EPA Awards Nearly $32 Million for Electric School Buses in Virginia

In addition to Vice President Harris and EPA Administrator Michael Regan’s announcement in Seattle, Washington, the EPA also hosted an announcement on the east coast in Washington, D.C. Students and other attendees of the Washington, D.C. announcement event gather in front of a Thomas C2 Jouley electric school bus.

On Wednesday, October 26, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the Fiscal Year 2022 recipients of the Clean School Bus (CSB) Program rebate competition. Vice President Kamala Harris and EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan made the official announcement in Seattle, Washington among a crowd of schoolchildren, district leaders, and community leaders. The list of recipients included 389 school districts spanning 50 states, Washington, DC, and several Tribes and U.S. territories. The funding – nearly $1 billion – will help school districts purchase over 2,400 clean school buses and charging stations to accelerate the transition to zero-emission vehicles and produce cleaner air in and around schools and communities.

States Awarded 70 or More Electric School Buses:

  1. New York – 184 buses
  2. California – 177 buses
  3. Georgia – 149 buses
  4. South Carolina – 148 buses
  5. Texas – 144 buses
  6. Michigan – 138 buses
  7. Illinois – 123 buses
  8. Louisiana – 111 buses
  9. Mississippi – 96
  10. Pennsylvania – 89
  11. Virginia – 81
  12. Massachusetts – 76 buses
  13. Oklahoma – 74
  14. Wisconsin – 73

How Did Virginia Fare?

Virginia was the 11th most-winning state for number of clean school buses awarded. Fifty-seven Virginia school districts applied for a total of 372 electric school buses. Of those that applied, 12 school districts were selected and awarded 81 electric school buses across the state. Each of the selected school districts were delegated Prioritized Applicants by the EPA, which qualified them for the highest award amounts of up to $375,000 per electric school bus and $20,000 for each electric school bus’s charging system. In total, Virginia received $31,995,000 in funding for electric school buses.

  1. Lynchburg City Public Schools – 25 electric school buses ($9,875,000)
  2. Carroll County Public School s – 20 electric school buses ($7,900,000)
  3. Powhatan County Public Schools – 10 electric school buses ($3,950,000)
  4. Wise County Public Schools – 5 electric school buses ($1,975,000)
  5. Grayson County Public Schools – 4 electric school buses ($1,580,000)
  6. Franklin City Public Schools – 3 electric school buses ($1,185,000)
  7. Charlotte County Public Schools – 3 electric school buses($1,185,000)
  8. Goochland County Public Schools- 3 electric school buses ($1,185,000)
  9. Lee County Public Schools – 2 electric school buses ($790,000)
  10. Galax City Public Schools – 2 electric school buses ($790,000)
  11. Floyd County Public Schools – 2 electric school buses ($790,000)
  12. Nelson County Public Schools – 2 electric school buses ($790,000)

Check out our interactive map of Virginia school districts awarded funding through the Fiscal Year 2022 EPA CSB program.

“Our team was honored to deliver Virginia’s first electric school bus–the Thomas C2 Jouley–in November 2020. Since then we’ve delivered more than 70 Jouley electric school buses across the state and have accumulated more than 500,000 miles. Virginia is certainly leading the charge and with the announcement of the EPA Clean School Bus awards, there will be more than 200 Jouley electric school buses in operation across the state at the end of the 2022-23 school year,” said Caley Edgerly, President & CEO of Sonny Merryman.

What Comes Next?

The next step for school districts awarded funding through the program is to begin purchaseing their new electric school buses. Once school districts have submitted a PO for their order, they can then submit a Payment Request Form for payment through the EPA program.

The EPA has also released a Rebate Wait List. The document includes applicants for the EPA’s 2022 CSB Rebates that were not selected for funding in the initial lottery process. If any 2022 CSB Rebate selectees are deemed ineligible, drop out of the program, or otherwise reduce funding request, then EPA will offer leftover funds to previously unselected applicants provided sufficient time remains in the project period.

Finally,  more applications are under review, and EPA plans to select and announce more awardees in the coming weeks to reach the full $965 million allocated to Fiscal Year 2022 of the program.

Thoughts from Team Sonny

  • If you were awarded funding for electric school buses or plan to apply for the Fiscal Year 2023 EPA CSB program, then it’s time to schedule a Jouley electric school bus demonstration event with your transportation team. During the demonstration, your team will have the opportunity to ride on and even drive Jouley as well as the option for a classroom workshop on all things electric school buses. Contact our team at jouley@sonnymerryman.com to schedule a Jouley electric school bus demonstration.
  • If you weren’t awarded funding, don’t be discouraged! The EPA intends to make additional awards  in the coming weeks in order to spend the full $965M allocated to Fiscal Year 2022. It’s also likely not all awarded funding will be utilized, leading to reallocation of those funds to new awards. In addition, there are many funding programs to make electric school buses a reality for your school division. The below map shows localities awarded Jouley electric school buses through various funding programs. Our team is here to help you navigate and even apply for various funding programs.
  • Whether you’re ready to jump in electrifying your fleet or are just dipping your toes into the pool, now is the time to start learning about electric school buses and charging so you’ll be ready when the time comes. Visit our Jouley webpage to learn all about Virginia’s electric school bus. You’ll find a host of youtube videos, articles, brochures, and other information to help you get started with electric school buses.

What Others Are Saying

  • [News & Advance] Lynchburg to get nearly $10M to buy 25 electric school buses – read more
  • [CBS19 News] School divisions across Virginia, U.S. receive funding for clean-energy school buses – read more
  • [School Bus Fleet] First Clean School Bus Recipients Announced – read more
  • [School Transportation News] EPA Announces Recipients of Clean School Bus Program Rebate Awards – read more
  • [EPA – Region 3 News Release] Biden-Harris Administration Announces $30,810,000 from EPA’s Clean School Bus Program for Virginia School Districts – read more
  • [Electrek] The EPA just awarded $1 billion to 389 school districts for electric school buses – read more

Update (1/31/2023): Amelia County Public Schools was removed from the EPA wait list and awarded one electric school bus with unused program funding.