Preston Public Schools and CTECS Make Progress Towards Electrifying School Bus Fleets
Connecticut Green Bank program provides school bus fleet electrification planning and deployment assistance to school districts in Connecticut.
Hartford, CT (November 3, 2025) — The Connecticut Green Bank is pleased to announce that Preston Public Schools and the Connecticut Technical Education and Career System (CTECS) have joined the Fleet Electrification Accelerator Fall Cohort, a program designed to help school districts plan for school bus electrification through expert guidance, planning tools, and peer collaboration.
The Fleet Electrification Accelerator, launched in 2025, provides participating organizations with tailored technical assistance, access to planning resources, and support in identifying funding opportunities for school bus electrification. The program is designed to help districts overcome common barriers to electric bus adoption, such as infrastructure planning, vehicle procurement, and cost analysis.
“The Green Bank is proud of the electric school bus investments we have made in 2025 through the Fleet Electrification Accelerator, which will help communities strive towards a cleaner future,” said Bryan Garcia, President and CEO of the Connecticut Green Bank. “The participation of Preston Public Schools and CTECS reflects a growing commitment among Connecticut’s educational institutions to reduce emissions and deliver public health benefits through improved air quality while continuing to focus on the safe, reliable transportation of their students to and from school.”
Through the Accelerator, Preston Public Schools and CTECS will receive:
- Electric School Bus Basics: Everything you need to know to transition to electric school buses in easy-to-understand language
- Vehicle and Charger Recommendations: Electric school bus and charger recommendations to replace current fleet
- District-Specific Road Map: A school district-specific Fleet Electrification Road Map that can be used in federal and state funding applications, including total cost of ownership analysis for each vehicle
- On-Site Assessment: Evaluating capacity for chargers and infrastructure upgrades needed
- Procurement Timeline: Short-and long-term plans for infrastructure upgrades, bus, and electric vehicle supply equipment procurement
- Funding and Incentives: Detailed descriptions and application instructions for available funding and incentive opportunities
“The Department is proud to partner with the Green Bank to reduce emissions from the transportation sector, the largest source of air pollution in the state, because improving air quality isn’t just an environmental goal-it’s a public health priority,” said DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes. “These investments will help reduce exposure to harmful emissions for everyone who rides on these buses. The Fleet Electrification Accelerator combined with DEEP’s Clean School bus funding program, which leverages bond funding to support the deployment of clean school buses, are critical to helping communities make the transition to cleaner transportation options. The Department looks forward to continued work on this effort with CTECS and other transportation providers.”
The inclusion of CTECS is particularly notable, as the system serves over 11,000 students across 17 technical high schools and one technical education center. Electrifying its fleet will not only reduce environmental impacts but also provide learning opportunities for students in automotive, electrical, and sustainability-focused programs.
“Fleet electrification is a key goal for CTECS, not only in support of the State’s environmental priorities, but also as a more cost-effective, long-term solution for the district’s operational needs,” said CTECS Executive Director Dr. Alice Pritchard. “The partnership between the Connecticut Green Bank and CALSTART will be instrumental in advancing this project and introducing students to emerging technologies.”
“Preston Public Schools is one of approximately 10 school districts that owns and operates its fleet of school buses,” said Roy Seitsinger, Preston’s Superintendent of Schools. “The initial assessment shows the location of our transportation department to be the third best location statewide to provide the necessary power for electrifying our future fleet needs. We are proud to be one of the first school districts to partner with Connecticut Green Bank.”
The Fleet Electrification Accelerator recruitment for the Spring 2026 cohort is underway. This program is supported by CALSTART, as the selected contractor to guide the fleet electrification planning process. Whether a school district owns and operates their own fleet, or has a contract with a bus operator, Connecticut Green Bank and CALSTART will work with key stakeholders to tailor a specific plan for each district.
“Connecticut Green Bank is thrilled to be partnering with Preston Public Schools and CTECS for our first Fleet Electrification Accelerator cohort,” said Kevin Moss, Senior Manager of Clean Transportation, Connecticut Green Bank. “The Fleet Electrification Accelerator will help school districts and school bus operators across Connecticut access the planning and technical resources they need to pursue well-designed and cost-effective school bus electrification projects.”
School districts interested in joining future cohorts can learn more and contact Connecticut Green Bank at https://www.ctgreenbank.com/fleet-electrification-accelerator.