A growing number of school districts are turning to electric vehicles that enable clean and efficient student transportation. Federal funding plays a key role in making these upgrades available, especially for districts that might not have the financial resources to independently support upgrades.
The EPA’s Clean School Bus Program is a federal initiative that expands access to zero-emission vehicles. The program will ultimately provide $5 billion over five years (FY 2022-2026) to replace existing school buses with low or zero-emission models. School districts in all 50 states are eligible to apply for this funding, which is provided through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. So far, nearly $2.8 billion has been awarded to 1,283 school districts across the United States.
What types of improvements can this type of funding pay for? And how are communities employing the funding to purchase upgrades? We’ve highlighted a few notable examples of where the EPA initiative and similar grant programs have helped to drive significant transit improvements for schools and local communities.
Massachusetts EPA Grant and Accelerating Clean Transportation School Bus Program
Seventeen school districts in Eastern Massachusetts were awarded $42 million in 2024 as a part of the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program. This funding will go towards replacing as many as 166 fossil fuel-powered buses across the state with electric vehicles. The grant will provide buses to both urban and rural communities, and will also include districts in “Gateway Cities” (midsize urban centers that anchor regional economies around the state) as well as vocational schools.
Massachusetts also benefits from state-level programs that help augment federal grants and incentives. In April, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s Accelerating Clean Transportation (ACT) School Bus Program granted $4.2 million to school districts in Boston, Fall River, Holyoke, New Bedford, and Worcester. This separate round of funding will support school bus electrification projects and technical assistance with implementation. The funding is made possible by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs through the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP).
The Guadalupe School, Utah
Located in Salt Lake City, the Guadalupe school was awarded funding for four electric school buses. The Guadalupe School is located in an area that experiences significant levels of air pollution due to industrial activity, from the burning of gas, coal, and oil. The area surrounding the school at West Side is disproportionately impacted by ozone, PM 2.5, and sulfur dioxide levels that often exceed regulatory standards.
The new buses are expected to mitigate the impacts of pollution to this community as well as surrounding neighborhoods.
“Guadalupe School’s transition to a fully electric fleet represents a significant effort in addressing air pollution and cleaning up the air in Salt Lake City communities.”
– Rebekah Ashley, Lead Climate and Energy Organizer, Sierra Club, Utah.
Red Lake School District #38
Located within Minnesota’s only sovereign tribal nation, Red Lake School District #38 introduced two electric school buses in 2024 with federal support provided by the EPA Clean School Bus Program. Red Lake #38 received nearly $800K in funding to acquire two new electric buses, provided by Highland, along with their charging stations. The new buses will have a range of up to 130 miles and the ability to recharge midday. The district anticipates that each bus will travel approximately 10,000 miles annually and transport up to 50 students per day.
Red Lake School District #38 is among the first indigenous communities in the United States to adopt electric school buses.
The EPA Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program
School districts have also taken full advantage of the EPA’s Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program, or CHDV. This program was established in 2024 under the Inflation Reduction Act and will provide $1 billion in funding to support clean school buses and other critical infrastructure, including:
- Replacement vehicles (must be a zero-emission vehicle, be a Class 6 or Class 7 heavy-duty vehicle, and be an engine model year 2023 or newer)
- Eligible charging infrastructure (Purchase & Installation)
- Fueling infrastructure
This funding will be provided in stages up until 2031. This timeline extends beyond the grant windows of the EPA’s $5 billion Clean School Bus Program by another five years, which provides school districts with more opportunities to upgrade their school bus fleet, in addition to other maintenance and utility vehicles, such as trucks and vans.
Federal grant programs are helping school districts in every state make the transition to electric school buses and other vehicles. Leveraging this funding is not only helping communities improve air quality and energy efficiency, but it’s also preparing districts for a future that includes newer, more sustainable technology.
Applications for the most recent EPA Clean Bus Program funding round were due January 9, 2025. Award announcements are anticipated in the Spring of 2025.
