Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) is one of 27 Michigan school districts getting brand-new electric school buses, courtesy of the latest round of grants from the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s 2023 Clean School Bus Program rebate competition.

According to a Wednesday announcement from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), the latest round of rebates “will help 27 selected schools and districts in Michigan buy 97 buses powered by electricity and three powered by propane.” Those 100 buses add up to $23.98 million – part of a broader $900 million worth of grants just issued nationwide.

TCAPS will get $200,000 for one electric bus.

The Clean School Bus Program rebate competition was established by President Joe Biden’s 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which earmarked $5 billion in funding “to transform the nation’s fleet of school buses.” Per EGLE, prior to the passage of that law, “Michigan had just 17 electric school buses” out of its 17,000-bus fleet.

Pictured: EGLE Director Phil Roos and others with the Pellston School District's new electric school bus; photo taken last fall (courtesy of EGLE)