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State and federal grant windows coming as PGCPS considers electrification funding
Summary
Maryland Energy Administration said $10 million will be set aside for electric school bus vehicle funding (MHD program) and $2.5 million for supplemental charging infrastructure; MEA's MHD program opens July 1 and closes at the end of September, and EPA has an outstanding RFI on electric school buses with updates expected later in 2026.
Natalie Buschini, program manager at the Maryland Energy Administration, told the work group that the state's electric school bus funding will be administered under the medium‑/heavy‑duty (MHD) zero‑emission vehicle grant program beginning July 1, 2026. Buschini said MEA intends to set aside $10 million for vehicle funding and $2.5 million for supplemental charging infrastructure, but clarified that charger funds are only available to applicants that request vehicle funding.
"The MHD program will have... an incremental cost covered. It will be 75%," Buschini said, noting the MHD program is governed by statute and the incentive level differs from earlier programs that covered a higher share of incremental cost. She said the MHD application will open July 1 and close at the end of September and that the MEA notice of intent lists programs by sector, including transportation, grid and buildings. Separately, presenters said EPA released a request for information earlier in 2026 and that federal updates to the Clean School Bus program were pending later in the year.
District staff and consultants flagged the changes in state program structure as important for planning, particularly because earlier state incentives had been more generous in some formulations. The work group requested that MEA and Pepco provide links and application guidance to support PGCPS planning before the application window opens.
