New York State Governor Kathy Hochul has announced that the state will subsidize charging infrastructure for electric school buses, with funding now available for both AC and DC chargers. The initiative is part of the state’s efforts to promote clean transportation and reduce emissions.
The amount of funding available is based on the number of electric school buses a school district or bus operator has or plans to purchase. According to a press release from the governor’s office, the funding will award at least $25,000 per bus to cover hardware, customer-side electrical site upgrades, installation costs, and battery storage. Priority districts can receive an additional $10,000 per bus.
The funding for the initiative comes from the $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act and the New York School Bus Incentive Program. However, funds are limited and will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis. To be eligible, electric school buses must have been purchased after January 1, 2023.
New York State has set ambitious goals for electrifying its school bus fleet, requiring all new school buses sold to be zero-emission by 2027 and all school buses in service to be zero-emission by 2035. The state has already allocated $100 million in funding to kick-start the transition away from internal combustion engine vehicles.
“New York’s continued investment in electric school buses represents a profound leap towards a cleaner future and will safeguard student health by reducing harmful emissions and improving local air quality,” said Doreen M. Harris, CEO and President of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).
“Today’s announcement is another important step in supporting school districts and bus fleet owners by providing vital infrastructure upgrades to support zero-emission school bus fleets by 2035,” added New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos. “Working with NYSERDA and other partners, DEC is leveraging Environmental Bond Act funding opportunities to advance climate action in communities statewide, one school bus at a time.”
