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Bethlehem Central pursues EPA, NYSERDA grants for electric school buses
Summary
District staff told the board the district will submit an EPA Clean School Bus Program application for small electric (Type A) buses by Jan. 14 and will also pursue NYSERDA funding; any award would not obligate purchase.
The Bethlehem Central School District reported it is pursuing federal and state grant funding to reduce the local cost of acquiring small electric school buses.
In the superintendent's report, a district staff member identified as John said the district has started an application to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program for Type A electric buses, which are eligible for up to $115,000 per vehicle. The staff member said the EPA application must be submitted by Jan. 14 and that the district is working with Matthews Buses as a third‑party administrator on the filing.
The staff member said the district could also apply to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) bus initiative. He described the two funds as “stackable,” but said the NYSERDA award value changes if the EPA award is received: “If you win the EPA grant award, NYSERDA drops its grant allocation to no more than 100,000,” he said. He added that NYSERDA’s standalone award for Type A buses can be as much as $161,000.
The district currently has 10 large buses in its fleet, the staff member said, and is exploring whether future purchases could include new Type A electric buses. He emphasized that applying for the grants does not commit the district to buy buses: if a grant is awarded the district would still decide whether to proceed.
Board members asked whether the district would know about any grant awards before a potential bus ballot or budget vote; staff said the EPA decision timetable is unclear and the district would be careful when drafting ballot language to reflect possible grant offsets.
No formal board action was required or taken on the grant applications at the meeting; staff said they would report back during the 2025–26 budget process if awards are received and outline the effect on net local cost.
