Cape Cod Regional Technical High School will unveil a fleet of electric school buses and a solar canopy above its bus lot in an effort to lower operating costs for years to come.
Here's what to know
The School in Harwich is on track to make student commutes healthier. According to Cape Cod Times, Cape Destinations will operate the buses, which are set to serve students from nearly every town on Cape Cod.
Cape Destinations and Cape Cod Tech said the move to zero-emission buses is expected to remove the routine diesel exhaust tied to school transportation, which could mean cleaner air for both riders and residents along the routes.
The electric buses were supported by clean school bus funding linked to the federal Department of Environmental Protection and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, while Blue Bird Bus – Anderson Motors supplied the vehicles and helped with the technical side of the transition.
The solar canopy was financed differently: entirely by the school, working with Solect Energy and PowerOptions.
More background
The project is focused on transportation fuel and electricity use — two major sources of pollution and energy spending. Rather than simply replacing old buses, the school is pairing them with on-site solar generation.
In 2025, another announcement outlined plans for solar canopies at a Route 6 park-and-ride site through a public-private partnership involving state transportation and energy agencies and Ameresco Inc.
What's being done?
A 625-kilowatt DC solar canopy is now fully operating above the parking area where the buses will be stored, and the school estimates it will deliver about $2.33 million in savings over 25 years.
Save $10,000 on solar panels without even sharing your phone number Want to go solar but not sure who to trust? EnergySage has your back with free and transparent quotes from fully vetted providers that can help you save as much as $10k on installation. To get started, just answer a few questions about your home — no phone number required. Within a day or two, EnergySage will email you the best local options for your needs, and their expert advisers can help you compare quotes and pick a winner. |
The project could mean less exhaust on school routes, lower energy costs for a public institution, and a model other communities may be able to follow.
Going solar is one of the best ways for households to save money on home energy, too. If you're considering it, EnergySage can help you get free solar installation estimates and compare quotes.
For homeowners, free tools can also make clean energy decisions easier. With EnergySage's help, the average person can save up to $10,000 on solar purchases and installations. EnergySage's solar map shows the average cost of a home solar panel system in each state, along with available incentives, and together those resources can help readers get the best price for rooftop solar panels and access available savings.
Adding battery storage to a solar setup is also one of the best ways to protect your home during outages, save money on energy, and go off-grid. If you want to explore your options, EnergySage offers information about home battery storage systems, including competitive installation estimates.
More From EnergySage
💡Go deep on the latest news and trends shaping the residential solar landscape
Where can I learn more?
Cape Cod Tech's energy-conscious upgrades set an example for schools and public institutions to cut pollution without driving up costs. Similar stories show how electric transportation and on-site solar can work together to save money over time.
• School districts nationwide have seen orders for electric buses rise sharply as savings become clearer.
• Across the country, solar panels on schools are cutting district bills and funding classrooms.
• In Goleta, Ellwood School's decade-long push that could save its district millions ended with solar.
• For districts weighing the switch, lifetime savings of an electric bus can reach six figures.
• On Martha's Vineyard, households could save $550,000 as a hospital's solar project expands local benefits.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
