HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) - Holyoke Public Schools is one of five school districts in the state set to receive the next round of funding from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) to help fund electric school buses. How long do electric car batteries last? A total of $4.2 million will be distributed to school districts in Holyoke, Worcester, Boston, Fall River and New Bedford. The funding comes from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs through the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP). The department has distributed more than $28.3 million through its ACT School Bus Fleet Deployment Program since 2022. Holyoke Public Schools will work with Highland Electric to deploy electric school buses and install charging infrastructure. “The Healey-Driscoll Administration frequently hears from school districts that want to reduce their carbon footprints and electrify their school bus fleets,” said Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Rebecca Tepper, who also serves as chair of MassCEC’s Board of Directors. “MassCEC’s ACT School Bus Program provides the funding and technical assistance these districts need to accelerate this transition and put electric buses on the road.”  This funding is just the second round of grants being awarded and a third round is currently seeking Request for Proposals (RFP) from school districts. The program intends to provide electric buses to school districts with hands-on technical assistance during the beginning of the transition. “The ACT School Bus Program is enabling our school districts to transition to clean energy transportation, creating healthier communities and school environments where kids and families can breathe clean air,” said Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler. “I am grateful for our partners in the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Department of Environmental Protection, and Massachusetts Clean Energy Center for these critical investments that will support our students today and into the future.”  Local News Did you see a blimp in the sky? Here’s why Woman dead after crash on Southampton Road in Westfield Massachusetts School Principal of the Year awarded to elementary in Berkshire County Holyoke Public Schools receive state funding for electric school buses 22News began broadcasting in March 1953 providing local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Follow WWLP-22News on X @WWLP22News and Facebook.