More Electric Buses Coming To Fairfax County Public Schools With Federal Funds

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Fairfax County Public Schools' electric bus program got a boost with new federal funding.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced FCPS is one of two recipients in Virginia for the EPA’s first Clean School Bus Program’s Grants Competition. FCPS received $16.59 million to buy 42 electric school buses, while Newport News Public Schools received $525,000 to buy 15 propane school buses.

The EPA's grant program, created under President Joe Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is allocating $5 billion of funding to fund clean school buses that improve air quality for students and reduce emissions. The program provides funding for electric buses, compressed natural gas and propane buses that have lower tailpipe emissions than older diesel buses.

"The environmental benefits of these new buses are vitally important to our fight against climate change, but the good news doesn’t stop there," said Rep. Gerry Connolly, whose 11th congressional district includes much of Fairfax County. "Students, staff, and parents who spend time on and around school buses will no longer be exposed to diesel exhaust and other toxins from diesel-powered buses."

FCPS, Virginia's largest school district with nearly 200 schools, already has eight electric buses in operation. The first electric buses resulted from a Dominion Energy grant in 2019 that covered the difference in costs between electric and diesel buses. Dominion Energy also installed and maintains charging infrastructure for the buses. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality provided another grant for 10 more electric buses.

"We are honored and excited to be among the recipients of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Awards," said FCPS Superintendent Michelle Reid. "This recognition not only underscores our commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship but also reflects our ongoing efforts to provide healthier, cleaner transportation for all Fairfax County Public Schools students."

"These awards will greatly assist us in our commitment to achieve a fully zero-emission fleet, aligning with our goal of reducing our carbon footprint and ensuring the highest standards of safety and efficiency in student transportation," added Karl Frisch, the new chair of the Fairfax County School Board. "We thank the EPA for this opportunity and will leverage these resources to make a positive impact on our community and the environment."

Fairfax County's Joint Environmental Task Force, which includes Board of Supervisors and School Board representatives, set a goal of transitioning the FCPS school bus fleet to electric or carbon-neutral by 2035.