BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Bethlehem Area School District is competing for more federal grant money for electric school buses, and hopes to get about $2.25 million to buy 10 buses and charging equipment.
Mark Stein, BASD chief facilities and operations officer, said the application was a long shot, similar to a lottery ticket.
"We all buy lottery tickets when they get really big, but someone's got to win and they can't win unless you play," Stein said.
The funding is part of the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean School Bus Program.
It was created by the 2021 infrastructure law and is a five-year, $5 billion program designed to reduce air pollution by helping school districts phase out diesel school buses.
The EPA currently is taking applications for $500 billion in rebates for electric buses, with solicitations due by the end of the month.
Leasing the buses
Under the Bethlehem Area School District proposal, it would buy 10 zero-emission or low-emission vehicles and charging infrastructure at a cost of about $4.5 million, with the EPA funding half.
But instead of the district directly buying the buses, it would turn over the rebate to Highland Electric, which would own and operate the buses.
"It would allow us to not have to put up a, you know, a multimillion dollar upfront expense. It helps with cash flow for us."Mark Stein, Bethlehem Area School District chief facilities and operations officer
The vehicles would be "leased" back to the district over the next 15 years, Stein said.
"It would allow us to not have to put up a, you know, a multimillion dollar upfront expense," he said. "It helps with cash flow for us."
This is the third round of EPA funding. Bethlehem Area and Allentown school districts applied for rebate dollars in previous rounds, but were put on a wait list.
Bethlehem bought the two electric school buses out of a $1 million state grant it got in 2022 for a pilot program. Stein said the charging infrastructure has been built and was ready for use.
