New York City has around 9,500 school buses that move across the five boroughs each day. A majority of these school buses are powered by diesel fuel, which produces harmful emissions that cause a strong amount of respiratory issues predominantly in communities of color and low-income neighborhoods. Currently, there are only a small number of electric school buses. In hopes of removing the diesel-powered buses, New York State mandated all new school buses purchased by 2027 must be zero-emission and all school buses on the road must be zero-emission by 2035. This necessary and achievable transition will improve air quality for all New Yorkers and the overall health of students who rely on school bus transportation.
A wide range of federal and state funding is available for New York City school bus companies to electrify their fleets. Below are some state funding opportunities for school districts and bus companies to take advantage of.
Funding Under the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)
NYSERDA is a state agency promoting energy efficiency, renewable energy, and emissions reduction. With the requirement that all school districts must have zero-emission school buses, NYSERDA has initiatives and incentives to help districts reach this measure by 2035.
Clean Green Schools Initiative (CGSI)
NYSERDA’s CGSI works to help public schools in need of infrastructure upgrades to improve their learning environments. Track I of this initiative allocates funding to school bus electrification studies to help districts and bus companies plan for how to transition their fleets to zero-emission operation.
Who Can Apply
Under Track I, all public school districts across New York State that are designated as ‘High-Needs’ by the New York State Education Department or have at least one building which is located in a disadvantaged community meet the qualifications to apply for the funding. All New York City school districts are at High-Needs/Resource capacity and are therefore eligible to apply.
Program and Application Details
For the full details on eligibility, application, and deliverable requirements, view the Program Opportunity Notice.
Schools, school districts, or authorized representatives may submit their completed application packages to P12Schools@nyserda.ny.gov for Track I through December 30, 2025, or until funds are fully committed.
Further Resources
NYSERDA also provides the New York State Electric School Bus Roadmap and the New York State Electric School Bus Guidebook to provide technical assistance and financial guidance to help public school districts transition to zero-emission bus fleets. These informational tools highlight critical factors and decisions facing school districts and bus operators when considering their transition.
New York School Bus Incentive Program (NYSBIP)
NYSERDA established NYSBIP to distribute funding to assist school districts in complying with the zero-emission school bus mandate. This voucher incentive program provides grants to school districts to offset all or a portion of the purchase price of electric school buses and/or necessary charging infrastructure. View the NYSBIP Implementation Manual for more information.
Program and Application Details
NYSERDA is accepting School Bus and Charging Voucher Applications on a first-come, first-served basis. A list of priority districts is available here; all New York City school districts are priority districts. View the NYSBIP Implementation Manual for a detailed overview on the program, school bus voucher requirements, charging voucher requirements and more. Visit the NYSERDA website for simplified instructions on the application process.
Opportunities for Everyday New Yorkers to Get Involved
All New Yorkers can work to create better air quality and help mitigate the impacts of climate change. If you would like to get involved in helping our city’s buses reach the 2035 target, connect with your local Community (CEC) and Citywide Education Council (CCEC), or with advocacy organizations fighting for transit equity like Parents to Improve School Transportation (PIST NYC).
By Community Organizer for Infrastructure & Environmental Justice, Sasha St. Juste and Intern for Infrastructure & Environmental Justice, Neelan Martin
Image: Unsplash
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