can be found online here.

Methodology: 
Global Strategy Group conducted 402 interviews of West Virginia voters (confidence interval of +/-4.9%) between July 1 - 8, 2021. The survey had a confidence interval of +/-3.1%. Care has been taken to ensure the geographic, demographic, and political divisions among registered voters are properly represented.