Electrifying Communities: How Clean Cities and Communities Coalitions Bridge Policy and Practice in the Electric School Bus Transition

This working paper analyzes the role of 29 Clean Cities and Communities (CC&C) coalitions in supporting the transition to electric school buses (ESBs) across the United States, focusing on their technical assistance, regional barriers, and strategies for equitable implementation.

• Clean Cities and Communities (CC&C) coalitions, part of a national network overseen by the US Department of Energy, generally support the transition to electric school buses (ESBs) due to health, environmental, and clean transportation benefits. They provide support to school districts through outreach, education, and technical assistance.
• The ability of coalitions to support ESB transitions is hindered by capacity limitations and region-specific challenges. Prioritization of ESBs varies by region based on technology readiness perceptions, infrastructure gaps, and local variables.
• Coalitions face tensions regarding the promotion of alternative fuels, such as compressed natural gas and propane, driven by historical investments, stakeholder interests, and political climates, despite efforts to remain fuel-neutral.
• To ensure an equitable transition to ESBs, the paper suggests that advocates, practitioners, and policymakers should focus on reducing fuel tension, addressing grid infrastructure, clarifying equity resources and definitions, and supporting capacity building for regional practitioners and school districts.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). Electrifying Communities: How Clean Cities and Communities Coalitions Bridge Policy and Practice in the Electric School Bus Transition. https://www.wri.org/research/electrifying-clean-cities-communities-coalitions-policy-practice-electric-school-bus-transition

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Electrifying Communities: How Clean Cities and Communities Coalitions Bridge Policy and Practice in the Electric School Bus Transition. n.d. https://www.wri.org/research/electrifying-clean-cities-communities-coalitions-policy-practice-electric-school-bus-transition.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Electrifying Communities: How Clean Cities and Communities Coalitions Bridge Policy and Practice in the Electric School Bus Transition |url=https://www.wri.org/research/electrifying-clean-cities-communities-coalitions-policy-practice-electric-school-bus-transition |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutendelectrifying, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Electrifying Communities: How Clean Cities and Communities Coalitions Bridge Policy and Practice in the Electric School Bus Transition}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/electrifying-clean-cities-communities-coalitions-policy-practice-electric-school-bus-transition}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }