Connecticut Clean School Bus Program
The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Clean School Bus (CSB) Rebates Program provides funding to replace existing school buses with zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) and low-emission models. With funding from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Public Law 117-58 (Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, "BIL"), the EPA CSB Rebates Program has increased funding by $5 billion over the next five years (fiscal years 2022-2026). In addition to offering rebates for school bus replacement, the EPA CSB Rebates Program provides a limited amount of funding for infrastructure upgrades necessary to install charging equipment for the buses.
Additionally, Section 13 of Public Act No. 22-25 authorizes DEEP to establish a grant program to provide supplemental funds necessary for municipalities, school districts and school bus operators to submit federal grant applications, for the purpose of funding projects for electric school buses and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. This supplemental grant program is intended to pay for a portion of the incremental cost of zero-emission school buses not covered by EPA funding. The DEEP program will also provide supplemental grants to EPA CSB Rebates Program awardees for infrastructure upgrades.
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Current Clean School Bus Funding Opportunities
DEEP Clean School Bus Request For Applications
Clean School Bus Supplemental Grant Program
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is pleased to announce a Request for Applications (RFA) to support Clean School Bus projects in Connecticut. This RFA makes supplemental funding available in coordination with the Connecticut Green Bank’s Low Interest Financing Request for Proposals. Recipients of previously awarded federal ESB grant funds are highly encouraged to apply. Applications for both programs are required to be submitted by the extended deadline of January 10, 2025. Please see the RFA for information regarding eligibility, terms and conditions, and ranking criteria.
Priority will be given to projects planned or proposed in Connecticut Distressed Municipalities and Federal Low-Income and Disadvantaged Communities. More information on these communities is provided in the RFA.
Necessary Forms:
Additional Materials:
If you have any questions about the DEEP forms, please email DEEP.MobileSources@ct.gov with the subject "DEEP Clean School Bus RFA Question.”
To the extent resources are available, DEEP can provide assistance to entities and individuals seeking to apply for these grants:2024 Clean School Bus Rebate Informational Webinar
An informational webinar for the 2024 CSB Grant Program was held on Tuesday, October 1, 2024. The webinar recording and presentation are available below.
EPA has organized a number of information sessions and webinars regarding the 2024 CSB Rebate. To view recordings/slides from these sessions, or for access to future sessions, please visit: EPA Clean School Bus Webinars.
2024 EPA Clean School Bus Program Rebate
On September 26, 2024, EPA announced the latest 2024 Clean School Bus Rebate Program. Like EPA’s previous Clean School Bus funding rounds, funding will be for the replacement of older Diesel bus models with electric, propane, or compressed natural gas (CNG) bus models that will produce zero or low tailpipe emissions compared to their Diesel predecessors. Eligible applicants for this funding opportunity are (1) state and local governmental entities that provide bus services; (2) charter school districts, (3) Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, or Tribally controlled schools, (4) nonprofit school transportation associations, and (5) eligible contractors (including OEMs, dealers, school bus service providers, and private bus fleets).
EPA will provide a combined funding amount to cover both bus and infrastructure costs for all awardees requesting electric school buses. EPA is prioritizing applications that will replace buses serving high-need local education agencies, Tribal school districts funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs or those receiving basic support payments for students living on Tribal land, and rural areas (Priority Districts).
Note: The application package submission deadline is January 10, 2025, at 4:00 PM (ET).
- 2024 EPA CSB Rebate Program Overview
- 2024 EPA CSB Rebate Program Notice of Funding Opportunity
- 2024 EPA CSB Rebate Program Questions and Answers
- 2024 EPA CBBS Rebate Program Guide
Other Resources
2023 EPA Clean School Bus Rebates Program
The 2023 EPA CSB Rebates Program is expected to be announced in the fall of 2023. This program will fund activities similar to those funded through the 2023 EPA CSB Program Grants, with a shorter application, different selection mechanism, and different program requirements.
EPA Awarded Clean School Bus Program Rebates
2023 Clean School Bus Matching Grant Program
DEEP is authorized to provide supplemental grants to EPA's 2022 CSB Rebates Program awardees and 2023 CSB Program Grant awardees. Check back soon for more information on this grant opportunity.
Other EPA Grant Opportunities
EPA's Boston office provides information regarding grants and funding in New England on its website.
In addition, EPA maintains a listing of open announcements for grants, fellowships, and other funding for environmental projects.
Clean Cities Grant Programs
Your organization may be able to take advantage of incentive and financial opportunities for reducing petroleum use in your fleet of vehicles.
World Research Institute Resources
Electric School Bus Initiative
Technical Assistance Request Form
Ongoing Clean School Bus Projects
2022 EPA Clean School Bus Rebates Program
CT Projects Selected for 2022 Funding:
- Connecticut Technical Education and Career System: up to $7,625,000.00 toward the replacement of 25 school buses with EV equivalents and EV charging infrastructure.
- Regional School District No. 1: up to $395,000.00 toward the replacement of one school bus with an EV equivalent and EV charging infrastructure.
- Cornwall School District: up to $395,000.00 toward the replacement of one school bus with an EV equivalent and EV charging infrastructure.
- Sharon School District: up to $395,000.00 toward the replacement of one school bus with an EV equivalent and EV charging infrastructure.
Archive of Completed Clean School Bus Projects
The following is a compilation of all projects completed utilizing Clean School Bus funding. For information on some of DEEP's other diesel initiatives, please visit our Diesel Emissions Reduction Projects (DERA) webpage.
2023 EPA Clean School Bus Program Grants
Awardees have not been announced.
2022 EPA Clean School Bus Rebates Program and Connecticut Clean School Bus Matching Grant Program
All projects are currently ongoing.
Links to Additional Resources
- WRI Assistance Website (Talk To an Expert | Electric School Bus Initiative)
- Clean Cities
- Register for the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Electric School Bus Working Group, a series of interactive meetings for school districts in EPA Regions 1, 2, and 3. Participants receive funding opportunity updates, gain insights from industry experts about market trends, and communicate with peers during the working group meetings.
- Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Clean School Bus Program
- EPA Clean School Bus Program
Archived Links and Resources
- EPA Clean School Bus Program Fact Sheet
- 2022 EPA Clean School Bus Rebates Program Overview Flyer
- 2022 EPA Clean School Bus (CSB) Rebates Program Guide (May 2022)
- 2022 EPA Clean School Bus Rebates: Questions and Answers (February 2023)
- 2022 Clean School Bus Inventory Sheet (xlsx)
- 2022 Clean School Bus Rebates - Prioritized School Districts (May 2022)
- 2022 EPA Clean School Bus Rebates: Application User Guide (May 2022)
- 2022 EPA Clean School Bus Rebate Next Steps Flyer (October 2022)
- 2022 Awarded Clean School Bus Program Rebates | US EPA
- 2022 EPA Clean School Bus Rebates: Payment Request User Guide (November 2022)
Content last updated December 20, 2024