By Brooke Van Ackooy & Armando Terrones
Looking to upgrade your old school buses with new, green electric school buses or lower emission diesel buses? You're in luck! There are many funding opportunities currently open or opening for application in the near future!
First is the Annual $100 million Federal Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA). You can replace eligible old diesel school buses with newer diesel, or other clean technologies (not including full electric vehicles). The applications are open now for this program! The application is due December 1st, but get started now as the application may take some time. Manage your grant application at: https://www.grants.gov. Gather further information at: https://www.epa.gov/dera/national
Second is the $5 billion Federal Clean school bus program (CSB). This is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. This program can get you up to 25 new electric school buses depending on your eligibility. The funding is currently closed, but should reopen in April 2024. In the meantime, you can gather further information and prepare here: https://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/clean-school-bus-program-grants.
Third is the MassCEC State Accelerating Clean Transportation (ACT) School Bus. They will provide Technical Consulting for planning and deployment of electric school bus programs. Applications are closed at this time, but funding opportunities should reopen later this fall. In the meantime, you can gather further information and prepare here: https://www.masscec.com/accelerating-clean-transportation-act-school-bus-overview.
EV Funding Resources:
Most of Massachusetts’ Greenhouse Gas emissions come from vehicles that run on fossil fuels. However Massachusetts is working to remedy this with a number of financial resources available for the purchase of electric vehicles by both Massachusetts towns and residents. Here are a few:
Mass EVIP Fleet Incentive Applications: Towns can apply to receive funding (with different levels that grant up to $7,500) to purchase electric vehicles for their municipal fleets. https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-massevip-fleets-incentives
MOR-EV: offers rebates to Massachusetts residents, businesses, and nonprofits to purchase new or used electric vehicles. https://mor-ev.org/about
MOR-EV Trucks: provides rebates for pick-up trucks and Class 2b vehicles as well as Class 3-8 vehicles.
MassEVIP: Funding and incentives for electric vehicle charging stations The more accessible charging stations are the more likely residents and government alike will be inclined to switch to electric vehicles.
- MassEVIP Public Access Charging Incentives: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-massevip-public-access-charging-incentives
- MassEVIP Workplace & Fleet Charging Incentives: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-massevip-workplace-fleet-charging-incentives
- MassEVIP Direct Current Fast Charging Incentives: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-massevip-direct-current-fast-charging-incentives
- MassEVIP Multi-Unit Dwelling & Educational Campus Charging Incentives: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-massevip-multi-unit-dwelling-educational-campus-charging-incentives