The ambitious goal of electrifying all of New York’s school buses by 2035 is getting a jump-start.

“It’s a big thing for Chatham,” said Chatham Central School District Transportation Supervisor Josh Loeffler. “This is very exciting.”

Through its Clean School Bus Rebate Program, the Environmental Protection Agency is helping fund the purchase of electric school buses in six school districts with nearly $6.7 million.

“Just as a reminder, most older school buses run on heavily polluting diesel,” said EPS Region 2 Administrator Lisa Garcia.

In the coming months Leonard Bus Sales will deliver five Navistar IC Buses Leonard Bus Sales to Chatham and Fabius-Pompey Central School Districts, three to the Adirondack Central School District, two to the Naples Central School District and one to the Monticello and Norwood-Norfolk Central School District.

“The current vehicle range and charging capability couldn’t accomplish every route today,” Leonard Bus Sales President Jon Leonard said. “But we are optimistic about the future as electric vehicle technology continues to evolve.”

It has all the typical bells and whistles you’d see on a traditional school bus but as you might imagine, it’s a quiet ride.

“No fumes, safer and better. That was my observation,” New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Doreen Harris said. “I’m excited for all these school districts to experience the same.”

With the features come a heftier price tag of $350,000 or more while a traditional diesel powered bus costs a district up to a $140,000.

“This grant will actually help cover a good portion of the vehicle itself, if not all of it,” Loeffler said. “It depends on what size bus.”

The funding will also help outfit these districts with the charging infrastructure required to keep the new buses on the road.

“With a conventional gas or diesel engine you have to go through check more fluids, change fluids more regularly,” Loeffler said. “With this, it actually takes some of that out of the equation.”

While district leaders familiarize themselves with the different maintenance, the EPA is gearing up for it’s second round of the rebate program and encourage districts across the state to apply for a piece of the $400 million program.

“Protecting our kids and tackling the climate crisis together with this Clean School Bus Program is a win-win,” Garcia said.