Charging Ahead

The CRMS Future Path vision of what students will need in the coming decades includes some important–and colossal–aspects. Among these is the ability to consider and address a range of global issues, including sustainability, environmental restoration and degradation, (and) climate change. Students should be versed in the science, politics, and technology that enable stewarding the world’s natural resources, and throughout their live, can find ways to take meaningful action. 

In the late 1990s, CRMS took its first step toward reducing its own carbon footprint by partnering with Aspen Skiing Company Environment Foundation to install what was at the time the largest solar power array on the western slope. The array, which sits north of the Jossman academic building, is still in operation today. It generates approximately 147 kilowatts of power for the school. 

This journey of a thousand miles took another important step in 2022 with the help of two 3-phase Level II EV charging stations and again in 2025 with a very important new bus.

CRMS partnered again with Environment Foundation on two grants to begin the process of electrifying the school’s bus fleet. In 2021, EF awarded CRMS a grant to help install a Level II grid-tied EV charging station, which complemented the installation of a two-outlet solar (PV) EV charging station. Installation of these charging stations was completed by fall of 2021, enabling CRMS community members and visitors the option of charging their electric vehicles while on campus.

The second grant, received in June 2022, supports the purchase of a 14-passenger EV bus. 

Together with an ALT Fuels Vehicle Grant from the State of Colorado as well as generous donations from CRMS alumni and families, the Environment Foundation grant enabled the purchase of a 14-passenger Class IV school activity cutaway shuttle EV bus. This bus replaces an existing diesel-powered bus in the CRMS fleet. To qualify for the state grant, one of our existing diesel buses will be permanently disabled, being removed from the road completely. 

What does removing just one bus accomplish? In its first year of operation, the EV bus will take approximately 50 trips of 10 miles or more. With a range of 120 miles per charge, this EV bus will see significant use, and we can expect to consume 700 fewer gallons of diesel fuel in one year. Assuming a useful life of six years, this single bus will remove over 4,200 gallons of diesel consumption from the Roaring Fork Valley. 

Hannah Berman, Senior Manager for Sustainability and Philanthropy at Aspen Skiing Company, says that in addition to the positive environmental impact of this grant, there’s an important long-term education and cultural benefit as well. 

“Electrifying transportation infrastructure is a key piece to tackling climate change,” she said. “And CRMS’s electric school bus has the added benefit of educating young people about climate solutions.”

Due to the high cost of EV buses, full fleet conversion will take time, and a lot of help from the broader CRMS community and its many wonderful partners like EF. Yet it’s work that we must do. There is an urgent need to normalize EVs as a preferred mode of both personal and group transportation, and it begins with one bus. CRMS students who will start their high school journey this year will ride on an EV school bus for everything from local field trips to winter sports and activities on the mountain. Starting this year, they’ll see that EVs are not reserved for personal transportation, but can and should be an increasingly important mode of transit, including at their school.

This article has been updated since it was originally published.