Press Release  EPA Awards Funding for Electric School Buses to Boston, Worcester, New Bedford and Fall River

BOSTON — Today the EPA has announced the award of more than $30 million in federal funding for approximately 80 electric school buses in Boston, Worcester, New Bedford, and Fall River. The awards will greatly expand the capacity for four of Massachusetts’ largest school districts to electrify their bus fleets and improve air quality for children and families in their communities. 

“Clean School buses are a critical step towards healthier communities where our children can breathe clean air,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Thank you to Senator Warren for your advocacy on this program, to the entire Massachusetts congressional delegation for making this funding possible, and to President Biden and Administrator Regan for these exciting clean transportation investments for Massachusetts.” 

“The EPA’s Clean School bus program is an important resource for enabling a transition to clean energy transportation for our environmental justice communities and school districts across Massachusetts,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Congratulations to the cities of Boston, Worcester, New Bedford and Fall River on these exciting awards.” 

The grant awards are part of the EPA’s Clean School Program, created by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The awardees will now work with their EPA to finalize project plans to purchase new buses and build eligible infrastructure, with exact funding amounts to be adjusted through the planning process. 

Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) has been the lead agency conducting outreach to municipalities and bus companies to encourage their participation in the Clean School Bus program, and for supporting them in the application process. MassCEC will also have resources for awardees available through their Accelerating Clean Transportation (ACT) program which prioritizes planning, technical support, and gap funding for school districts that received Clean School Bus grant and other federal electric school bus funding. 

“We were proud to help drive Massachusetts’ successful application for funds for electric school buses,” said MassCEC CEO Emily Reichert.  “We’re excited to see our communities receive significant federal dollars, and MassCEC continues to work with cities and towns to secure critical funding to build nation-leading work to invest in clean transportation."

“The Clean School Bus awards are important part of our whole-of-government strategy to pursue federal funding that advances goals for equity, mobility, clean energy and environmental justice in Massachusetts,” said Director of Federal Funds and Infrastructure Quentin Palfrey. “We are grateful to our partners in the congressional delegation and the Biden administration for their work on these programs, and look forward to supporting the four school districts, as well as future program applicants, in their work to secure and implement these historic federal investments.” 

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