WORCESTER – Monday, March 4, 2024 – Today, local, state, and national officials gathered to celebrate Worcester Public Schools (WPS) being awarded a $5.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection (EPA) to purchase 15 electric school buses.
An electric school bus picked up students from the Lincoln Street Elementary School and Worcester Technical High School, who were brought to the event. Ella Mason, a grade 12 environmental technology student from Worcester Tech, gave a speech about the impact of electric buses on the environment.
“The implementation of this work will have an impact on thousands of students,” Mason said. “Our generation wants to be a part of this change, and we are more than enthusiastic to be a part of it.”
Among those in attendance were U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey, U.S. Congressman James McGovern, WPS Superintendent Rachel Monárrez, Mayor Joseph Petty, City Manager Eric Batista, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bonnie Heiple, and EPA Regional Administrator David Cash.
The funding Worcester Public Schools received is part of the EPA’s $5 billion Clean School Bus Program, created by President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The school buses that will be funded under these grants will significantly reduce exposure to air emissions of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter that cause health impacts to children such as the increased risk of asthma and other respiratory illnesses.
WPS is now in its second year of operating school bus transportation completely in-house, and no longer relies on third-party contractors. In its first year, complaints from parents dropped 76% (843 complaints in 2021-22 vs. 203 in 2022-23). In addition, the district saved $3.5 million.
The WPS Transportation Department has a strong partnership with MassHire to recruit and pay to train new drivers. In the past 18 months, 72 new drivers have begun working for WPS due to this partnership.
“With the help of our federal and state partners, Worcester Public Schools is once again at the forefront of the evolution in school transportation,” said Rachel H. Monárrez, PhD, Superintendent of the Worcester Public Schools. “Our district is now in its second year of having school bus operations completely in-house. Because of this, we can work with the EPA to reduce our carbon footprint. We are laying the foundation for a more environmentally friendly fleet that grows our economy and has a positive health impact on our community.”
The introduction of electric buses also marks a step forward in meeting the City of Worcester’s Green Worcester Plan, which aims to make Worcester one of the most sustainable and climate-resilient mid-sized cities in America by 2050. The electric buses are anticipated to be in use in WPS in fiscal year 2026.
“I am so grateful for the hard work done by our federal delegation, the EPA, and the Worcester Public Schools to ensure that our scholars have access to cleaner, more efficient transportation,” said Mayor Joseph Petty. “This grant will allow us to further our mission with the Green Worcester Plan by reducing carbon emissions on Worcester’s streets.”
“The City of Worcester is thrilled to add 15 electric school buses to its fleet. The move to electric vehicle fleets aligns with the Green Worcester Plan and is essential as we face an ever-growing climate crisis,” said City Manager Eric D. Batista. “As a municipality, we need to always be looking at ways to decrease and offset our carbon footprint. This acquisition is a major step forward for the Worcester Public Schools, which has done a great job with its in-house transportation services. We extend our gratitude to the EPA and our federal delegation for their support in advancing our sustainability efforts and prioritizing the health of our students.”
The transition to low- and zero-emission vehicles improves air quality for children and their families and advances environmental justice, all while boosting the economy and creating good-paying jobs. Air pollution from older diesel engines is linked to asthma and other conditions that harm students’ health and can cause them to miss school.
“More parents in Worcester can send their kids to school with confidence knowing they will ride on a pollution-free bus thanks to this EPA Clean School Bus Award,” said Congressman James P. McGovern. “School bus exhaust fumes can have a debilitating effect on communities, increasing the risk of kids developing asthma and releasing greenhouse gasses that worsen climate change. This funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law means more efficient, cost-saving buses can hit the road.”
While the purchase cost of an electric school bus remains higher than a gasoline-powered bus, at about $400,000 and $130,000 respectively, the cost of electric buses continues to decline. In addition, maintenance costs of electric buses are much lower than gas buses, at about $0.20 per mile for electric buses vs. $1 per mile for gas buses, resulting in thousands of dollars in savings per vehicle every year.
In addition to funding the purchase of 15 electric buses, the EPA grant will allow WPS to install electric vehicle charging stations at the bus yard. Additional grant funding from the Mass. Clean Energy Center will also support the infrastructure.
The federal Clean School Bus Program prioritized districts in low-income, rural, and/or Tribal communities to make up approximately 86% of the projects selected for funding. The program delivers on President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved and overburdened by pollution.
“By prioritizing electric buses, we’re not just reducing emissions, we’re tackling environmental injustices, ensuring every child, regardless of zip code, breathes clean air and has a healthier future. In Worcester, the air will be cleaner, and kids will not be breathing in fumes that will give them asthma attacks or increase the chance of future health problems,” said EPA Regional Administrator David Cash. “Phasing out older diesel engines, which disproportionately affect communities of color and Tribal communities, ensures cleaner air for students, bus drivers, school staff working near bus loading areas, and the communities the buses drive each day.”
“After years of fighting for investments in clean energy, I’m glad that we are able to deliver federal funding for a fleet of new electric school buses in Massachusetts. With this funding, we can reduce health risks from air pollution, boost domestic manufacturing while creating good-paying jobs in the process, and fight the climate crisis for the next generation. This is a big win for our communities, and I will keep fighting for more of these investments,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren.
“This new funding for clean school buses from the Biden administration is going to help keep our communities and children safe from pollution, while creating a more livable future for Worcester students and residents all across Massachusetts and our country,” said Senator Edward Markey. “We fought hard to include this funding in the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and I thank the EPA for enabling Massachusetts to continue down the road to cleaner air.”
“The Healey-Driscoll Administration is committed to fostering the transition to electric vehicles across Massachusetts. Particularly important are older diesel school buses, which not only contribute to greenhouse gas emissions but also directly affect some of our most vulnerable residents: children,” said Commissioner Bonnie Heiple of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. “We are grateful for the federal investment in electric buses that will help students in Worcester, Fall River, and New Bedford breathe easier with every ride to and from school.”