NJDEP Also Announces First NJ Fleet Advisor Participants

TRENTON – In celebration of National Drive Electric Week, Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette on Oct 3rd, announced the first-round award of $15 million in grants for local purchases of 48 electric school buses in New Jersey, marking the state’s first comprehensive commitment of funding for these zero-emission buses that will better protect the health of schoolchildren and communities. National Drive Electric Week is a weeklong outreach event to raise awareness and educate the public on the availability and benefits of all-electric and hybrid vehicles.

In addition to funding for bus purchases, the Commissioner announced the first participants in the New Jersey Fleet Advisor program, a free service that provides experts from DEP’s contractor CALSTART to help any New Jersey fleets operating 20 or fewer vehicles develop a plan to transition their medium- and heavy-duty trucks to zero-emission electric trucks, with a focus on fleets in overburdened communities. Fleets that may benefit from this program include small school districts, charter schools, sanitation programs, EMS squads, municipal utilities authorities, refrigerated goods movement, local shuttles, and delivery services.

“It is our responsibility as elected officials to ensure that the vehicles carrying our children to school do not adversely affect their health outcomes as they grow. That’s why my Administration has dedicated $30 million to date to ensuring that those vehicles are powered by clean energy,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “These grants are a testament to my Administration’s continued commitment to environmental justice, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, vehicle electrification, and the protection of families from harmful pollution.”

“Diesel-fueled vehicles emit toxic particles into our communities causing air pollution which directly impacts our children developmentally before they are even born,” said First Lady Tammy Murphy. “These grants for zero-emission buses are investments in the health and safety of our mothers, babies and families.”

“Children, whose lungs are still developing, are most vulnerable to the harmful health effects of poor air quality, yet millions of them are transported to and from school every day in buses that release harmful diesel emissions,” said Commissioner LaTourette. “It is critical that our school buses be equipped with the latest technology to protect them. The DEP congratulates grant recipients for their commitment to the health of our children and looks forward to helping school districts and fleet operators as we work together to grow the use of electric school buses and trucks.”

The Administration’s Electric School Bus Grant Program is administered by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and is funded through the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities’ Clean Energy Fund. It was authorized by legislation Governor Phil Murphy signed in 2022 to provide up to $45 million in funding over three years to replace diesel school buses with battery-electric school buses. The program also funds the installation of charging infrastructure.

“The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities is proud to support the DEP’s ground-breaking Electric School Bus Program, which advances the Murphy Administration’s efforts to make clean transportation more accessible across the Garden State,” said NJBPU President Christine Guhl-Sadovy. “For decades to come, these awards will help improve air quality and public health among our most vulnerable neighbors, including children and residents in overburdened communities.”

Health and Environmental Harm Caused by Diesel School Buses

Diesel exhaust contains multiple pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide and fine particulate matter, as well as compounds, such as formaldehyde, that are classified as toxic. Fine particulate matter in diesel exhaust can be especially harmful. Smaller than 1 micron in diameter, these particulates can penetrate deep into the lungs, leading to decreased lung function, increased asthma severity and increased risk of lung cancer. Children, whose lungs are still developing, breathe at faster rates than adults, making them more susceptible to these health risks.

Over the years, the DEP has assisted school districts with retrofitting and/or upgrading diesel-powered school buses to better protect students. The DEP succeeded in having more than 7,000 school buses retrofitted with upgraded cabin ventilation systems that prevent diesel fumes from entering the buses each time the door opened. Electric school buses represent the next generation of protection by eliminating all emissions from buses.

As the state’s first comprehensive effort to help school districts and operators make the switch to electric school buses, the Electric School Bus Grant program will ultimately lead to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions that fuel global warming and worsen the impacts of climate change.

Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the state, making up 37 percent of all emissions. Of the 21,700 school buses registered in New Jersey, more than 99 percent run on fossil fuels. While providing vital transportation services, these buses negatively impact the health of students and residents of the communities in which they operate.

Electric School Bus Grant Recipients

Grant recipients are distributed across the northern, central, and southern regions of the state, including 13 in overburdened communities. There are nine direct awards to schools and school districts and five awards to bus contractors serving New Jersey schools. DEP congratulates the following recipients: 

Beloved Charter School has been awarded up to $1,280,000 for four school buses and four fast charging stations through their contractor Highland Electric

Berkeley Heights has been awarded up to $580,000 for two school buses and two fast charging stations

Christina Seix Academy has been awarded up to $640,000 for two school buses and two level two charging stations

Egg Harbor Township has been awarded up to $640,000 for two school buses and two fast charging stations through their contractor Electra School Bus Company

Garfield Public School District has been awarded up to $640,000 for two school buses and two fast charging stations

Haddonfield School District has been awarded up to $580,000 for two school buses and two fast charging stations through their contractor Highland Electric

Hudson County School District has been awarded up to $1,600,000 for five school buses and five fast charging stations

Jackson School District has been awarded up to $1,860,000 for six school buses, three level two charging stations and three fast charging stations.

Lakewood School District has been awarded up to $1,560,000 for five school buses, two level two charging stations and three fast charging stations

Pleasantville has been awarded up to $640 000 for two school buses and two fast charging stations their contractor Electra School Bus Company

Princeton Public School District has been awarded up to $620,000 for two school buses, one level two charging station and one fast charging station

Readington Township Public Schools has been awarded up to $640,000 for two school buses and two fast charging stations

Summit Public Schools has been awarded up to $1,280,000 for four school buses and four fast charging stations

United Academy of Union has been awarded up to $2,500,000 for eight school buses, three level two charging stations and five fast charging stations through their contractor Kehilas Union

New Jersey Fleet Advisor

With the launch of the New Jersey Fleet Advisor Program, DEP has partnered with the nonprofit organization CALSTART to provide free technical assistance to help medium- and heavy-duty fleets plan for electrification. The educational program aims to help fleets navigate key decisions around transitioning to zero emission vehicles by providing help with vehicle recommendations, cost projections, on-site infrastructure assessments, and more. Participants are not required to purchase zero-emission vehicles as part of this program.

During its first round, the program will provide free technical assistance to 15 New Jersey fleets interested in learning how to transition to zero-emission vehicles. Applications for priority consideration were due August 15, 2024, however, the program will continue to accept applications on a rolling basis until spaces are filled. 

“CALSTART is thrilled to partner with NJDEP to bring personalized fleet assistance to small fleets in New Jersey,” said Jennifer Kritzler, Regional Deputy Director, Northeast, CALSTART. “We truly believe that working one-on-one is the best way to meet fleets’ needs as they begin to think about what the zero-emission vehicle transition means for them.” 

DEP congratulates the following recipients that were selected to receive technical assistance under the initial round of New Jersey Fleet Advisor program: 

Charged Up Electric will participate with their electrical service vehicles in Mountainside

Lakeland Emergency Squad will participate with their emergency medical service vehicles in Byram Township

Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority will participate with their municipal service vehicles in Wharton

Prudential will participate with their employee shuttles in Newark

City of New Brunswick - Division of Sanitation Inspections will participate with their municipal service vehicles in New Brunswick

Rachles/Michele's Oil Co. Inc. will participate with their fuel delivery vehicles in Clifton

Alliance Transportation LLC will participate with their passenger vans and shuttle buses in New Brunswick

Creative Staging Associates will participate with their local pickup and delivery vehicles in Pennsauken

Sussexpress LLC will participate with their passenger vans and shuttle buses in Spart

Supreme Green Team will participate with their cargo vans in East Brunswick

Atlantic County Utilities Authority will participate with their heavy-duty trucks in Vineland

Passaic County Paratransit will participate with their paratransit vehicles in Passaic County

Borough of Bay Head will participate with their public works vehicles in Bay Head

This program was developed in direct response to fleet concerns regarding knowledge gaps about zero-emission vehicles, evaluating charging needs, securing incentives, and engagement with utilities, manufacturers, and permitting authorities. By working directly with fleets, the program seeks to spur zero-emission vehicle adoption and achieve the state’s climate and health goals.