California is spending $500 million to add 1,000 zero-emission electric school buses across the state, according to a news release.
Gov. Gavin Newsom made the announcement on April 23, 2025, for educational agencies to buy zero-emission school buses and related charging infrastructure in rural, low-income and disadvantaged school districts.
“California is paving the way to a cleaner, healthier future by investing in zero-emission vehicles across the state,” Newsom said in a statement.
An undated photo of a stop sign on a school bus with selective focusing.
State-funded electric school buses are expected to reduce 18,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually, according to the release. The amount is equivalent to taking more than 4,000 cars off the road for a year.
More than 70% of the zero-emission school buses in use are in California’s most pollution-burdened communities.
Zero-emission school buses will help the state achieve carbon neutrality by 2045 and protect children who are vulnerable to the health impacts from diesel exhaust, according to the release.
All school bus purchases made by school districts will need to be zero-emission by 2035. Rural schools could apply for an extension to 2045, according to the release.
“Cleaning up the state’s school bus fleet is central to California’s efforts to provide clean transportation in priority communities that are disproportionately hurt by air pollution,” said California Air Resources Board Chair Liane Randolph in a statement.
There are 133 state educational agencies selected for the school buses.
The agencies include:
Oxnard School District, Oxnard Union High School District and Rio Elementary School District in Oxnard
Washington Union Elementary School District in Salinas
Stockton Unified School District in Stockton
Victorville Valley Union High School District
Los Angeles Unified School District
San Diego Unified School District
Wes Woods II covers West County for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at wesley.woodsii@vcstar.com, 805-437-0262 or @JournoWes.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: California spends $500M on electric school buses