BOSTON — The Patrick administration is promoting an electric school bus pilot program as part of a renewed push to support alternative fuel vehicles in Massachusetts.
As part of the initiative, the administration will provide $1.8 million in grants for eight electric school buses. Districts across the state can apply for one of the buses.
Electric school buses have energy storage capability and can also serve as backup energy resources during natural disasters and similar events.
The administration is also pushing to increase the number of publicly accessible charging stations and to replace or convert more than 200 public and private fleet vehicles currently powered by gasoline and diesel with vehicles fueled by natural gas, propane, electricity, solar electric and hybrid technologies.
The ongoing push for electric cars is intended to help ease reliance on fossil fuels.
Early last month, Patrick announced new investments and grants for three programs supporting alternative fuel vehicles.
“The Patrick administration is committed to deploying innovative strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, bolster our energy independence and grow the Commonwealth’s clean energy economy,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan. “These programs will help to accomplish our statewide goals while saving our municipalities and businesses money.”
The idea for this initiative was born in June of 2013, when Sullivan attended the Clinton Global Initiative in Chicago and the idea of electric buses came up in discussion.
In a statement received from the EEA Tuesday, the organization said it is not yet accepting applicants, but has been taking questions and inquiries from communities looking to gather more information. The EEA hopes to have applications available at some point within the next month.
The grant program was made available, and is being administered, by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) and funded with $11.7 million in Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration.
The DOER will be soliciting project proposals during the next few months.
“Massachusetts continues to be a proving ground for innovative technology and strategies,” said DOER Commissioner Mark Sylvia. “We’re accelerating adoption of cleaner vehicles throughout Massachusetts to reduce harmful pollutants and promote a more sustainable environment for future generations.”
The electric bus grants from the DOER are being used in partnership with the Clinton Global Initiative’s ongoing EV V2G School Bus Demonstration.
“By taking this step, Massachusetts is joining the ranks of cutting-edge jurisdictions that recognize the important role EV school buses can play not only in cleaning up pupil transportation but in the electrification of the broader transportation sector,” said Stephen H. Crolius, the co-director of the Vehicle to Grid Electric School Bus Project.
The Patrick administration is also investing an additional $2 million in additional funding to the Massachusetts Electric Vehicle Incentive Program, which is operated by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, for a second round of incentives for municipalities to acquire electric vehicles and install charging stations.
“Electric vehicles are a priority as we work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet the aggressive emission reductions set under the Global Warming Solution Act,” said MassDEP Commissioner Kenneth Kimmell. “The transportation sector accounts for roughly one-third of the greenhouse gases emitted in Massachusetts, so the deployment of more electric-battery and plug-in hybrid vehicles is an important step toward helping the Commonwealth achieve our ambitious goals.”
Under MassEVIP Phase 2, eligible applicants include municipalities, state agencies, car-share companies, and public universities and colleges, with up to $7,500 per electric vehicle and up to $15,000 per publicly accessible charging station available to eligible entities.
The deadline for submitting applications is February 14, 2014.
The first phase of MassEVIP grants, totaling just over $500,000, were awarded last month to 20 municipalities statewide to acquire 47 electric vehicles and install 17 duel-head electric charging stations.
“These investments signify the ongoing support of sustainable transportation initiatives at all levels of government,” said David Mohler, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s deputy secretary for policy. “Our partners within the Patrick administration, in the federal government and at the local level are making great strides to increase the use of alternative fuel vehicles in accordance with our GreenDOT policy to reduce emissions, promote healthy transportation, and support smart growth.”
While Gov. Patrick’s green energy ambitions have been no secret during his tenure on Beacon Hill, Westfield Mayor and School Committee Chairman Daniel M. Knapik said that this is just being brought to his attention, though he couldn’t give a definitive answer as to whether the city would pursue an application.
“It’s my very first time hearing it,” he said Wednesday. “However, we do vend out our buses, so we’d need to speak with the vendor.”
Knapik also hinted that Westfield Gas and Electric may be examining the prospect of siting alternative fueling stations in the city.
“As we go through renovations to the gaslight district, the G&E is looking at siting electric and L&G fueling stations,” he said.
