Charles school system receives federal dollars for electric school buses

Charles County Public Schools has been awarded a $1.2 million rebate through the Environmental Protection Agency 2023 Clean School Bus Program.

The funding will support the replacement of six of the system’s buses with “zero-emission, clean electric school buses,” according to a release from the school system. The school system will receive two of the electric buses, with the remaining four electric buses to be designated to Charles County bus contractors.

Through the EPA Clean School Bus Program, nearly $3 billion has been provided to school systems in the nation to fund school bus replacements. Since the 2021 launch of the program, about 8,500 school buses have been replaced.

With funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the EPA Clean School Bus Program provides $5 billion over five years — fiscal year 2022 through fiscal year 2026 — to replace existing school buses with zero-emission and clean school buses.

School systems must apply for funding annually. For the 2023 rebate program, the EPA selected 530 applicants for funds totaling nearly $900 million to support the purchase of about 3,400 buses, of which 92% will be electric.

This is the first year Charles County Public Schools was awarded funds through the program.

The buses are likely to be in operation by the end of next school year. Routes will be selected by mileage range, but the electric buses will most likely operate in Waldorf, La Plata and Indian Head areas.