Posted on 10/30/24
| News Source: WMAR2NEWS
Baltimore, MD - Oct. 30, 2024 - State officials are looking to give out $3 million for school systems to buy electric school buses.
It's part of the new Electric School Bus Grant Program, seeking to revamp Maryland's fleet of diesel-powered buses.
Only about 5 percent of Maryland's school buses are currently electric-powered.
The state has 8,000-10,000 total school buses (according to a 2023 report), and roughly 400 are electric, said MDE.
The Maryland Department of the Environment announced that it's now accepting applications for the $3 million in state grants. MDE is also now taking public comments for a program to give an additional $17 million for electric school buses.
Nine Maryland school districts currently have electric buses.
Baltimore City and Montgomery County are "leading the way," MDE said in a press release.
Baltimore City added 25 electric buses last year, while Montgomery County added 120.
MDE Secretary Serena McIlwain noted in a statement that "transportation accounts for more than 40 percent of our greenhouse gas emissions, so it is critical to support clean technology to decrease air pollution."