PGE Electric School Bus Fund
Helping schools drive clean
PGE is excited to once again partner with public school districts in our service area to help bring electric school buses to Oregon. Using funding from the Oregon Clean Fuels Program 
, thanks to PGE customers who charge their EVs at home, PGE will pay for the incremental cost of an electric school bus and charging infrastructure.
How the Electric School Bus Fund works
Eligible project types include:
Public school districts wholly or partially located in PGE’s service area
Transportation contractors can apply in partnership with the school district they serve (may be more than one)
Previous grant recipients may apply again if they are 2020-2022 awardees and their electric bus has been ordered or if they are 2023 awardees and their award agreement has been signed. A school district may be awarded a maximum of ten buses over five years. While applications will be evaluated holistically, preference will be given to new applicants over repeat awardees
Preference is given to projects:
Interest in exploring school bus fleet electrification
Strong demonstration of feasibility of timeline, budget, and project team
Commitment to engaging community, school, and/or other stakeholders in the project
Interest in using the electric bus in curriculum development around STEM, climate and/or sustainability
District commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion with the electric bus directly serving that purpose by impacting underserved communities
School districts that take advantage of other funding mechanisms
Funding timeline and process
Based on feedback from school districts, we have shifted our 2024 Electric School Bus Fund application cycle to earlier in the year to better align with the academic calendar and district planning process. We recognize this is a transition from previous years and is a reflection of our commitment to continuously improve this program based on customer feedback.
Applications open September 22, 2023 and interested school districts must submit complete applications by December 1, 2023, at 5pm PST. PGE aims to have funding decisions made by end of March 2024 with buses on the road September 2025, 18 months after signing the funding agreement and for the start of the school year.
ESB applicants will complete an online grant application .
This is an open and competitive application process. Applications will be reviewed and evaluated by a third party, in accordance with established evaluation criteria. Award funding is limited and will differ from project to project based on applicant request and available funding.
Key milestones
Date | September 22, 2023 |
|---|---|
Milestone | PGE begins accepting applications online |
Date | December 1, 2023 |
Milestone | Application closes at 5 p.m. PST |
Date | March 2024 |
Milestone | Funding decisions announced |
Date | September 2025 |
Milestone | Buses arrive for school year and National Drive Electric Week |
Applying to the Electric School Bus Fund
View our list of resources below. We’re here to answer any questions you have at ElectricSchoolBus@pgn.com.
If your application is selected, PGE will provide:
The incremental cost of electric school buses (the difference in cost between the traditional bus and the electric bus).
School districts can apply for up to three electric school buses. Final number of buses awarded depends on selection criteria and funds available.
Optional funding for the electric bus charger of your choosing from the list of qualified chargers and associated infrastructure costs.
Applicants are encouraged to explore PGE’s Fleet Partner program as an infrastructure planning option.
First time awardees that are not participating in PGE’s Fleet Partner program, will be eligible to receive up to $150,000 in infrastructure funding.
Repeat awardees and participants in PGE’s Fleet Partner program will be eligible to receive up to $25,000 in infrastructure funding.
ESB applicants will complete an online grant application
.
2023 Electric School Bus Fund awardees:
Beaverton School District
Molalla River School District
North Marion School District
Portland Public Schools
Salem-Keizer School District
Tigard-Tualatin School District
Willamina School District
Made possible by the Electric School Bus Fund
“We found the PGE Electric School Bus Fund to be easy to navigate. From application to completion of the project, the entire PGE team was friendly, helpful, and ready to assist with questions, issues, educating and walking us through the funding process. Once we received the award, PGE’s technical team was professional and timely in coming to our site to evaluate our needs and develop an installation plan for the high-voltage lines. PGE was very helpful in providing us several potential contractors who were familiar with their requirements and available to begin construction. The monthly check-ins were extremely helpful in navigating the many choices we faced regarding charging stations, wireless communication and technical expertise. Any district contemplating the addition of electric buses could not ask for a more engaged and supportive partner than PGE. We look forward to continuing to work with them as we expand our Electric School Bus implementation.”
– Craig Beaver, Transportation Administrator, Beaverton School District
PGE Drive Change Fund
From transit buses and passenger vehicles to electric bikes and community service vehicles, the PGE Drive Change Fund is all about electrifying transportation in Oregon. Do you have a local electric vehicle adoption, EV charging infrastructure or education project you would like us to fund? Get in touch.
Matching Funds
Do you need to fund a transportation electrification project? In addition to the Drive Change Fund and Electric School Bus Fund, we also offer matching of external funds. Learn more about our funds here.