Maryland will offer up to $17 million worth of grants to reimburse schools and districts for the purchase of electric school buses, charging infrastructure, and related costs.The Maryland Energy Administration will oversee the Maryland Electric School Bus Grant Program, aiming to reduce school transportation emissions and improve students’ health.“Many communities are already seeing the consequences of climate change in their own backyards. Now, we need to ensure more Marylanders can see themselves in the progress of climate action,” Gov. Wes Moore said in a statement. “Electrifying our school bus fleet isn’t just the responsible choice for our environment — it’s also the smart thing for our state’s economic competitiveness and our children’s health.”Applications for the grant program are open now through Feb. 14 at 3 p.m. For more information about program eligibility, guidelines, and the application process, visit the Maryland Energy Administration’s website.Applicants who are eligible for the grant program can receive up to 85% of the incremental cost of buying qualified electric school buses.Grantees can receive up to $1.5 million, or up to $2 million for income-qualified applicants or large school districts. Partial awards will be available.The state will prioritize projects that support Title I schools and underserved communities.“The Maryland Electric School Bus Grant Program represents a convergence of the state’s climate, equity and economic goals. The program enables Maryland communities to overcome the initial costs associated with the shift to cleaner vehicles so that they can receive the long-term savings that come with reduced fuel and maintenance costs,” said Maryland Energy Administration Director Paul G. Pinsky. “Because of this program, our kids will breathe cleaner air and our return on the investment of public funds will expand. That’s a clear win-win for Maryland.” Eligible entities that purchase a publicly funded school bus for transporting students to and from school, or for school-related activities, can be considered for the program.To be eligible, vehicles must be purchased new; retrofits and repowered vehicles are not eligible. Eligible vehicles also cannot have been funded in whole or in part by another Maryland state agency grant.