State’s First Comprehensive Funding for Zero-Emission Buses to Improve Health and Safety for Children.
MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — In celebration of National Drive Electric Week, Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette has announced $15 million in grants to fund the purchase of 48 electric school buses across New Jersey. This marks the state’s first significant commitment to funding zero-emission school buses, aimed at better protecting the health of schoolchildren and reducing pollution in communities.
The grant awards are part of the state’s broader initiative, the Electric School Bus Grant Program, which was authorized by legislation signed by Governor Phil Murphy in 2022. The program, administered by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and funded by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities’ (NJBPU) Clean Energy Fund, aims to provide up to $45 million over three years for the replacement of diesel school buses with battery-electric buses and installation of charging infrastructure.