Golden State Today

California launches historic effort to put next 1,000 zero-emission school buses on the road

Aug 27, 2024

In the single-largest investment in state history, California is launching a new program that will distribute $500 million to school districts and other educational entities to replace old polluting school buses with zero-emission vehicles and purchase needed infrastructure.

SACRAMENTO – As kids across the state head back to school, California is launching a new statewide funding program that will put 1,000 new zero-emission school buses on the road, furthering the state’s lead in having the most clean buses in the nation. This is on top of 1,100 clean school buses already on California roads, with another 1,200 in the pipeline.

The program will distribute $500 million – the single-largest state investment in history – to school districts and other educational entities to replace aging school buses with zero-emission vehicles and purchase needed infrastructure. The Zero-Emissions School Bus and Infrastructure (ZESBI) program is accepting funding applications through Sept. 30.

As California continues to lead in the deployment of zero-emission vehicles and in building the necessary infrastructure, the focus on school buses targets a sector where the switch to cleaner technology will lead to better public health outcomes for children and the communities where they live. Earlier this year, the Biden-Harris Administration announced more than $91 million to help California school districts make the switch.

"California is showing the nation and the world how to move from ambition to action. This is yet another record state investment that puts the health of our kids and communities first – replacing 1,000 older polluting school buses with clean buses," said Governor Gavin Newsom.

In Los Angeles today, the Newsom Administration and local officials celebrate the launch of $500 million for clean school buses.

The efforts are part of the Governor’s build more, faster agenda to deliver infrastructure upgrades across the state. Find projects in your community at build.ca.gov.

The program is a collaboration between the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the California Energy Commission (CEC), and is administered by CALSTART, a transportation nonprofit.

Zero-emission school buses play a key role in California’s efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045 and help protect children who are particularly vulnerable to health impacts from diesel exhaust. In California, all school bus purchases made by school districts will need to be zero-emission technology by 2035, with an extension until 2040 for rural communities.

The time children spend in school bus commutes accounts for less than 10% of a child’s day; yet these commutes contribute 33% of a child’s daily exposure to some air pollutants according to a study funded by CARB.

To date, California has provided more than $1.3 billion in incentives which have funded over 2,300 zero-emission school buses; out of which 1,100 are already operational. Over 70% of these zero-emission buses are deployed within pollution-burdened communities. More than 300 California school districts have purchased at least one zero-emission bus; some have transitioned entirely to clean fleets.

Awardees can receive up to $375,000 per internal combustion engine bus replaced with a zero-emission vehicle along with up to $95,000 per bus for associated charging infrastructure installation. Awardees must scrap an old bus for every new one purchased.