In celebration of National Drive Electric Week, New Jersey’s Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette announced the state’s first major investment in electric school buses. The initiative, marked by the first-round award of $15 million in grants, will fund the purchase of 48 zero-emission electric school buses across the state. This effort represents New Jersey’s most comprehensive commitment to date in transitioning school transportation away from diesel-powered vehicles, aiming to improve the health of schoolchildren and communities statewide.
The funding is part of the state’s broader push to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote clean energy, aligning with the goals of National Drive Electric Week—a weeklong event to raise awareness about the benefits of all-electric and hybrid vehicles.
In addition to the grants for electric school buses, Commissioner LaTourette also unveiled the first participants in the New Jersey Fleet Advisor program. This free service offers expert guidance to smaller fleets, including school districts, EMS squads, and municipal services, to help them transition to zero-emission electric trucks. The program, supported by DEP contractor CALSTART, focuses on fleets in overburdened communities, furthering the state’s commitment to environmental justice.
Governor Phil Murphy emphasized the importance of reducing diesel emissions for the health of children and communities. “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,” Murphy said. “That’s why my Administration has dedicated $30 million to date to ensuring that those vehicles are powered by clean energy.”
First Lady Tammy Murphy echoed these sentiments, stressing the harmful effects of diesel emissions on public health. “Diesel-fueled vehicles emit toxic particles into our communities causing air pollution which directly impacts our children developmentally before they are even born,” she said. “These grants for zero-emission buses are investments in the health and safety of our mothers, babies, and families.”
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will administer the Electric School Bus Grant Program, which is funded through the state’s Clean Energy Fund. The program was authorized by legislation Governor Murphy signed in 2022, dedicating up to $45 million over three years to replace diesel-powered school buses with battery-electric buses and support the installation of charging infrastructure.
Christine Guhl-Sadovy, President of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU), praised the initiative, calling it a landmark step in the state’s clean transportation efforts. “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,” Guhl-Sadovy said.
Health and Environmental Impact of Diesel School Buses
Diesel exhaust contains a range of harmful pollutants, including sulfur dioxide and fine particulate matter, which pose significant risks to children, particularly as their lungs are still developing. The New Jersey DEP has long worked to mitigate these risks by retrofitting more than 7,000 diesel-powered school buses with improved cabin ventilation systems. However, electric school buses represent the next generation of protection, eliminating all emissions.
Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in New Jersey, accounting for 37% of the state’s total emissions. With more than 21,700 school buses currently registered in the state—99% of which run on fossil fuels—electric buses are seen as a crucial step in reducing the environmental and health impacts of school transportation.
Grant Recipients Announced
The grants have been distributed across New Jersey’s northern, central, and southern regions, with 13 recipients in overburdened communities. Among the notable awards, Jackson School District received up to $1.86 million for six electric buses and the installation of three fast charging stations, while Lakewood School District was awarded $1.56 million for five buses and the installation of multiple charging stations.