In her continued drive to green New York’s school transportation system, Governor Kathy Hochul announced an additional injection of $200 million into the New York School Bus Incentive Program (NYSBIP), earmarked for zero-emission school buses. This expansion, funded by the historic $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022, aims to aid schools in transitioning to electric buses, ultimately benefiting air quality and public health across the state.
The new funding will support incentives for electric school bus purchases, covering up to 100 percent of the incremental cost difference between electric and traditional diesel buses. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is overseeing the implementation, offering vouchers for charging infrastructure and customized fleet electrification plans. These efforts aim to help school bus operators transition to cleaner transportation, reducing students’ exposure to diesel emissions. According to the Governor’s office, NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris expressed support for the initiative and emphasized the agency’s commitment to helping more school districts adopt zero-emission buses through this funding effort.
Funding priority is being directed toward high-need school districts and those serving large populations in disadvantaged communities. These designations are determined using criteria developed by the New York State Climate Justice Working Group. The approach is intended to support equitable advancement in clean transportation, especially in areas that have experienced historically higher levels of pollution.
In statements obtained by Governor Hochul's office, various state officials and health experts touted the health, environmental, and economic benefits of the move towards a zero-emission fleet. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner, Amanda Lefton, highlighted the importance of the bus rollout to community health, citing the Bond Act's commitment to affordability for districts in the fight against climate change. However, the Bond Act stipulates that no less than 35 percent, and ideally 40 percent, of the funds should be channeled to disadvantaged communities, in support of these zero-emission transitions.
Since the launch of the New York School Bus Incentive Program (NYSBIP), 88 school districts have applied for funding to purchase a total of 529 electric school buses, reflecting growing progress toward cleaner student transportation. Funding from the Environmental Bond Act helps offset the high initial costs of electrifying school bus fleets, supporting the goal of providing cleaner and more sustainable commutes for students while advancing the state’s climate objectives. Additional resources, including the Electric School Bus Guidebook, are available to assist fleet operators with the transition. For further support, operators can contact NYSERDA at [email protected].
State Senator Kevin Parker, Assemblymember Didi Barrett, and other legislators and educators have welcomed the new funding, emphasizing the environmental and public health benefits of electric school buses. The investment is seen as a step forward in advancing New York’s broader transportation electrification efforts—such as EV Make Ready and Charge Ready NY 2.0—and supports the state’s goal of achieving a zero-emissions economy by 2050.
