Maryland Awards $28.5 Million to Lower Costs, Electrify Transport as Gas Prices, Inflation Rise

On August 27, 2026, Governor Wes Moore and the Maryland Energy Administration announced more than $28.5 million in new funding to reduce transportation emissions and help lower fuel costs by electrifying school and transit bus fleets, expanding EV charging infrastructure, and supporting zero-emission medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicles.

“As gas prices rise around the country, our administration is determined to use innovative solutions to reduce the burden on Maryland’s schools, businesses, and families,” Moore said. “We’re investing big in electric vehicles so our communities can access clean and safe transportation, while protecting our environment and saving at the pump.”

The funding includes more than $1.5 million for Jubb’s Bus Service to add five electric school buses serving Anne Arundel County Public Schools. The project is expected to reduce approximately 803.4 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions over the buses’ lifetimes. A Yankee Line will receive $2.5 million to add six electric transit buses in Baltimore City, cutting an estimated 3,770 metric tons of lifetime emissions.

Baltimore City’s Office of Sustainability will receive $950,000 for a pilot program deploying 10 bidirectional EVs at four Community Resiliency Hubs. The vehicles will provide backup electricity to vulnerable populations during emergencies.

Other projects include $447,612 for Enterprise Community Development to install 35 charging ports at multifamily properties in Dundalk, Laurel, Owings Mills and Baltimore. Loyola University of Maryland will receive $267,662 for four electric trucks and buses, while Chestertown will receive $260,100 to install four publicly accessible charging stations and plan future EV infrastructure.

The awards also support electrification beyond passenger vehicles. Baltimore will receive $143,200 for shore-based power and onboard chargers for hybrid-electric ferries. Bladensburg will receive $102,719 for an electric street sweeper, while the Episcopal Diocese of Baltimore will install two dual-port public chargers with an $80,000 award. The National Aquarium will receive $55,000 for six chargers, and Community Harvest will receive $36,501 to deploy three electric short-haul trucks for its mobile grocery program.

The announcement covers 63 grants and 1,903 rebates through five Maryland Energy Administration programs, expanding the state’s investment in electric transportation and charging infrastructure.

EVinfo.net’s Take: Six Months Into Iran War, High Gas Prices Continue to Push Inflation Higher

Maryland’s smart funding for EVs and EV charging comes at the perfect time, as Americans are struggling financially due to bad federal policy. EVs save taxpayers and owners money, while cleaning the air and fighting global human caused climate change.

Six months after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran, Americans are still paying significantly more at the gas pump, adding to inflationary pressure across the economy. The national average gasoline price reached about $4 per gallon in July and remained elevated through August, with the country on track for its highest average August gas prices on record.

The conflict disrupted global oil markets and created uncertainty around supplies moving through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy shipments. While oil prices have stabilized below the extreme levels seen earlier in the war, fuel prices remain elevated because of refinery disruptions, transportation costs and continued uncertainty surrounding the conflict.

The additional fuel costs are hitting household budgets hard. The Congressional Joint Economic Committee estimated that Americans spent approximately $56.4 billion more on gasoline during the first six months of the war, equivalent to roughly $477 per household.

Higher gasoline and energy prices are also feeding into broader inflation. The Personal Consumption Expenditures price index, the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge, rose 3.7% in July from a year earlier, remaining well above the Fed’s 2% target. Rising fuel costs can increase transportation and production expenses throughout the economy, putting additional pressure on prices for goods and services.

The persistence of elevated gasoline prices underscores one of the economic vulnerabilities of relying heavily on petroleum. Even though the United States produces substantial amounts of oil domestically, gasoline prices remain connected to global crude markets. A prolonged geopolitical conflict thousands of miles away can therefore translate into higher costs for American drivers, businesses and families.

There is a powerful reason why EV adoption matters: national security. The more any country electrifies its transportation system, the less dependent it becomes on foreign oil, unstable global markets, and supply chains that can be weaponized in times of crisis and wartime.

For consumers, the situation also highlights an increasingly attractive advantage of EVs. Electric vehicles are largely insulated from gasoline price shocks, allowing drivers to avoid the direct impact of rising prices at the pump while potentially benefiting from lower fueling costs.