Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation

California has awarded $500 million in funding to help school districts and educational agencies purchase 1,000 zero-emission school buses and install associated charging infrastructure, reinforcing the state's national leadership in clean school transportation. Administered by nonprofit CALSTART in partnership with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the California Energy Commission (CEC), this initiative targets the communities most impacted by air pollution. Priority was given to rural and underserved districts, with 98 percent of awarded agencies serving low-income or disadvantaged communities. Each grant includes up to $375,000 per bus and up to $95,000 for charging equipment, with the requirement that an old diesel-powered bus be scrapped for every new bus received.

This investment is part of the state’s broader climate and public health strategy, with zero-emission school buses playing a key role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting children from the harmful effects of diesel exhaust. Studies show that despite accounting for less than 10 percent of a child’s day, school bus commutes can contribute up to 33 percent of their daily exposure to air pollutants. The new buses funded through this round of grants are expected to reduce 18,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases annually — equivalent to removing 4,000 cars from the road each year — and will help California meet its goal of 100 percent zero-emission school bus purchases by 2035 (2045 for rural areas).

This latest round of funding builds on over $1.3 billion already invested by the state, resulting in more than 2,300 zero-emission buses funded and over 1,100 already in operation — the majority located in pollution-burdened communities. The transition not only supports California’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045 but also demonstrates a scalable model for clean, equitable, and community-focused infrastructure investments across the country.