More Than Two Dozen School Districts Get Clean Bus Energy Grants

Final $44M of $125M Awarded to Promote Healthier Air Quality by Converting Diesel Vehicles

LANSING – Students will benefit as 27 Michigan school districts have been awarded nearly $44 million from the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) Clean Bus Energy Grant program. The program’s final round is part of an effort designed to replace older, diesel school buses with cleaner ones. 

Funded through Section 74b of the 2024 State School Aid Act, the program has awarded $125 million to Michigan schools resulting in approximately 322 electric and 54 propane school buses. This action effectively removed 376 diesel buses from operation.

Michigan’s Clean Bus Energy Grant program has reduced harmful emissions and promoted healthier air quality by converting older, diesel school buses to low or no greenhouse gas emission buses (propane or electric) as determined by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). 

“Throughout my administration, Michigan’s Clean School Bus program helped districts across our state buy and use clean school buses to take kids to school safely and keep the air in and around our schools cleaner,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “I’m proud of the work we’ve done to provide 100 school districts with 376 clean buses. In Michigan, we also passed a historic energy law to create jobs, lower energy costs, and grow clean, renewable energy across our state. Let’s keep working together to protect our air, land, and water for future generations.”

State Superintendent Dr. Glenn Maleyko said the grants are another example of putting Students First. 

“Our students deserve to travel to and from school in buses that are best for our local school districts and our environment,” Maleyko said. “The Clean Bus Energy Grant program helps us move toward Goal 3 in Michigan’s Top 10 Strategic Education Plan, to improve the health, safety and wellness of all learners.”

Award letters have been distributed to school districts, and funds were disbursed in the February state aid payment. Other leaders are excited about the news:

• “Transitioning our school bus fleets to cleaner technologies is not just about replacing vehicles—it’s about building a mobility system that works for families and communities across Michigan,” said Justine Johnson, Michigan’s chief mobility officer. “Through the MI Future Mobility Plan 2.0, we are committed to ensuring that sustainable transportation solutions are accessible, reliable and equitable across urban, suburban and rural communities alike. Programs like the Clean Bus Energy Grant demonstrate how we can align environmental progress, infrastructure investment and economic opportunity to deliver mobility solutions that improve quality of life while strengthening Michigan’s leadership in the future of transportation.”

• “Commitments including the Clean Bus Energy Grants to invest in more environmentally friendly buses protect Michigan students, schools and communities,” said EGLE Director Phil Roos. “Together, we’re improving air quality, freeing up schools to invest in the classroom, advancing clean energy goals in the MI Healthy Climate Plan and accelerating the transition to a healthier future for all Michiganders.”

• “We have enjoyed supporting school districts as they receive funds to transition their fleets from older, dirtier diesel buses to cleaner, quieter, newer models,” said Kindra Weid, coordinator of the It’s Electric Coalition. “This is a win for schools, kids, drivers, mechanics and the surrounding community. We know change comes with challenges, but these buses are worth the effort. School districts across Michigan are experiencing lower maintenance costs, quieter rides and improved air quality as a result of their efforts pioneering new technology.”

With this final round of funding, an additional 99 electric school buses and 10 propane school buses will be added to school bus fleets across the state. These cleaner school buses offer low/no tailpipe pollution, reduced maintenance costs for districts and improved air quality for children. Most importantly, over 100 of Michigan’s oldest and dirtiest diesel buses will no longer be exposing children, drivers and communities to harmful diesel exhaust.

The grant program proved to be a successful mechanism for districts to upgrade their buses when transportation funds are often limited and gaps remain after federal funding programs, such as the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program, have decreased the amount of funding per electric school bus with each subsequent round and have been unpredictable in their timing. 

The school districts awarded grant funding for this final round are: 

•         Ann Arbor Public Schools: $5,030,000.
•         Athens Area Schools $689,477.
•         Britton Deerfield Schools $3,371,462.
•         Brown City Community Schools $124,000.
•         Cadillac Area Public Schools $444,000.
•         Chippewa Valley Schools $3,790,951.
•         Comstock Public Schools $300,000.
•         Holt Public Schools $4,436,505.
•         Howell Public Schools $4,220,000.
•         Hudsonville Public School District $347,843.
•         Jefferson Schools $2,633,103.
•         Kearsley Community School District $1,194,631.
•         Kentwood Public Schools $792,662.
•         Livonia Community Schools $385,132.
•         Madison District Public Schools $1,993,181.
•         Manchester Community Schools $1,201,171.
•         Parchment School District $545,065.
•         Peck Community Schools $73,705.
•         Pentwater Public School District $817,704.
•         Pontiac City School District $3,620,609.
•         Riverview Community School District $45,000.
•         Royal Oak Schools $4,450,005.
•         Sand Creek Community Schools $212,722.
•         Tekonsha Community Schools $839,402.
•         Union City Community Schools $480,000.
•         Vanderbilt Area Schools $419,255.
•         Zeeland Public Schools $1,471,812.

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