EPA Announces $5 Billion for Electric School Buses as Boston Commits to Full Fleet by 2030

BOSTON — July 20, 2026 — EPA commits $5 billion to electric school buses as Boston orders first 20 electric vehicles. EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe announced the $5 billion national rebate program — drawn from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law — at an outdoor press conference at New Mission High School in Hyde Park on July 20, with $500 million available immediately. Mayor Michelle Wu confirmed that Boston's first 20 all-electric school buses have been officially ordered and are expected for next school year, with a goal of fully electrifying the city's fleet of roughly 700 buses — half of which still run on diesel — by 2030. "Zero-emission school buses, I am convinced, can and will be the American standard," McCabe said. BPS Director of Transportation Delivren Stanislaus said his department will apply for all available EPA funding and is already working with Eversource to plan charging infrastructure at the city's three bus yards. Wu also cited last week's launch of a $2 billion Green New Deal for Boston Public Schools targeting facility upgrades at more than 120 school buildings.