Bianca Sanchez, bianca.sanchez@sierraclub.org
BOSTON, MA. – Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the recipients of the Clean School Bus Program grants, awarding $965 million to 280 school districts. As part of the program, Boston has received $20 million in funding to procure 50 electric buses and charging infrastructure.
The Clean School Bus Program grant will more than double Boston’s existing electric school bus fleet. Boston’s first 20 fully operational electric school buses began servicing students in April 2023, marking the largest electric school bus deployment in the Northeast.
Also included in the EPA funding was an additional $33 million grant for third party bus provider Dattco Inc. A portion of that award will help procure 15 electric buses in Worcester, ten electric buses in New Bedford, and ten electric buses in Fall River. With those buses included, the Clean School Bus Program will provide funding for a total of 85 electric school buses statewide.
Most of the state’s existing school bus fleet operates on dirty fossil fuels like propane and diesel. These pollutants worsen the climate crisis and contribute greatly to air pollution that threatens the health of our students, school staff, and bus drivers. Electric buses produce zero tailpipe emissions, result in better air quality, and safeguard our most vulnerable populations from air toxins.
In response to the EPA announcement, Veena Dharmaraj, Sierra Club Massachusetts Director of Transportation, issued the following statement:
“Today, we celebrate Boston’s Clean School Bus Program grant and the impact 50 additional electric school buses will undoubtedly have on cutting harmful diesel pollution. We also applaud the Worcester, New Bedford, and Fall River school districts for investing in pollution-free school buses.
School buses should be clean, safe means of transportation for our city’s young learners. By cutting tailpipe emissions, electric buses help to combat the climate crisis and air pollution concerns, all while ensuring students and drivers receive the cleanest, smoothest ride available.
We applaud these school districts for their leadership on this issue and look forward to seeing more electric school buses on the road.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.