Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
Vice President Kamala Harris, left, and Michael Regan, administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, inspect a school bus during a 2022 event to promote the Clean School Bus program in Virginia. (Photo courtesy EPA)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is accepting applications for the second year of Clean School Bus program grants, while the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center is accepting interest forms for the Accelerating Clean Transportation School Bus Advisory Services Program.
The EPA anticipates awarding approximately $400 million in competitive grant funding through the Clean School Bus program’s second year of grants, with $27 million available to EPA Region 1 (New England). Funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Clean School Bus program is intended to reduce harmful emissions through the replacement of existing school buses with low- and zero-emission buses. Half of the available funding is dedicated to zero-emission buses, and half is dedicated to clean buses.
Grant funding may be used to replace existing internal-combustion engine school buses with electric, propane or compressed natural gas buses, as well as the purchase of electric vehicle supply equipment infrastructure and installations.
State and local governmental entities that provide bus service, including public school districts, eligible contractors, nonprofit school transportation associations, and tribal organizations, are eligible to apply.
The Clean School Bus program also plans to open an additional rebates opportunity later this year, which funds similar activities but has a shorter online application form and lottery selection process.
Applications are being accepted through Aug. 22 via Grants.gov. Questions may be sent to cleanschoolbus@epa.gov with “Clean School Bus NOFO Question” in the subject line of the email. The deadline for submitting questions is Aug. 9.
ACT program
The MassCEC’s ACT School Bus Program is soliciting interest forms for a new School Bus Advisory Service Program that will provide free fleet electrification planning support to public school districts across Massachusetts.
The MassCEC is working with a consultant team to provide public school districts and third-party school bus fleet operators with technical services such as electric vehicle and charging infrastructure analysis, feasibility designs, financial models, and assistance applying for future funding opportunities.
Selected school districts will receive a Final Fleet Electrification Plan that will include:
• Actionable next steps on funding opportunities and applications
• Timeline of required approvals for school bus fleet electrification
• Identification of major stakeholders and their roles in the electrification process
• Identification of vehicles that can be electrified and suggested timing for procurement decisions
• Electric vehicle supply equipment recommendations and location recommendations
• Identification and presentation of all costs
• Outline of post-deployment operations (workforce training, charging schedules, maintenance, etc.)
The goal of the program is to provide school districts with a clear path to school bus electrification. Interest forms are being accepted on a rolling basis through the end of June.
The MassCEC intends to open a second year of funding for the ACT School Bus Fleet Deployment program in September 2023.