Your Guide to Electric School Bus Incentive Programs in Massachusetts
Electric school bus funding is available now to help electrify your district’s fleet through the MassCEC ACT School Bus Program and the MOR-EV Program.
Two Electric School Bus Incentive Programs Are Now Open in MA!
Accelerating Clean Transportation (ACT) School Bus Program
The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) opened the Accelerating Clean Transportation (ACT) School Bus Program in spring 2024. The ACT School Bus Program will provide $33.3 million to advance school bus fleet electrification in the state. ACT will amplify the EPA Clean School Bus Program by providing funding, technical assistance, and electrification planning expertise.
Eligibility & Prioritization:
Any Massachusetts entity that is eligible to apply for EPA Clean School Bus funding is eligible to apply for ACT School Bus funding. MassCEC will prioritize EPA Clean School Bus priority districts, Environmental Justice Communities, and Gateway Cities. This program is also prioritizing those who have previously received funds from EPA Clean School Bus Program to help cover additional funding for the school buses in their Clean School Bus application.
Program Types:
Fleet Deployment Program
– This program offers flexible funding and technical assistance to electrify at least a portion of your school bus fleet.
– Award amounts will be up to $2.5 million in flexible funding for budget items such as buses, chargers, construction, depot upgrades, and MassCEC staff time.
– Applications are due June 24th, 2024.
Advisory Services Program
– This program offers no-cost customized fleet electrification planning and hands-on assistance from a team of experts.
– Completed applications must be submitted to CleanTransportation@masscec.com.
MOR-EV Program
The MOR-EV Program provides rebates between $15,000-$90,000 for the purchase or lease of eligible medium-duty and heavy-duty zero emission vehicles, including electric school buses. The program applies to Class 3-8 electric vehicles that have a sales price of less than $2 million. Applications must be approved prior to vehicle purchase or lease, and rebates can be combined with federal funding and tax credits.
Prioritization:
There is an additional 10% rebate for vehicles that are registered or operate more than half the time in Environmental Justice Communities.
How can Highland Help
Strengthen Your Application With an Experienced Partner
Our mission is to make electric vehicles affordable and accessible for all communities. We’ve helped school districts secure over $350M in grants & incentives, and we’re happy to share our expertise with you. Our dedicated team of incentive program experts are happy to help answer your questions, whether you choose to work with Highland or not.
Please email info@highlandfleets.com to get in touch with our team.
Frequently Asked Questions
The ACT School Bus Program is a $33.3 million electric school bus program funded by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC). ACT will amplify the EPA Clean School Bus Program by providing funding, technical assistance, and electrification planning expertise to eligible Massachusetts entities.
The MOR-EV Program is an electric school bus rebate program that applies to the purchase or lease of eligible medium-duty and heavy-duty zero emission vehicles, including electric school buses. Rebates amounts range from $15,000-$90,000 per vehicle.
ACT Program: Yes. In alignment with EPA’s Clean School Bus Program, ACT School Bus Deployment funds can only be used to replace diesel-powered school buses that have provided service to a public school district for at least 3 days a week on average during the school year at the time of applying. Model 2010 or older diesel school buses selected for replacement will need to be scrapped (with scrappage certification submitted) within 90 days of receiving the replacement bus. If a school district only has 2011 or newer internal combustion engine buses, these buses must be scrapped, sold, or donated within 90 days of receiving a replacement bus.
Learn more about how to scrap a school bus.
MOR-EV Program: No, the MOR-EV program does not require vehicle scrappage. There are no additional incentive to scrap as this rebate is being awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
ACT Program: Yes, private school bus transportation contractors that are eligible under EPA’s Clean School Bus Program can apply. This includes school bus service providers, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), and private school bus fleets that provide student transportation services. Note that private school bus contractors can only apply on behalf of their associated Massachusetts public school district(s).
MOR-EV Program: No. Third party operators cannot apply directly to the MOR-EV Program.
ACT Program: Yes, Highland can submit an application on your school district’s behalf.
MOR-EV Program: No. Highland is a third party operator and cannot apply directly to the MOR-EV Program on your behalf. However, Highland is here to support you in your application. Reach out to us at info@highlandfleets.com.
ACT Program: Awardees can receive up to $2 million per application.
MOR-EV Program: This program offers rebates to cover the cost of 1 vehicle per application, with a cap of $90,000 in rebates per vehicle.
ACT Program: The program prioritizes EPA Clean School Bus priority districts (learn more), Environmental Justice Communities (learn more), and Gateway Cities (learn more).
MOR-EV Program: There is an additional 10% rebate for vehicles that are registered or operate more than half the time in Environmental Justice Communities. Learn more.
ACT Program: Yes, the ACT Program is stackable with any state, federal, or utility grant/rebate programs, including the EPA Clean School Bus Program.
MOR-EV Program: The MOR-EV Program is stackable with the EPA Clean School Bus Program, but not with state programs in Massachusetts.
Yes, the ACT Program and the MOR-EV Program include funding for charging infrastructure.