Project Background for Clean Mobility in Schools Incentives

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Project Goals 

The Clean Mobility in Schools Pilot Project is a multi-faceted grant that provides funding to reduce GHG emissions in kindergarten through twelfth grade (K-12) schools located in a disadvantaged community. The goal is to deploy synergistic GHG emission reduction techniques that can be emulated on school campuses statewide. This funding provides for the electrification of the transportation fleets, including vehicles, infrastructure, and education and awareness, and other efforts to encourage clean mobility in and around schools. Partnerships with other state and local agencies are encouraged to implement and fund other “green” technologies and practices along with additional outreach about these efforts. Projects also aim to gain a better understanding of “mode-shifting” and what the school districts can do to further serve the school and the community in promoting and incentivizing the shift to cleaner and active modes of travel.

Guiding Legislation/Policy Drivers 

The project resulted from the SB 350 Guidance Document and is designed to provide a showcase for a broad range of clean mobility options through deploying and demonstrating GHG emission reduction techniques, helping to facilitate ‘greening’ one or more schools located in disadvantaged communities, and eventually leading to a larger statewide project. Clean mobility options in schools protect the environment, keep teachers and students healthy, and promote environmental literacy.

This project also supports the statutory goals of SB 1275 and SB 350 recommendations by prioritizing funds for clean light-duty and heavy-duty transportation, transforming transportation by: encouraging car sharing and bike sharing; increasing access in disadvantaged communities; increasing awareness of clean transportation and mobility options by educating the K-12 students, parents, school employees, and others in the surrounding community.

Project Funding/Allocations/History 

  • FY 2018-19 $24.6 
  • FY 2021-22 $9.8 million 
  • FY 2022-23 $15 million allocated (in coordination with STEP’s $15 million and PCB’s $5 million) 

Recent Project/Policy Changes 

  • During Funding Plan develop for FY 2015-16, CARB held nearly 20 initial project development and public work group meetings regarding new funding concept originally called “Green Mobility in Schools”.
  • $10 million in grant funds for FY 2018-19 were allocated through a competitive solicitation process, directed to assist in deployment and demonstration of complementary GHG emission reduction techniques in one or more K-12 schools primarily located in or near disadvantaged communities.
  • No allocations were recommended in FY 2020-21.
  • No allocations were recommended in FY 2021-22.
  • For FY 2022-23, $55 million was allocated to CARB’s planning and capacity building and clean mobility programs which includes $15 million for CMIS projects through a joint solicitation. Policy changes included removal of custodial equipment as eligible project types to align with STEP and PCB goals and requirements. Previous grantees are ineligible to apply as Lead Applicants but may apply as a Sub Applicant for locations that did not receive previous CMIS benefits.
  • The Request for Applications opened July 24, 2023.

Past Project Info/Reports 

California Climate Investments 2021 Annual Report, Cap-and-Trade Auction Proceeds