TRENTON, N.J. — Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette announced on Wednesday the state’s first round of funding for electric school buses, allocating $15 million in grants to help local districts purchase 48 zero-emission vehicles. The announcement, made during National Drive Electric Week, marks New Jersey’s most comprehensive investment in electric school buses to date, focusing on reducing air pollution and protecting public health.
“It is our responsibility as elected officials to ensure that the vehicles carrying our children to school do not adversely affect their health outcomes as they grow,” said Governor Phil Murphy, citing the administration’s $30 million commitment to clean energy school transportation.
The grants are part of New Jersey’s Electric School Bus Grant Program, which is funded through the state’s Clean Energy Fund and administered by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Authorized by legislation signed by Murphy in 2022, the program provides up to $45 million over three years to replace diesel buses and install necessary charging infrastructure. First Lady Tammy Murphy emphasized the health impact of the initiative, saying, “These grants for zero-emission buses are investments in the health and safety of our mothers, babies and families.”
Commissioner LaTourette underscored the health risks of diesel emissions, noting their harmful effects on children whose lungs are still developing. “It is critical that our school buses be equipped with the latest technology to protect them,” he said. Diesel exhaust contains pollutants like sulfur dioxide and fine particulate matter that have been linked to asthma, lung damage, and cancer. Electric buses eliminate these emissions entirely, offering a cleaner alternative.
In addition to the school bus grants, LaTourette introduced the New Jersey Fleet Advisor program, a free service offering expert guidance to smaller fleets on transitioning to electric trucks. The program, led by DEP’s contractor CALSTART, targets fleets of 20 or fewer vehicles in overburdened communities, including small school districts, sanitation programs, and emergency services.
The grants announced on Wednesday will fund electric buses and charging stations in districts across northern, central, and southern New Jersey, with 13 awards going to recipients in overburdened communities. Among the awardees, the Hudson County School District will receive $1.6 million for five buses and five fast chargers, while Lakewood School District will receive $1.56 million for five buses and five chargers.
Christine Guhl-Sadovy, president of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, highlighted the program’s long-term benefits. “For decades to come, these awards will help improve air quality and public health among our most vulnerable neighbors, including children and residents in overburdened communities,” she said.
Transportation accounts for 37% of New Jersey’s greenhouse gas emissions, with more than 99% of the state’s 21,700 school buses running on fossil fuels. By investing in electric buses, New Jersey aims to reduce these emissions and protect the health of its communities most impacted by air pollution.
