The Community Benefit Fund, established through Senate Bill 48 during the 2025 New Mexico legislative session, has $54 million in funding to help purchase electric school buses, according to NM Voices For Children. (AP File Photo/Tom Brenner)
The Community Benefit Fund, established through Senate Bill 48 during the 2025 New Mexico legislative session, has $54 million in funding to help purchase electric school buses, according to NM Voices For Children. (AP File Photo/Tom Brenner)Tom Brenner

The Community Benefit Fund, established through Senate Bill 48 during the 2025 New Mexico legislative session, currently has $54 million available to help purchase electric school buses, according to NM Voices for Children, which is calling for school districts to apply.

The funding can be used to install charging infrastructure and access technical assistance, according to the advocacy organization. As part of that investment, school districts across New Mexico have the opportunity to apply for funding to modernize their bus fleets with electric school buses.

For schools, the funding presents an opportunity to improve student health while reducing long-term transportation costs.

“Traditional diesel school buses expose children to exhaust containing dozens of harmful air pollutants, including known carcinogens,” NM Voices said in a news release. “Students breathe these emissions while waiting at bus stops and during their daily commute to and from school.”

Replacing diesel buses with electric buses eliminates tailpipe emissions, providing children with cleaner air and quieter rides that support healthier learning environments.

According to NM Voices, electric school buses also offer significant financial benefits. They cost less to fuel and maintain than diesel buses because they have fewer moving parts and lower operating costs. Some electric buses can also provide energy storage capabilities that help strengthen local electrical infrastructure.

Remaining application windows through the New Mexico Public School Facilities Authority include:

Cycle 2: Applications opened June 18 and close July 17.
Cycle 3: Applications open July 20 and close Aug. 19.

School districts interested in applying can find program information, eligibility requirements, and application materials through the New Mexico Public School Facilities Authority.

“Every child deserves a clean, healthy ride to school,” Maya Anthony, research and policy analyst for NM Voices, said. “Too many New Mexico students are still exposed to harmful diesel pollution every day.”

She said the funding gives school districts an opportunity to protect children’s health, improve learning environments, and save money.

“We encourage every eligible district to apply and take advantage of this investment,” she said.

alee@tricityrecordnm.com