GATES, N.Y. (WROC) — Challenges appear to be mounting as school districts across New York State stare down a deadline to acquire and use only electric buses. Those challenges are even being felt in the Gates Chili Central School District, which, with its 15 electric buses, has been a leader in this area. In fact, it recently added an electric bus with a lift to its fleet – the first in the state to do so. Getting around 100 miles per charge, the new buses have won over their drivers, according to Gates Chili Director of Transportation Matthew Helmbold.“They have instant heat in the winter, they have air conditioning in the dash, on a rainy day they don't have to stand outside for fueling, they just get right back inside, that's something they really enjoy, Helmbold said.But with less than ten years left before all school districts have to be fully electric, based on the state's mandate, Helmbold and education leaders across the state acknowledge possible speed bumps and road blacks ahead. First, the electric bus's price tag is high as is a district's electric bill once they add them. Helmbold says the state has told power companies to come up with a new rate plan so school districts can afford to charge their fleet.“They have given us a rebate on that until the new rates are established,” Helmbold said.Then there's the power issue. News 8 recently asked RG&E President Patricia Nilsen whether there's enough capacity to charge electric fleets throughout the area. She didn't say, but suggested it would be difficult for some districts to build up the infrastructure necessary to power them.“So we have to look at is there a customer-owned equipment upgrade or a company-owned equipment upgrade that has to take place,” Nislen said. “So it's really a case by case basis whether those buses can be electrified.”In the case of Gates Chili, while Helmbold doesn't know how they'd go all electric by 2035 without serious financial help, his experience up to this point has only encouraged him. “I just know that what we've needed we've been able to get to run the buses that we have,” he said. Governor Kathy Hochul recently talked about the possibility of pushing back that 2035 deadline, but News 8 has not heard anything concrete. Also, RG&E says it’s consistently working with the Public Service Commission on the issue. ...read more read less