The Day After the Board of Education Voted on an Electric Bus Deal, MD Energy Admin Announced Award of $817,000 to Winning Bidder.

Press Release:  

New Maryland Clean Fuels Incentive Program “Greens” Transportation Sector $1.3 Million Awarded to Five Organizations; Largest Electric School Bus Deployment

February 24, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kaymie Owen, CMP
kaymie.owen@maryland.gov 443-694- 3651

Baltimore, MD – The Clean Fuels Incentive Program (CFIP)​, created and managed by the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA), supports both the purchase of fleet alternative fuel vehicles and funding to expand the state’s alternative fueling infrastructure and reduce greenhouse gas emissions via proven technology. The CFIP is designed to permanently “green” Maryland’s transportation profile, which will improve air quality by reducing consumption of fossil fuels. The fiscal year 2021 (FY21) CFIP awards of $1.3M will fund an array of clean fuel projects across the state, including one of the largest electric school bus deployments in the country.

“The Clean Fuels Incentive Program expands Maryland’s alternative transportation sector and benefits both our environment and economy,” began Dr. Mary Beth Tung, MEA Director. “With this program, we bring Maryland the first electric school buses and first electric step vans, plus add emission-reduced propane vehicles and build upon our electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.” 

Highland Electric Transportation (HET) provides electric school bus services, including acquisition, vehicle financing, maintenance, fueling/charging, and charge equipment management to school districts across the country. HET will use their FY21 award of $817,000 to purchase 19 electric school buses, one of the largest deployments of electric school buses in the U.S., that will be used by the Montgomery County Public School district. Use of these electric busses is expected to displace over 520,000 gallons of petroleum and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50% over the lifetime of the buses.

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The transportation sector is responsible for the majority of Maryland’s greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Maryland Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Act Plan. Efforts like CFIP help reduce emissions while also reducing fuel and maintenance costs for fleets. The FY21 CFIP is a competitive program that was fully subscribed in its first year. Click here to learn more about CFIP. 

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The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) advises the governor and general assembly on all energy matters, promoting affordable, reliable and cleaner energy. MEA develops and administers programs and policy to support and expand all sectors of the state’s economy while benefiting all Marylanders and implementing legislation. For more information about the Maryland Energy Administration, visit www.Energy.Maryland.gov and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

https://news.maryland.gov/mea/2021/02/24/new-maryland-clean-fuels-incentive-program-greens-transportation-sector-1-3-million-awarded-to-five-organizations-largest-electric-school-bus-deployment/