The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act gives the EPA $5 billion dollars over the next five years to financially support the deployment of electric school buses. With this funding, schools will be able to apply to make zero-emission school buses a reality in our communities.
The first round of funding is already in our rearview mirror, which means we only have four rounds remaining. We expect the second round of
the EPA’s Clean School Bus Rebate program will open in the Fall of 2023.
Last year, Minnesota only secured FOUR buses. Let’s work together to triple this amount in 2023!
As our advocacy team has spoken with schools, school boards, and others about this funding opportunity for zero-emission buses, we want to address any concerns that this funding is out of reach.
The EPA Clean School Bus website offers information about program requirements, what’s needed to apply, and more via webinars, text, and more. Sign up for updates from the EPA and bookmark this page to keep up with the latest news on the program.
Before you apply:
Remember that the more Minnesota schools that apply, the more likely that Minnesota will be granted funds!
Don’t see the information you need? Email cleantransportation@mn350.org — We’re more than happy to help!
Schmitty & Sons was the first Minnesota bus company to invest in an all-electric bus and has been successfully transporting Lakeville ISD 194 students in their zero-emission bus since 2017!
In addition, the MPCA has awarded 5 school districts $2.1 million in grants to purchase 8 electric school buses.
Electric school buses are already being used in Minnesota, so we can build on their knowledge and best practices to successfully transition other schools to electric school buses.
MN350 is part of the Coalition for Clean Transportation, a team of Minnesota-based clean energy, environmental, and social justice advocacy groups working on transportation improvement. As part of this coalition, MN350 wants to support schools in the transition from dirty diesel buses to zero-emission school buses as part of a larger goal to transition all vehicles — large and small — to zero emissions. We want to support schools, contractors, tribes, and communities interested in electrifying their school bus fleets.
Our team advocated for electric school buses to be taken seriously at the state level this legislative session — and we won! Now we are focusing on:
If you have questions, want to connect with others in your school district, or need advice on how to approach your school board about getting more electric school buses, please reach out to our team! cleantransportation@mn350.org