Electric utility Potomac Edison, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy that serves some 285,000 customers in Maryland, has received approval from the Maryland Public Service Commission to launch a pilot program aimed at helping local school systems transition to zero-emission school buses, EVinfo reports.

Maryland’s Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022 requires public school systems to purchase zero-emission vehicles. Potomac Edison aims to address one of the biggest barriers to EV adoption by covering the cost difference between diesel and electric buses (up to $250,000 per unit), along with the cost of charging infrastructure and any necessary electrical upgrades.

The $11.1-million pilot program will support the deployment of up to 28 electric school buses within Potomac Edison’s Maryland service territory, and will provide technical and administrative assistance to help school systems plan charging locations, install equipment and train personnel. The program will also include access to vehicle-to-grid technology, allowing Potomac Edison to evaluate how energy stored in bus batteries can be fed back to the grid when vehicles are not in use.

“This program is designed to help make [the EV] transition more practical and affordable,” said Jim Myers, FirstEnergy’s President of West Virginia and Maryland. “We’re reducing upfront costs and offering hands-on support to help school systems integrate electric buses smoothly. At the same time, we’re exploring how these buses can support grid reliability through innovative technology.”

Source: EVinfo